Great News!! Game on..........

[skiingsnow]

Pretty dumb to not tip your cards, IMO. If I got some advanced warning that there was even a chance, I could request Friday off for vacation. If I learn about a Friday opening when I get home Thursday night, its too late.

Can any one confirm that the guns went on for base building or was this just a "show and blow" test of the system? When I was up on North Ridge on Saturday, a lot of guns were not hooked up and ready. I saw about a dozen or so that were ready to go but I was not impressed with preparations... though they had a lot of activity up there so they could have gotten it together by Sunday.

My question is whether they are taking advantage of the natural snow to make it look like they are blowing for real when they actually just turned the guns on for a photo op and test?

Killington said on facebook they had 60+ guns going... It's not for show... As far as opening, I agree with what drjeff said, and they will probably be busy whether they announce an opening now or last minute, so...

 

[riverc0il]

Killington said on facebook they had 60+ guns going... It's not for show... As far as opening, I agree with what drjeff said, and they will probably be busy whether they announce an opening now or last minute, so...

Sunday River had a similar amount going as well, though. The question is not how many... but how long they were on.... would love to know that stat.

 

[skiingsnow]

Sunday River had a similar amount going as well, though. The question is not how many... but how long they were on.... would love to know that stat.

2:30am to somewhere around 9:30am.

Also the following in the snow report, "we will take advantage of every available window for firing up the World's Most Extensive Snowmaking System!"

 

[riverc0il]

2:30am to somewhere around 9:30am.

Also the following in the snow report, "we will take advantage of every available window for firing up the World's Most Extensive Snowmaking System!"

COOL!

:beer:

 

[snowmonster]

Hmmm...If they open, my exile from Killington will be over.

 

[mondeo]

2:30am to somewhere around 9:30am.

Also the following in the snow report, "we will take advantage of every available window for firing up the World's Most Extensive Snowmaking System!"

And "Our Mountain Ops Team will take advantage of every available window for snowmaking production and all of us here at Killington Resort are very excited to get skiers and riders out on the mountain as soon as weather and conditions permit."

If they wanted to blow for show, they could've done it along with SR. Marketing isn't Beastly.

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

Assuming for the moment that they DO open early will non pass holders still pay full price for limited terrain?

 

[mondeo]

Assuming for the moment that they DO open early will non pass holders still pay full price for limited terrain?

They didn't the last couple years. Think it was like $50 when it was just North Ridge last year, then gets bumped up to $65 once they get a bit more open, then up to $82 sometime after Thanksgiving.

Non-pass-holders would know better, though.

 

[Johnskiismore]

Hope they open Thursday, cause I have Friday off! That'll be my only shot for October skiing before a Septoplasty on Monday... no schussing for at least a week after that!

 

[Puck it]

They didn't the last couple years. Think it was like $50 when it was just North Ridge last year, then gets bumped up to $65 once they get a bit more open, then up to $82 sometime after Thanksgiving.

Non-pass-holders would know better, though.

It was $49 fopr opening day then climb up to the $65 when Snowdon got open.

 

[Puck it]

Hope they open Thursday, cause I have Friday off! That'll be my only shot for October skiing before a Septoplasty on Monday... no schussing for at least a week after that!

Is this what happened?

 

[Johnskiismore]

Is this what happened?

HA! That's pretty good!

 

[jimmywilson69]

It didn't apear that they blew snow last night, unless it was during dark hours only. I'm guessing an opening for this weekend is out of the question. They have to be close though from looking at the pictures of everyone who hiked last weekend

 

[mondeo]

It didn't apear that they blew snow last night, unless it was during dark hours only. I'm guessing an opening for this weekend is out of the question. They have to be close though from looking at the pictures of everyone who hiked last weekend

Partway through tomorrow the snowmaking weather starts looking really good, round the clock through tomorrow with some natural possible. 24 productive hours on top of what they already have hopefully will be enough.

