Just a thought on early K-mart opening

[Puck it]

With all of the talk on opening at K-mart. If they stick with the North Ridge as their early season option. I know Ridge Run has no snow making, but they should think about installing some pipes there if they stick with this plan. Powerlind also shows snow making on it, probably because the pipes are close by in the woods.

Could they run hoses through the woods to get Ridge Run open? Cannon does this with Paulie's Folly with hoses running from Avalanche. Just thought. The two runs up there get a little boring after while.

 

[millerm277]

West Glade (Ridge Run) is a natural snow trail, and most K-regulars would probably like to keep it that way..... It's a pretty nice run for learning bumps, and short anyway. Powerline has snowmaking when they drag hoses from the pipe on Rime.

 

[Puck it]

The snowmaking would only be for early season opening then let it go natural after that. Any harm? It would move people around. Those two slopes get pretty crowded.

 

[skiadikt]

i'm no mtn opps guy, but running hoses from rime to ridge run isn't really feasible. pretty long haul through the woods, across a trail and through more woods. though blowing powerline (and upper dipper) would certainly help. they had upper dipper open saturday but it was pretty sketch. as an old timer i'd be opposed to the commercialization of ridge run ...

 

[deadheadskier]

I've only seen pictures of powerline, but wouldn't that be a disaster for an early season run with how narrow it is?

 

[Geoff]

i'm no mtn opps guy, but running hoses from rime to ridge run isn't really feasible. pretty long haul through the woods, across a trail and through more woods. though blowing powerline (and upper dipper) would certainly help. they had upper dipper open saturday but it was pretty sketch. as an old timer i'd be opposed to the commercialization of ridge run ...

I have a different opinion.

I think Killington should blast / grade Heavenly Traverse so novices can go from the K1 to the top of the Northridge Triple. I'd install snowmaking on Heavenly Traverse and Ridgerunner and call the whole thing "Great Northern". That stops the vast majority of the intersecting traffic at Downdraft, Double Dipper, Reason/Upper East Fall, and Rime.

Once you have Heavenly Traverse a nice easy cat track with snowmaking, you could also have that be the way out to download. In October and early November, you could temporarily relocate a handle tow to it so people can get back to K Peak without walking.

They blasted something like that at Skye Peak a year ago. No reason why they can't do it on an existing ski trail.

 

[millerm277]

I think Killington should blast / grade Heavenly Traverse so novices can go from the K1 to the top of the Northridge Triple. I'd install snowmaking on Heavenly Traverse and Ridgerunner and call the whole thing "Great Northern". That stops the vast majority of the intersecting traffic at Downdraft, Double Dipper, Reason/Upper East Fall, and Rime.

Actually, it's a decent idea, other than the vast amount of grading required, which isn't a huge deal compared to installing a lift or whatever. I'd support losing West Glade to let those trails actually return to proper form....you'd probably wind up with everyone happy, MUCH better expert runs and beginners not getting bowled over as much. Only other problem I'd see would be the unload around the side of the K-1, but build a 2nd set of stairs on the left, and they should be good.

 

[deadheadskier]

Killington sucks

 

[Puck it]

Killington sucks

Now why would you say that. Are you trying to get HS going?

 

[deadheadskier]

Highway Star sucks

 

[Puck it]

I thought it was = Fail!

 

[Highway Star]

Actually, it's a decent idea, other than the vast amount of grading required, which isn't a huge deal compared to installing a lift or whatever. I'd support losing West Glade to let those trails actually return to proper form....you'd probably wind up with everyone happy, MUCH better expert runs and beginners not getting bowled over as much. Only other problem I'd see would be the unload around the side of the K-1, but build a 2nd set of stairs on the left, and they should be good.

Who suggested this first? I know we've been talking about it for years now. I don't think they would have to open it up nearly as wide as the new skyepeak traverse, but wide enough for a snowcat or so.