Killington 1/13/2009

[danny p]

Date(s) Skied: Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Resort or Ski Area: Killington

Trip Report: I decided to head up to Killington today because the rest of the week was looking way too cold. It was cloudy with flurries/squalls throughout the day, pretty cold when the wind blew, but otherwise not bad. Conditions were very good, soft corduroy, soft cut up powder, soft crud, etc. I still had a thirst for some untracked powder after last week, so I checked out some woods and there were some untracked lines, but most were chopped up. I decided to hike up to the top of Ramshead to get some untracked on the Horn and Upper Vagabond. Hiked up once in the morning and once in the afternoon, both times were pure bliss on descent (almost knee deep!). In between I visited Skye, Bear, and Ramshead and found some nice untracked lines in the trees, and especially found some nice lines over in the South Ridge area. Here's some pics from the hike up to the top of Ramshead:

Upper Vagabond (really starting to fill in some spots)

The Horn / Rams Head Work Road Intersection (first time I've ever seen those signs!)

Some views from the top of Ramshead

The goods on the way down

 

[RootDKJ]

Nice shots...I'll still never understand old K making Rams Head "smaller"

 

[millerm277]

Nice shots...I'll still never understand old K making Rams Head "smaller"

The HSQ would never run if it went to the peak, that peak is REALLY windy. Also, remember...those trails were NOT planned to be abandoned. There was supposed to be a fixed-grip interconnect lift running to the peak.

From my hiking, Upper Vagabond, at least below where the boot track from the quad lets out, is still nice and clear. Above....someone needs to sneak some big clippers/a chainsaw in.

 

[RootDKJ]

The HSQ would never run if it went to the peak, that peak is REALLY windy. Also, remember...those trails were NOT planned to be abandoned. There was supposed to be a fixed-grip interconnect lift running to the peak.

From my hiking, Upper Vagabond, at least below where the boot track from the quad lets out, is still nice and clear. Above....someone needs to sneak some big clippers/a chainsaw in.

yeah...I know

 

[Beetlenut]

Nice shots...I'll still never understand old K making Rams Head "smaller"

I thought that was part of a land swap deal to get the Pico interconnect done. Old K did their part by giving up the top of Ramshead, but the other party reneged on their part.

 

[Newpylong]

I thought that was part of a land swap deal to get the Pico interconnect done. Old K did their part by giving up the top of Ramshead, but the other party reneged on their part.

No, in the plans it was supposed to come back with a lift coming in from between Pico and Ram's Head. That said, I'm sure something else could have been to reduce the wind, whether it be having the chair really low going up Upper Header (and just close it as a trail), or a wind fence. Either way, I think it was a boneheaded move.

 

[danny p]

That said, I'm sure something else could have been to reduce the wind, whether it be having the chair really low going up Upper Header (and just close it as a trail), or a wind fence. Either way, I think it was a boneheaded move.

+1, was thinking the same thing about the wind fence. There should be access to those trails besides hiking...

 

[from_the_NEK]

someone needs to sneak some big clippers/a chainsaw in.

Be careful sneaking around ski resorts with a gas ax. You're liable to be thrown in jail :razz:

 

[gmcunni]

There should be access to those trails besides hiking...

i don't ski K much and don't know the history. Had it always been like that or did they shorten the lift after originally cutting the trails?

 

[danny p]

i don't ski K much and don't know the history. Had it always been like that or did they shorten the lift after originally cutting the trails?

I don't know the particulars (I'm sure plenty of people here do) but you used to be able to take a lift to the top of Ramshead and hit all those trails. Then at some point they shortened the lift (when the installed the new RH quad?) I never rode the old lift, this day was the first day I was ever all the way up there (usually just hike 3/4 of the way up).