Snow making operations underway on Highline 

Last night, the Killington area was buffeted by extremely high winds. The inn was hit repeatedly with high wind gusts during the evening hours. The light snow that was all around the inn from the previous 2 days of accumulation was scoured from the ground over night, even though temperatures were well below freezing. Very strange weather.

Today up on the mountain, the Killington Resort is continuing their very aggressive snowmaking stance. Thus far this week they have been able to resurface all of the terrain that had ben previously open, and expanded terrain to interconnect the K1 base area with Ramshead. In addition, they have been blowing snow top to bottom at Pico. Of course, everyone is waiting with baited breath for the weather system that is punishing Denver to move east. Depending how much "mix" we get in the forecasted "wintery mix" will tell the story about how much terrain the resort will be able to open over the Christmas Holidays.

Setting up auxiliary snow cannons at the base of Superstar

Killington management has been very communicative to local businesses. This afternoon, they sent a note out with their plans for the holidays. Assuming Saturday's storm is kind, Killington plans to expend terrain over to Bear Mountain via the Skye Peak quad, into the Needles Eye area along Cruise Control, Panic Button, and Needles Eye, and continue operations over at Pico on terrain around the Golden Express Quad. Think snow!

Snow Guns blasting at junction of
Chute, Great Northern and Lower
Bunny Buster 

Killington's snow making system has been fired up into overdrive to cover as much territory as possible prior to the arrival of Christmas guests to the region. Mary was out on the hill today skiing and trying out her new camera. She reported that conditions at the upper elevations were firm while lower elevations were still on the soft side. Overall coverage on snow making trails was good. Terrain expansion off the back of Superstar into the Needles Eye area looks like it is taking place, although it is not open for skiing yet.

While it was sunny and cool today, tonight we are having a howling wind storm at Killington. No precipitation at the Inn is evident, but we are receiving very strong winds which must be blowing snow around on the mountain. The forecast for snowmaking the next couple of days looks promising. There does look like a weather system will move in briefly on Saturday with a "Wintry Mix" predicted. Let it Snow!

Several items today happened which will impact the Killington resort over both the near and far term. Locally, winter is making an attempt to return. The area has been dusted with snow the last couple of days. Nothing that I would consider measurable, but the ground is trying to become white again. On the mountain, and I am sorry I don't have any pictures - work has gotten in the way, the resort is trying to blow snow every where on the Killington Peak side of the resort as they get ready for the very important Christmas Holiday week.

Also today, it was announced that the American Skiing Company, owner of Killington, has sold the Steamboat Resort to Intrawest in a deal valued at $265 million. Earlier today Killington senior management sent a message to all Killington employees about the sale. This evening, the Reuters News Service is also reporting the deal. The deal is set to close in March of 2007. It is being reported that after closing, it is anticipated that net proceeds from the sale will be used to repay all existing senior debt and outstanding revolver balances under ASC's senior credit facility and certain other indebtedness. That will certainly help the improve the financial condition of ASC, and by association the Killington Resort.

Christmas Tree for 2006 at the Birch Ridge Inn 

It may be rather warm and green outside, but the Holiday Season is in the air at Killington, at least at the Birch Ridge Inn. Mary visited her family in Boston this week and came back to Killington with a car load of presents for under our Christmas Tree. One of those presents she let me "open early": a new Canon 7 megapixel PowerShot camera I can slip into my ski jacket for pictures while on the hill. Todays Christmas Tree picture was taken with it last night.

Guests at the inn are also getting into the Christmas mode and doing their best to support the local Vermont economy. Guests have come back to the inn with shopping bags full of presents. The local ski shops including Aspen East, Basin, Forerunner, Darkside, and Peak Performance all seem to be doing well with our guests. Several have taken shopping excursions to Manchester Vermont with the requisite stop at the Vermont Country Store in Weston. And of course the local gift shops including the Boutique, the Green Brier and Cabin Fever Gifts all seem to be doing well.

Of course, I am continuing to encourage our guests to do their snow dances. Are you doing yours?

Haze over Killington Peak at Noon Time 

Weather today at Killington has been unseasonably warm. Temperatures this afternoon at the inn are in the low 50's. Most of the snow around the inn, except for piles by the A Frame roofs, has begun it's trip to the Connecticut River Valley.

On the mountain, it is a tale of opposites. Trails that did not receive snow making over the last couple of weeks are heading from snow covered back to mud. Trails that saw significant snow making seem to be holding up fairly well. I have not skied since Monday. Mary has been in Boston visiting her parents on a pre-holiday trip, so I have been manning the inn 24-7. However, we do have several ski pro's staying with us who are attending the PSIA Pro Jam at the resort this week. They have reported that surface conditions, while obviously softening up, have held up quite well. So there is reason for optimism. Let it snow!

Looking up the K1 Gondola line towards
the cloud shrouding Killington Peak 

While I was growing up, my mother often told me that if I could not say something good, then I should not say it. Well...I don't always follow my mothers advice, but today is one of those days in Killington. Today's picture says enough about the weather we are having. But this too shall pass....must stay positive...must stay positive...Time to restart the Snow Dance! Please!!!!

Christmas Caroling at the Glucks
Foreground : Hostess Noel Gluck
with guest Charlotte Lange
Background: Rich Rzasa on Guitar,
Nina Tasi and Host Dick Gluck
Out of frame left : Dr. George Lyons
leading the party in song. 

Last night Mary and I had the opportunity to attend a very nice Christmas Party hosted, at their home, by our good friends Dick and Noel Gluck. We had a great night out of the inn socializing with many of our good friends and customers from the Killington community.

In addition to the great food and libations supplied by Dick and Noel, the highlight of the evening was a Christmas Caroling session lead by Dr. George Lyons. George worked the piano with accompaniment by Rich Rzasa on guitar. To start of the caroling, guests were given copies of "Silent Night" in German to serenade long time Killington resident Walter Linnemayr.

Dr. George Lyons (right) leads the party in "Silent Night" Yours truly and Walter Linnemayr join the chorus

Walter originally came to Killington as a ski instructor from Austria. Walter also has his own construction business and did much of the work over the years to remodel and expand Dick and Noel's home. Hence Mr. Gluck requested the caroling start with the german rendition of Silent Night in Walter's honor( also to help Walter brush up on his mother tongue).