On the road to Killington Peak. Snow guns in operation are visible all over the mountain. 

Sweeeet!

We are skiing and riding again at Killington!

Under partly cloudy skies and very chilly temperatures, the Killington Ski Resort reopened today for the 2008/2009 season. Today the resort was operating 2 lifts, the K1 Gondola and the North Ridge Triple, servicing the upper sections of Killington Peak. Surface conditions on the trails was variable. Most of the trails were firm machine groomed packed powder. The operating snow guns, as temperatures were in the high teens and low 20's, were putting out relatively dry, fluffy, powder.

The big difference between today's reopening and early November was the quantity of snow guns in operation all around the mountain. The resort is clearly in base building/terrain expansion mode. In addition to blowing snow on open terrain including Great Northern, Mouse Trap, Chute, and Bunny Buster, the resort was also making snow on a number of "closed" trails to prepare for this coming weekend and next weeks Thanksgiving Holidays. Snow guns were visible making snow on Upper Bunny Buster, Mouse Run, MTS, Highline, Upper Skylark, parts of High Road, and Lower Bittersweet.

Below are a few pictures from today.

K1 Gondola Terminal. (Click to enlarge.)

Lower Rime. (Click to enlarge.)

Reason. (Click to enlarge.)

Upper East Fallk. (Click to enlarge.)

Upper East Fall looking towards bottom of North Ridge Triple. (Click to enlarge.)

Mouse Trap. (Click to enlarge.)

Lower Chute to Snowdon Quad. (Click to enlarge.)

Snow making on Highline (Click to enlarge.)

Great Northern at Downdraft with Pico in the distance. (Click to enlarge.)

It's cold outside. Chair on Canyon Quad covered in rime. (Click to enlarge.)

.....Let it snow!

Killington Resort set to reopen 

Cold weather and snow. It's a beautiful thing.

The Killington Ski Resort will re-open for the 2008/2009 winter season at 9:00 AM tomorrow, Wednesday November 19th!.

The current operating plan for Wednesday is the same as earlier this month. The resort plans on operating 2 lifts, the K1 Gondola and the North Ridge Triple serving eight trails and the early-season terrain park on Reason.

Snow making will continue on the mountain for the foreseeable future as long as weather conditions continue to be favorable. The resort anticipates expanding operations to additional terrain and lifts very quickly as snow making operations branch out to additional trails.

Ski Season at Killington is here.....let it snow!

Birch Ridge Inn at Killington
Snow covered for first time this season. 

Light snow fell in Killington overnight. Snow flurries of various intensities are continuing today.

3 inches of snow currently is on the ground around the inn. While not a huge amount, it is a start. More importantly, temperatures cooled off enough last night such that the snow cover was not limited to just grassy surfaces. Parking lots and streets around Killington are also snow covered. Driving will probably be a little messy today, but I can see trucks clearing the Killington Road from the inn.

Snow making is continuing on the mountain. I am sure that the assistance from Mother Nature is also being well received. Everything at this point is a bonus as the resort pushes to reopen for the season later this week..... Let it snow!

Snow making operations restarted on upper elevations of Killington Peak. 

The heavy rains of the last 2 days have cleared out of the area. They, of course, were the precursor for a cold front, which moved through Killington early this morning. As it passed through the area, the residual moisture in the air briefly fell across the region as light snow flurries.

With the return of cold temperatures, the Killington Resort has restarted their snow making operations. Snow making can be seen from the K1 base area on the upper reaches of Killington Peak. Relatively high winds (20-30 MPH) are buffeting the area, giving Killington Peak an eerie look with a combination of swirling snow and low cloud cover. Snow making operations have not yet resumed at the lower elevations of Killington.

The resorts current plan is to re-open on Thursday the 20th. The cold weather predicted for the week should provide them with some favorable conditions to make snow on the mountain. Of course, a little natural snow fall would not hurt either. Time for a snow dance anyone? .... Let it snow!

Killington Peak shrouded in clouds 

Mother Nature giveth.....and Mother Nature can taketh away.

The mountain suspended snow making operations on Thursday as a warm front overran the area. This time of year, warm is relative. For most of last night, a cold rain fell. The temperature last night at midnight at the inn was 35 degrees, just barely above freezing. But that was more than enough to prevent Killington from restarting the 2008/2009 ski season this weekend. Temperatures today in the Killington area are in the low to mid 50's with medium cloud cover.

The resorts current plan is to resume snow making operations on Sunday, when cold temperatures are forecasted to return to the area. Assuming everything goes according to plan, the resort is saying that they will re-open on Thursday the 20th. We can hope! .... Let it snow!

Snow making in full swing on Killington Peak 

To open the resort this weekend, or not to open? This is the question......

Snow making operations are continuing in full swing on the upper levels of Killington Peak. Resort operations are taking advantage of cold temperatures in what is clearly a base building exercise. Cold temperatures are forecasted to persist through late Thursday. Beyond that, it looks like a warm up may be headed to Killington for the weekend.

While snow making is going on at the upper elevations, there was no indication that snow was being made towards the K1 base lodge to complete the circuit for top to bottom skiing and riding. Obviously, this section is critical to reopening the resort to continue the season.

Under the "Things that make you go Huh??" category, 2 solitary fan guns were making snow at base lodges. At the K1 Base, a fan gun is blowing snow in the area around the K1 Gondola Terminal. A fan gun is also blowing snow next to the Magic Carpet at Rams Head. The mountain has gotten several different fan guns from different manufacturers to test in the coming weeks. This may account for the 2 fan guns operating today.

Fan gun making snow at K1 Base (Click to enlarge.)

Fan gun making snow at Rams Head Magic Carpet (Click to enlarge.)

Wether or not the mountain will resume operations this weekend is the question. Weather predictions from multiple sources on the internet offer a collection of different forecasts. All of the forecasts seem to indicate that cold weather will return for multiple days after Saturday afternoon, so the resort being open next week seems like a lock. But before then??? We will know in a day or so...

Let it snow!

Snow making taking place at junction of Great Northern and Bunny Buster above Mousetrap 

Occasional snow showers are lingering at Killington this morning. Temperatures have dropped to the low 30's. Snow accumulation at the inn (1970 feet) is nil. Just a hint of a snow flake in the air. Higher elevations did receive enough to whiten the ground

On the mountain, snow making operations are visible from the top of Killington Peak to the junction of Great Northern and Bunny Buster just above Mousetrap. (roughly 2500 feet) Snow making operations were clearly visible today at the peak all the way down through Rime and Reason.

Light snow fell on the mountain overnight. The mountain is white to about the 2000 foot level, which equates roughly to half way down Snowshed. While the snow fall is not significant, it is a start. With the return of cold temperatures, the light snow cover is another gentle reminder that winter is on the way.

This evening, Mary and I will be hosting a mixer at the Birch Ridge Inn for the Killington Chamber of Commerce. The mixer runs from 5 to 7 PM. If you are in the area, feel free to stop in.... Let it snow!