Killington doesn't blow if they don't think it'll stick around, 6 hours of snowmaking for a couple nights two weeks in advance of when they plan on blowing doesn't fit with the way they do business. They knew the couple nights they blew that there would be a couple days off, then back on with round the clock production; if they're halfway there, then they should be able to open Saturday. Friday at noon probably isn't out of the question.

 

[jimmywilson69]

lets hope so.

the updated the insider blog with a video about the walkway. It appears to be taken pre snow. A few interesting tidbits. The slope crossings (catwalk and cascade) are stone walkways! The non metal surfaces will have ruber on them.

 

[jerryg]

Partway through tomorrow the snowmaking weather starts looking really good, round the clock through tomorrow with some natural possible. 24 productive hours on top of what they already have hopefully will be enough.

Killington doesn't blow if they don't think it'll stick around, 6 hours of snowmaking for a couple nights two weeks in advance of when they plan on blowing doesn't fit with the way they do business. They knew the couple nights they blew that there would be a couple days off, then back on with round the clock production; if they're halfway there, then they should be able to open Saturday. Friday at noon probably isn't out of the question.

Hasn't there only been one confirmed night of snowmaking and no confirmation of snow made on Rime and Reason, just Great Northern and top of Canyon Quad? I'm not saying they didn't but I think a lot of this is speculation.

If it is one night or even two, is that enough to support the skier traffic? I'm asking because I don't know and not because I'm trying to be difficult.

Thanks!

 

[Highway Star]

Here's what I just posted over on K-zone in response to someone claiming they would open Friday:

Let's be realistic here. You need to look at the forecast graph:

They aren't going to be able to start making snow until midnight-ish Thursday evening.....IF the forecast pans out. They barely made any snow the other night. There was melting this whole week so far, and a bit of r*in is forecast. There is virtually no way they would open Friday morning on 8 hours of snowmaking. These guys like to have a chance to groom things out, etc, etc. IMHO, it's much more likely they'll make snow from Thursday night until Saturday morning, then groom quickly and open mid-late morning.

Only way a Friday opening could happen is if they got more snow instaid of r*in (unlikely), made good snow Thursday night and opened mid-day Friday while snowmaking was ongoing. I just don't see these guys doing that.

I think it's pretty likely they will be able to get open Saturday.

 

[jimmywilson69]

that seems like a marginal snow making forecast, even for saturday. The humidity seems high for 27 degree snow making, but I have no practical experience with snow making equipment and wet bulb temps.

Does Kton require an 18" base? or will they open on less with the potential of having to close if things warm up in the long run?

 

[mondeo]

Hasn't there only been one confirmed night of snowmaking and no confirmation of snow made on Rime and Reason, just Great Northern and top of Canyon Quad? I'm not saying they didn't but I think a lot of this is speculation.

If it is one night or even two, is that enough to support the skier traffic? I'm asking because I don't know and not because I'm trying to be difficult.

Thanks!

They reported 60 guns on Monday, which would say to me more than just GN - and given the sightlines from the base, it's easier to pick up snowmaking on GN than Rime or Reason. Pickle Barrel Facebook feed reported a second night of snowmaking, not going to make any claims of validity based on that but it is some indication. This is on top of the ~foot they got from the storm. HS knows the stats better than I do on how much snow they need to put down, but they should have around 36-40 hours of continuous snowmaking before they'd need to groom for Saturday, some of those hours being below 20 degrees. I'd think that would be enough. Might even be able to offer some terrain expansion for Sunday - a whole 'nother 250 feet of the same terrain with upper Dipper!

 

[mondeo]

that seems like a marginal snow making forecast, even for saturday. The humidity seems high for 27 degree snow making, but I have no practical experience with snow making equipment and wet bulb temps.

Does Kton require an 18" base? or will they open on less with the potential of having to close if things warm up in the long run?

I recall from somewhere a 26 degree wet bulb temperature being what you need. Might not be the best snow it puts out, but it's not bad for early season. 21 degrees with a 13 degree wet bulb looks tasty.