Got Snow!
Killink between top of Snowdon Triple
and Great Northern
March 17, 2006, 12:30 PM 

Great ski day on the mountain!

Kudos to Allen Wilson, President of the Killington Resort, and the team of Operations people responsible for making and grooming snow on the mountain. During a week which saw much of the mountain wash down the Roaring Brook with an unseasonably warm rain; the same week that the American Ski Company, parent of the Killington Resort, announced that they had lost $11.3 Million in the 2nd quarter of their fiscal year(which is not as bad as it seems because they lost $22.1 Million in the same period last year), it would have been easy to just give up and close shop for the season. But the management team at Killington has stood by their marketing claims to have the most extensive snow making system in the Eastern United States, and they have fired it up to the great benefit of all those who enjoy skiing and riding at Killington. I personally saw what seemed like several hundred snow guns firing away all over the mountain. And it was clear from conditions that the snow making system has been operating continuously for the last couple of days and nights. Great Job!

We started our day promptly at 9:00 AM, as we were meeting friends from Boston who took the day off to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. We boosted over the top of Skye Peak to Bear Mountain. Upper Wild Fire was groomed flat. A touch scratchy at the top, as the surface was somewhat granular, but by the time we hit the middle, we were on velvet which could only have come from snow guns laying down a fresh surface. Snow guns were going on Bear Trap and all along Skye Burst. After last Tuesday, we entered the park on Lower Wild Fire somewhat cautiously. But surfaces in the park had also been completely repaired and resurfaced. Both Outer Limits and the Super Pipe on Lower Dream Maker were closed. Groomers were busy working on both to get them ready for next weeks Sprint US Freestyle competition.

Being a Friday, the Needles Eye quad was running, so we did some laps over there. Cruise Control, Needles Eye, Bitter Sweet, and High Road were all firm but had nice surfaces for carving turns. Some of the low spots on these trails where water had pooled from the r@#n had iced over, but they were small, visible, and easily avoided. We then headed over to Killington peak to ski in the canyons.

The Ki Gondola was very crowded (remember from prior posts - Canadian week), so we went down to the Snowdon Quad. Killington had clearly blown snow on Chute, but skiers right was still in rough shape. It looked and felt like snow making was also done on Mouse Trap, as the surface was very consistent. The trifecta of East Falls, Double Dipper, and Cascades were all in good shape. Surfaces were machine groomed granular over a hard base. Lots of snow was flying around when carving turns, as the top inch or two of the surfaces was pretty loose. All three trails were set up pretty well for cruising.

I finished up the day with a couple of laps on Superstar. From the Canyons, I took Great Eastern to Launch Pad. Killington had blown a fair amount of snow on these cross over trails, but they were still slick in a number of spots. In the sunshine of this morning, Superstar was nice. Again, the surface had been worked over revealing an inch or 2 of granular snow over a hard base. No problem anywhere on Superstar setting edges and just letting it rip.

As I have said earlier, the resort has done a fantastic job rebuilding the mountain once again this weird winter. If you plan on visiting the area over the weekend, unless the temperatures rise substantially, be prepared for firm mid-winter conditions. There are not a lot of bumps out there, if that is your thing; but if you like cruising, you will have a great time.

Skiers passing Snow Gun
on the way to Snowdon
March 16, 2006, 10:30 AM 

Snow squalls continued last night to spread new snow across the area. Temperatures have warmed up this morning, resulting in some snow compression. From bare ground yesterday morning, the snow stake at the inn now is about 3 inches. Not a huge amount, but everything is white again.

On the mountain, the resort is making good on their promise to fire up their snow making system, at least on cross over trails. Grooming operations are continuing to mix the fresh snow into the base. Conditions should steadily improve as we head into the St. Patrick's day weekend.

Snow Storm on Killington Peak
March 15, 2006, 11:30 AM 

Mother Nature is fickle indeed. Winter has returned to Killington!

Overnight temperatures dropped from the mid 40's to the low 20's. Snow squalls continue to move through the area. Around the inn, we have had on the order of an inch; nothing to require a snow blower, but enough to remind us that it is still winter outside.

On the mountain, it has been snowing on and off all day. Very strong winds are moving the snow around, so it is hard to estimate total snow fall, but it is probably in the 1 to 3 inch range. Conditions on the mountain have clearly firmed up substantially since yesterday. Temperatures are predicted to get colder as the week progresses, so surface conditions on the mountain should stabilize. Todays picture of the mountain was taken during one of the snow squalls. You can barely make out Killington Peak in the snow; and it has been like that most of the day.

