killington glades

[millerm277]

Im going to Killington for my first time ever this weekend 1/31-2/2. Any suggestions on what parts of the mountain may be less crowded? What your favorite peak? Last week at Stratton was painful, so many people, spent more time on line for the lift than actually riding.

Killington spreads out crowds well for the most part in terms of lifts, even on weekends.

Rams Head Quad will always be busy with beginners, but if you aren't one you won't want to ski there anyway.

Skye Peak Quad is probably the biggest bottleneck on the mountain at present. It's the only way to get out of Bear Mountain once you go down there. If you want to ski Bear, I suggest doing it early or lunch time. Afternoon the lines seem to build up there.

K-1 Gondola will also get some lines.

Otherwise, most other lifts on the mountain should be ski-on or pretty close to it. Skyeship Midstation will get a fairly short line, but Needles HSQ is right there and better for lapping the area anyway.

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The one suggestion I would have trail-wise at Killington, is to pay some attention to where you're going. A lot of people seem to not pay much attention and all wind up in certain busy spots, while there are barely touched trails 100ft away because people didn't plan where they wanted to ski at all.

Also: Launchpad, Frolic, High/Low Traverse, Home Run, Carpenter's Run, Northbrook Crossover, and Great Northern between K-1 and Rams Head, are flat. Useful, but don't think of them as trails to "ski", they help you get around the mountain.

Juggernaut + Solitude on the other hand are basically long cross country trails. Unless that's what you're there to ski, don't take them. Sunrise lift has no point unless you are at the condos there, don't go there.

 

[SLOWSNO]

@millerm277 thank you so much for this! I knew there had to be one lift that was a total mess to get back to the gondola area of the mountain. Im a huge fan of maps and usually plan out loosely my morning and afternoon and adjust according to conditions. I'm going to mark off those flats since I snowboard and dont want to destroy my day. So basically stay off anything green unless I need to take it to a specific destination.

I am also a little concerned, from what Ive heard killington is a party place, is this translated onto the slopes, or do most people know what they are doing? i just imagine a bunch of beginners coming up from the city for a party weekend (which is what ive heard of a lot of people doing).

 

[millerm277]

@millerm277 thank you so much for this! I knew there had to be one lift that was a total mess to get back to the gondola area of the mountain. Im a huge fan of maps and usually plan out loosely my morning and afternoon and adjust according to conditions. I'm going to mark off those flats since I snowboard and dont want to destroy my day. So basically stay off anything green unless I need to take it to a specific destination.

Well, not all green runs are flat, just those runs and maybe a few other spots. And not all of those flats are necessarily something you'll truly wind up walking unless it's a warm day, you can usually coast most of their length. They're just not something you go to ski. If you look at the map, Launchpad looks like some nice long intermediate run to get to Skye Peak from K-Peak, for example.

I am also a little concerned, from what Ive heard killington is a party place, is this translated onto the slopes, or do most people know what they are doing? i just imagine a bunch of beginners coming up from the city for a party weekend (which is what ive heard of a lot of people doing).

Killington, I think much moreso than places like Stratton and Okemo, has a lot of regulars there who are damn good skiers. There are certainly clueless beginners, and other people who get in over their head as there are anywhere, but it's not as though the mountain is overrun by idiots.

It is known for partying, but you're not going to be riding the lifts with the cast of the Jersey Shore or something.

 

[SLOWSNO]

Ha!

Well, not all green runs are flat, just those runs and maybe a few other spots. And not all of those flats are necessarily something you'll truly wind up walking unless it's a warm day, you can usually coast most of their length. They're just not something you go to ski. If you look at the map, Launchpad looks like some nice long intermediate run to get to Skye Peak from K-Peak, for example.

This exactly! I was afraid it would be jersey shore-ish. Thank you for easing my concern!

Killington, I think much moreso than places like Stratton and Okemo, has a lot of regulars there who are damn good skiers. There are certainly clueless beginners, and other people who get in over their head as there are anywhere, but it's not as though the mountain is overrun by idiots.

It is known for partying, but you're not going to be riding the lifts with the cast of the Jersey Shore or something.

 

[gregnye]

Ha!

Killington's an interesting place. I've been there 3 different days. First time I came up on a free lift ticket for early season. I was impressed with the snow making, but was annoyed that the lifts weren't that long (for instance, the length of the superstar chairlift is like 1 Wachusett--rather than like as long as the Wildcat Quad, which is what I thought the scale would be). I also didn't like the K1 gondola for the fact that it was (1) a gondola, (2) placed practically in the way of everything, and (3) more run-out than I expected.

