First real snow of the 2008/2009 season falling at Killington. 

Over the last month, Mary and I, as well as several of our friends, have spent a few days hiking in the mountains of the Killington Resort. While the primary reason for the hikes was to get a good leg work out to prepare for the coming ski season, we were also very curious about the work being done by Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners, LLC, (the official name of the company running the Killington Resort) as they prepare for their second season operating the resort.

Much has been made of the resort spending over $8M on capital improvements this year. During our hikes, we saw evidence all over the resort of crews out repairing the facility, painting lifts and ancillary buildings, mowing trails, cutting back brush, working on the snow making system. This of course is the unsung work that goes on in the background to prepare the resort for winter....and if the level of work being done on the mountain is any indication, the current resort operators take this work very seriously.

But the bulk of the money being spent to improve the area this year is being spent on the Bear Mountain/Sky Peak side of the resort, 2 of the 6 interconnected mountains of the 7 mountain Killington/Pico resort. Press releases by the resort have mentioned the installation of a new high speed quad from the Bear Mountain Base Lodge to Sky Peak. They have also mentioned working with Burton Snowboards to create a new area at Killington called "The Stash". But the press releases don't do the level of work being completed justice. Simply put, the amount of work we saw being done on the mountain is stunning. The work will forever change the way people ski or ride at both Bear Mountain and Sky Peak, and how skiers and riders negotiate getting around the whole resort.

Over the next several days, I will focus my blogging on the major changes we witnessed during our hikes. Tomorrow, I will focus on our route on the soon to be abandoned "Snow Shed Crossover". Subsequent posts will present work being done on Lower and Upper Stash, the redesign of Sky Peak, the new route off the Skyship Gondola, modifications of Great Eastern to make the trail "Green" and modifications to Lower Bittersweet to make the trail "Blue".

On a side note, the first real snow of the season is currently falling at Killington. Not enough to ski on, mind you, but it is a sure sign that winter is not far away.

Enjoy the hike....let it snow!

Icicles forming on exposed rock on Killington 

Today at Killington is one of those nasty seasonal transition days that we experience here this time of year. Twig Season has arrived. Most of the trees have shed their fall finery. Cloudy overcast skies are spitting very cold rain drops. Snow is in the forecast.... It is a very gray day. It is obvious that winter will be here soon. (We hope!)

Yesterday, Mary and I took another walk about up on the mountain. We spent about 3 hours hiking across the Sky Peak area, in the new "Stash", and down the new Bittersweet cut. The amount of work that has been done by the resort is nothing short of impressive. Over the next few days, I will chronicle our hike in detail with pictures of all of the changes. Bear with me, because there is a lot to talk about.

One thing we did notice, and this matches today's twig season theme, is that the mountain is starting to freeze. Icicles were starting to form on many of the exposed rock faces where water was present. Exposed rock on some of the trails we walked was downright treacherous, as there was a fine sheen of ice covering many of the surfaces. All of this is , of course, a harbinger of the winter to come.

Today also marks the end of the daily fall foliage picture of the inn. This years set started on September 1. No matter how many times I have seen it, I am always amazed by the progression of fall colors across the mountains. This years colors were as nice as any...but the seasons move on...so it goes.

With any luck, in the next few weeks, I will be starting up the daily picture of the snow stake. In the meantime, as we get ready for the winter season here at Killington we can only think.....let it snow!

Sky Peak Lower Terminal being hoisted into place at Bear Mountain 

With the fall foliage season rapidly coming to a close at Killington, all over the resort workers are busy getting the area ready for winter. While there are a lot of little things that go into getting a ski resort ready for winter, today also marked one of those big things which will go along way to improving the guest experience skiing and riding at Killington.

The major capital expansion this year at Killington is the installation of a new high speed quad running from the base of Bear Mountain to the top of Sky Peak. Today, workers using heavy lift equipment, installed the base terminal for the new lift at Bear Mountain. While a lot of work needs to be completed before the new lift is ready this winter, for all those who enjoy skiing and riding at Killington, the new lift is a welcome sight.

Large red maple tree at the front of the Birch Ridge Inn. (Click to enlarge.)

Of course, fall colors are still quite evident around the region. At the inn, many of the trees on the hillside behind the property have started to shed their leaves, as the daily picture of the inn displays.

Curiously, at the front of the inn on the Killington Road, there is one Maple tree which is still hanging in there in all it's glory. Bright red, strong and tall, for all those interested to see. Of course, it's days are numbered, but it is a stunning reminder of how beautiful the colors were in Killington this fall season.

Let it snow!

Fall colors frame the Birch Ridge Inn at Killington 

Color on the trees around Killington is still pretty, but focus on fall foliage is turning, at least in the minds of the locals, to skiing and the upcoming winter season. Signs of the transition from thoughts of fall to winter are everywhere you look around town.

