Anyone ever try Pico?

[Buckeye Skier 1330]

We drove by Pico last week on the way to the Bush and it really looked nice. I had seen pictures of it before and liked the way it was set up, but seeing it in person really impressed me. I don't remember ever seeing any threads about Pico on AZ, any of you folks ever go there? I know it is part of K-Mart but I've heard that it's nowhere near as crowded. Just curious.

 

[riverc0il]

pico is an interesting mountain. i like it. you really wouldn't guess it's part of the evil empire or kmart despite the two high speed detaches. the biggest problem with pico is the long run out in the middle of the mountain *yawn* but the outpost double and the chair servicing the A & B slopes are awesome, and the upper mountain trails have a lot of character and charm. i like pico and would likely ski there more often if there weren't better ski areas within that driving distance. it's highly recommeneded.

 

[Charlie Schuessler]

Enjoyable mountain to ski on it's own.

ASC Passes are good there, and busy weekends at Kiilington do not translate into same madness at Pico...most of the crazies on thier way to Killington drive by and don't bother with it...

Try it, you'll like it.

 

[deadheadskier]

I've always been a fan of Upper Giant Killer. I believe a long time ago they used to have a poma lift next to it which was great for quick laps down the bumps. I haven't skied there in well over ten years, but I think I recall that

 

[billski]

yup

Been over 20 years since I last skied there, but it was an extremely memorable, enjoyable mountain to ski.

 

[Vortex]

20 plus years for me also. Most of our high school races took place there as well as a good many Mid Vermont Comps. I loved it always less crowds than the bigger mountains.

 

[rjc1976]

I've only been to Pico 3 times, but I've enjoyed it each time. I find that the trails at Pico have more character than the average mountain. My main complaint is how they organize (or not organize) their lift lines. They let multiple lines funnel down into one instead of having someone tell people when to go. So getting on the lift often feels like when you're on the highway and five lanes merge down to one. Luckily the lines are never long.

Now all 3 times I've been there were right after snow storms. I've heard that the conditions at Pico are not as good as most of the major mountains during bad stretches of weather (ie rain, warm, or freeze/thaw cylce). Can someone here comment on that?

 

[Buckeye Skier 1330]

Looks like I'll have to add Pico to the must ski list, along with Burke, Cannon, Stowe, Smuggs. Then there's the must return to list Sugarbush/MRG,Whiteface,Sugarloaf,Wildcat.....
So many mountains so little time.

 

[Brn4353]

Pico

How late in the season does Pico stay open? Do they try to keep up with their neighbor, Kmart? Would love to hit the mountain this year if I can.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Skiing Pico

Glad you asked about Pico. We (My 21 yr old daughter and I) skied Killington this past Thursday (3/10) and found conditions generally good although things were getting kind of scratchy by about 1 PM. Since we stayed at a friend's ski house a few miles north on Rt 100 we had a great view of Pico as we headed back south to ski Friday. On a whim, we decided to try it. I hadn't been there in about five years, and found it to be exactly as I last visited; rustic lodge, with friendly people, and families with kids. Oh yes, we also were able to park in the second row! We found the snow conditions excellent, NOT scratchy, and many of the trails were at least half ungroomed. I even found some untracked areas in some of the "woodsie" meandering trails off to the side of the main slopes. I like skiing powder, or lacking that, even tracked up powder (which some call crud) and there was plenty of that. Since everything basically ends up back at the base, my daughter (who is a good skier, but without my stamina) was able to take a break at times while I did a couple of runs and then conveniently met me at the main lift when she had rested. It started to snow heavily a little before noon and soon we started really carving beautiful tracks. By three my daughter pretty much called it for the day, and I hooked up with an instructor and a "liftie" who took me down some lines that I hadn't found myself and went nuts until the last chair at four. All in all, a really nice day on a sweet mountain well worth skiing! Oh yes, I forgot: They are closing the mountain on Sunday 3/27 to concentrate their spring resources over on K.

 

[riverc0il]

They are closing the mountain on Sunday 3/27 to concentrate their spring resources over on K.

:shock:

i can't help but still be surprised with the early closing of ski areas, but i am especially surprised at the closing early of the really good ones. pico is 2000+ verts right? if so, they would likely be the first 2000+ verts ski area to close in new england, if not the USA.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Closing Pico

I'm surprised too, since they have such a nice base established. In any case, that is what I was told by the instructor and "liftie" that I had hooked up with. I too am starting to feel that spring time sadness. It must be time to take a trip out west!

 

[thetrailboss]

As riverc0il suggested, one of the most underutilized and now underfunded BIG mountains in NE. Great skiing and riding...great vert, no crowds, nice wild terrain on the Outpost Double reminsicent of MRG. Some nice cruisers...the Glade Trail on far left of the trail map is cool. I enjoyed my visits in 2000-2001, but it is really getting the short end of the ASC stick. No crowds on Sat/Sunday and cheap. Shopworn facilities...nice glade shots off the top as well. :wink:

 

[mergs]

Re: Skiing Pico

Glad you asked about Pico. We (My 21 yr old daughter and I) skied Killington this past Thursday (3/10) and found conditions generally good although things were getting kind of scratchy by about 1 PM. Since we stayed at a friend's ski house a few miles north on Rt 100 we had a great view of Pico as we headed back south to ski Friday. On a whim, we decided to try it. I hadn't been there in about five years, and found it to be exactly as I last visited; rustic lodge, with friendly people, and families with kids. Oh yes, we also were able to park in the second row! We found the snow conditions excellent, NOT scratchy, and many of the trails were at least half ungroomed. I even found some untracked areas in some of the "woodsie" meandering trails off to the side of the main slopes. I like skiing powder, or lacking that, even tracked up powder (which some call crud) and there was plenty of that. Since everything basically ends up back at the base, my daughter (who is a good skier, but without my stamina) was able to take a break at times while I did a couple of runs and then conveniently met me at the main lift when she had rested. It started to snow heavily a little before noon and soon we started really carving beautiful tracks. By three my daughter pretty much called it for the day, and I hooked up with an instructor and a "liftie" who took me down some lines that I hadn't found myself and went nuts until the last chair at four. All in all, a really nice day on a sweet mountain well worth skiing! Oh yes, I forgot: They are closing the mountain on Sunday 3/27 to concentrate their spring resources over on K.

This is exactly how I remember Pico a few years back when I last visited. The only diff with my experience was that the day before, when I rode K, conditions were horrendous, yet Pico was very good; fresh snow in places in fact. Its amazing what the lack of a thundering herd of skiers/riders can do for conditions!

These days, I travel a little farther for fresher snow.

 

[ozskier]

Pico is a great mountain, two detachable quads. No lines. 2k of vert. Upper Giant Killer is a sick run and you can still ski the poma line. Plenty of stashes to find great snow in. If you're at killington for the weekend I'd highly suggest ducking over to Pico. You'll rack up an insane amount of runs in very little time when compared to K-mart.