The 2nd time up for 2 days, the first one being a powder-day. I realized that Killington really isn't trying to be such a High-class resort after all (not like Vail or Stowe). In fact, I am actually really in love with the place now, as I feel that all the money they get from their ticket prices directly feeds into snowmaking, rather than stupid Waterparks like Jay Peak or upper-class stuff like many western resorts.

Summary: "A somewhat-classy resort that is yet down to earth (aka skiing on grass and rock in some parts--the Vermont way!!), puts money into snowmaking" I think you'll like it!! :lol:

 

[steamboat1]

Mon-Thurs., walk onto any lift you want. Ski down any trail & there's nobody there.

Oh this thread is about glades. Not much going on in that department.

 

[Wavewheeler]

Mon-Thurs., walk onto any lift you want. Ski down any trail & there's nobody there.

+1 They didn't have much natural in mid January and when I was there a lot in the woods was barely covered/brown. I only have only skied Killington midweek and it's awesome. Now they have all the lodges open too during midweek, unlike a few years ago when they shut almost everything down.

 

[jaysunn]

Summary: "A somewhat-classy resort that is yet down to earth (aka skiing on grass and rock in some parts--the Vermont way!!), puts money into snowmaking" I think you'll like it!!

Killington is the beast for a reason, I have skied / boarded all of Vermont, when you get it good at Jay, it's awesome, when you get it good at Stowe the same. But let's just say GM: Salimono, hope I spelt it correct, has been kicking ass at Killington, snowmaking at it's best. Early November to Now. Love it.

Let's hope for all snow, no sleet this weekend - week.

Jaysunn

 

[jaysunn]

Oh this thread is about glades. Not much going on in that department.

@steamboat1, if you look you will find it. I will pack down the snow for you and others, should be good soon.

LOL
Jaysunn

 

[MadMadWorld]

@steamboat1, if you look you will find it. I will pack down the snow for you and others, should be good soon.

LOL
Jaysunn

I'm pretty confident he was being sarcastic.

 

[canobie#1]

I am at stowe right now and I gotta say, Killington >>>>>>>>> stowe. Stowe is nice and the hotel at the base that we stay at is amazing but killington's terrain dominates stowe's. Killington actually has glades. The only two glade we found were the nosedive and the ones along the toll house. I will take killington any day.

 

[twinplanx]

I am at stowe right now and I gotta say, Killington >>>>>>>>> stowe. Stowe is nice and the hotel at the base that we stay at is amazing but killington's terrain dominates stowe's. Killington actually has glades. The only two glade we found were the nosedive and the ones along the toll house. I will take killington any day.

You have much to learn young Jedi...!

Sent from my SCH-S735C using Tapatalk

 

[canobie#1]

I like stowe. Lookout, star, chinclip and goat are awesome but the vibe and layout go to killington for me.

 

[MadMadWorld]

I am at stowe right now and I gotta say, Killington >>>>>>>>> stowe. Stowe is nice and the hotel at the base that we stay at is amazing but killington's terrain dominates stowe's. Killington actually has glades. The only two glade we found were the nosedive and the ones along the toll house. I will take killington any day.

I've never heard that before. Stowe has better and more they just aren't on the map but very easy to find. From a backcountry standpoint it's not even close. Stowe wins in a landslide

 

[Smellytele]

I like stowe. Lookout, star, chinclip and goat are awesome but the vibe and layout go to killington for me.

Vibe better at Killington?uke:

 

[jaysunn]

@madmadworld.

I've never heard that before. Stowe has better and more they just aren't on the map but very easy to find. From a backcountry standpoint it's not even close. Stowe wins in a landslide

Stowe has amazing glades, just got to look, Kitchen needs cleaning. Get it.

EDIT: Don't throw your skis off the wall. LOL old joke

 

[MadMadWorld]

@madmadworld.


Stowe has amazing glades, just got to look, Kitchen needs cleaning. Get it.

EDIT: Don't throw your skis off the wall. LOL old joke

Haven't been up this year but I'm sure the kitchen needs a lot more snow. The planets on the other hand are probably are good to go after this week's snow.

 

[jaysunn]

Yea o yea, more snow needed @ madmad, let's hope this winter goes late in to April. Mansfield is so sick when it's proper.

 

[Scruffy]

Shush, quiet down now. If Obi-Wan thinks Ktown is better than Stowe for glades, by all means the young Jedi should stay at Ktown. ;-)

 

[fbrissette]

I've never heard that before. Stowe has better and more they just aren't on the map but very easy to find. From a backcountry standpoint it's not even close. Stowe wins in a landslide

+1