High Road between Skye Lark and Bitter Sweet
March 14, 2006, 11:30 AM 

Yes it did! Mother nature shot a bullet at Killington; but Killington Lives!

Ok, so much for irrational exuberance. Now the facts.. The last 3 days have not been kind to ski resorts in the northeast. Killington, which has been blowing snow all winter, was hit hard, but it is a long way from being out.

Mary and I casually got to the mountain this morning around 10:00 AM. Temperatures were in the low 50's, with mid overcast and a 20 MPH wind. As the grass around the inn is now showing, we did not know what to expect. We took the K1 directly up to the peak. On the way up we got a good look at the Canyons and Cascade. Both looked quite skiable, with no ice or water bars showing, however, they were roped off and closed. Downdraft at the peak was also roped off and closed, but it looked good as well. Why these trails were closed is anybody's guess. East Fall was open. While we did not ski it, it looked in good shape with some small bumps on it.

We traversed across the mountain to Bear on Great Eastern. The traverse was very dicey because of high traffic (it is Canadian week up here eh!) There were a few spots where pond skimming for 10 feet was in order. Killington will need to blow a lot of snow on the cross over in the next couple of days.

When we arrived a Bear, we took Wild Fire. Sweet. Really good snow cover, nice soft little bumps, with a consistency somewhere between mashed potatoes and vanilla ice cream. A lot of fun. The terrain park on Lower Wild Fire was closed (from the Skye Peak lift it looked in tough shape) so we took lower Bear Claw. Again, nice soft little bumps with plenty of snow cover.

After Bear, we did a lap over on Cruise Control. Skier's left was in good shape (under the guns); skier's right had some thin spots as usually develop in the spring. Skye Lark top to bottom was in great shape. Super Star also survived quite well.

Thus far, the mountain has survived. Temperatures are going lower this afternoon with snow forecasted (from flurries to out an out snow) over the next 3 days. The resort has a lot of work ahead of it over the next couple of days to repair the damage from the warm weather, but conditions could have turned out much worse. I will hazard to guess, that ski conditions this coming weekend should turn out pretty good...with the caveat that you should sharpen your edges as the mountain will firm up when the temperature drops.

Rebuilding Bear Mountain Superpipe
March 13, 2006, 12:30 PM 

If you are in the ski business....ya gotta believe!!!

Like Tony Soprano, old man winter has wounded Killington these last couple of days, but the mountain has a lot of life left before the 2005-2006 ski season ends.

Needless to say, surface conditions today at Killington were wet. Primary slopes where the mountain has done a lot of snow making this season are holding up fairly well. Secondary slopes are another story. The weather forecasters, and when have they been right this winter, are implying that we have another 18 hours of so of this weather, before winter returns with snow showers on the back side of the storm.

Killington continues to get ready for the Sprint US Freestyle Championships scheduled for March 22 thru 26th. Workers were photographed today using 3 snow grooming machines roughing in the new Superpipe, which Killington filled with snow last week. When they rebuilt the pipe in the past, it has usually taken 3 to 4 days to complete the work, which would probably be the case this time as well.

Skye Peak to Killington Peak
March 12, 2006, 12:30 PM 

Guests at Killington this morning experienced soft, spring conditions under cloudy skies.

Early reports from friends indicate that the mountain started with a few firm spots in the valleys this morning, as temperatures in low areas dropped below freezing. Higher elevations appeared to have stayed soft, evidently due to a temperature inversion on the mountain. Snow surfaces were generally consistent, although surface damage is visible in areas with little snow making, for instance skiers right on Snow Shed. We plan to be out on the slopes several days this coming week to report directly on conditions.

Superstar starting to Bump Up!
March 11, 2006, 2:30 PM 

Spring made an appearance at Killington today. Yesterdays gloomy weather has given way to mild temperatures in the mid to high 40's with beautiful sunshine and a warm breeze.

Around town, much of the natural snow cover is melting. The large hill at the front of the inn is basically free from snow. The snow stake in the back of the inn is down to ground. The 5th green of the Killington Golf course looks like it is ready to begin play, although I am sure that the course is still a little wet.

On the mountain, operations were slow to start this morning as snow surfaces froze overnight. Killington sequentially opened lifts, as grooming machines were out in the morning preparing surfaces for the day. Inn guests are returning to the inn talking about nice spring conditions with medium sized crowds. Most are returning with the beginnings of a tan, although a few fair haired guests had the red glow of a sun burn. They all spoke of soft snow. The skiers in the group were praising conditions; the novices were feeling their legs after a good work out. Overall, it sounds like it was a good day on the hill.