At the resort, Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners, LLC, the official name of the company responsible for running the resort, is well underway in preparing for winter. Work is being completed to the improvements in the Sky Peak area of the resort. Construction on "The Stash", a collaborative effort with Burton Snow Boards to make a Freestyle Park off of Sky Peak, is nearing completion. Work on the new high speed Sky Peak Quad is also moving along. Concrete work for the new lift terminal at top of the lift looks like it is about done. The new lift terminal and associated support equipment still needs to be hauled up the mountain, but much of the site prep seems to be well in hand.

In addition to the physical plant changes, the resort has also launched their new winter website at killington.com. The site is highly interactive and contains a wealth of information about the resort and the area. It is worth checking out.

On the legal front, the resort suffered a setback in it's defense of it's actions to curtail the use of "investor passes" sold by the original founding company of the Killington Resort 50 years ago. Last year, several holders of investor passes filed suit against the resort to re-instate what for many was perceived as "lifetime" privileges to use the lifts at the ski resort. Yesterday, a federal judge ruled that the lawsuit filed by the investor pass holders qualified for "Class Action" status. An article on the judges ruling was published in todays Rutland Herald.

Turning the focus back to skiing, multiple "rumors" are flying around town. The resort has already announced their intention to open for the winter season on November 14th (weather permitting). Whisper dates of an earlier open are rampant, but that of course depends upon Mother Nature moving the season along a little faster than she currently is. (I am sitting here in a golf shirt and shorts writing this blog. Today is a beautiful warm fall day in Killington). The weather forecast for the weekend indicates a rapid cool down. All eyes will be focused on the top of Killington Peak to see if the resort starts to fire up their snow making system. Forecasts indicate that Killington Peak should be substantially below freezing overnight. Of course there is a lot more than cold temperatures which impact the ability of the resort to make snow. At any rate, it provides good conversation fodder, with your favorite beverage, at the local establishments.

Mary and I are starting to get ramped up about taking some runs at the resort. We have quite a bit of work to do around the inn to finish winter preparations, and I do have one more golf tournament that I am scheduled to play in over the next week, but we have started to dig out our equipment to get it tuned for the season. Are you?

Dare I say...let it snow!

Killington area taking on a golden hue 

As the flaming red maple trees fade away, birch, oak and poplar trees around Killington are rising to the challenge and bathing the area in a golden glow.

Traffic exiting the Killington area this afternoon is heavy as Columbus Day visitors head home. Our guests were all ecstatic with the show Mother Nature put on this weekend. Great fall colors in the Green Mountains around Killington combined with warm, sunny, days had the guests all buzzing this morning as they prepared to head home or to their next destination.

Winter is, of course, just around the corner. But we still have a colorful week or 2 left at Killington before twig season sets in. Great for one final round (or 2) of golf for the season at Killington before the snow start's to fly. So it goes.

Crowds flocked for fall foliage ride on K1 to top of Killington Peak 

Visitors to Killington this weekend were greeted with some of the nicest fall foliage viewing weather in recent memory. After a mild frost in the middle of last week, Indian Summer has settled over the region. Temperatures at mid day today were in the high 60's with full sunshine under a near cloudless sky.

Fall foliage colors are still holding up nicely in the immediate Killington area. The Killington basin is past peak. Most of the maple trees which were ablaze with red last week are starting to shed their leaves. Native oak trees have started to put on their burnt orange coat. The poplar trees are still tending to be green with some yellow tones coming through.

Guests have reported that color up close on the hiking trails around Killington is still quite spectacular. Many of our guests have hiked on Killington Peak this weekend to take in the views of the surrounding countryside. They were rewarded with mild temperatures and a beautiful clear sky.

Over the next week, Mary and I will begin turning our attention to preparing for winter. Ski season is just around the corner...we hope!

Mary being fitted for new ski boots by Ray at Surefoot 

Cloud free skies and warm temperatures (can you say Indian Summer) are greeting travelers headed towards the Green Mountains and Killington today for the Columbus Day weekend.

Columbus Day weekend leaf peepers will be greeted with some of the nicest fall colors in years through out the mountains. Veteran Killington skiers and riders will find all of the local ski and board shops open for business with great deals on equipment for the coming season. The annual Killington Ski Club Ski Swap is on tap at the Snowshed Base Lodge this weekend. This is always a prime weekend to shop for ski equipment, and this year will be no exception.

Mary did her part in helping to keep the local economy going, and to get ready for skiing in a month. Yesterday I took her down to the local Surefoot store for a new pair of ski boots. (The pair Mary has been skiing are about 12 years old...they did not owe her anything...thats for sure...) Surefoot Proprietor Ray Rice outfitted Mary with new boots and custom foot beds. She is now good to go for her first runs of the season which will hopefully take place in 4 to 6 weeks.

It should be a nice weekend to visit Killington. If you get a chance to head this way, stop bye and say hello!