Zand
Well-known member
Date(s) Skied: Friday 2/20/09
Resort or Ski Area: Killington, VT
Conditions: 8-12"+ POWDER!! 40MPH+ wind gusts, 10s, snowy
Trip Report:
Sick sick sick day at K today. Best day since St Patty's '07, easily. Wish I could stay up there for the weekend, it's gonna be even more sick with even more snow (and hopefully less wind). It almost seems like a dream now, but I have rubbery limbs to remind me of what I just did.
Left home a little before 6 and pulled into Skyeship base at 8:45. Gondy was closed at the midstation and Needles Eye was also on windhold, so Northbrook Quad was the only way out. Took Highlander out because Snowshed was on windhold, and had to slog extra far because Superstar was also on windhold, not to mention the wind was blowing straight up Highlander.
Jumped on K1 and started off with Catwalk. The first narrow 30 feet or so were a bit slick, but after that it was just dirty with 3rd tracks and knee deep drifts everywhere. Pointed 'em down Downdraft after that which was full of powder down the right side. Completely windblown once it hit Double Dipper but the groomers did good enough to keep it from getting too slick.
Next run was down Big Dipper. Nothing too great... nice powder in spots and sheets of ice in others, including one real nasty spot about 3/4ths of the way down. Also had a lot of traffic which didn't help much.
Next runs were Patsy's and Low Rider off the (insert Chevy Chase rant from Christmas Vacation here) Slowdon Quad. The woods were very nice, still lots of untouched and no one in them, but the ride on the quad SUCKED. I can take slow and cold, but 40MPH winds straight down the line made it 12 minutes of absolute agony. I tried putting my head down to keep my face from ripping off but it didn't help much. I wish I could've hit those 2 more, but I just couldn't take that quad ride in the wind.
After a second frigid ride up that damn lift, I got the hell out of there via Glades Triple over to Jug and Jug Handle. They were actually a bit nasty and thin, but still some powder to be had. I heard Pipe Dream and Breakaway were off the hook but I never got back over there.
Took a 30+ minute warmup break in Bear lodge, unthawing my toes which took a hit on the quad. Hopped on the Skye Peak Express which felt like it was running very slow (expected with the wind). Got blasted by gusts just after it went over Skyeburst. Took a run down Growler which had nice powder the entire way. Beautiful glade with minimal traffic with the Bear Quad down.
Next run off the quad was down Nowhere to Skyebits. Both weren't really glades as much as they were just 10 foot wide paths through the woods, but they were soft and good.
Waited in the only line of the day, a 5 minute one at K1. Took Launch Pad over to Ovation which was awesome. The upper half before the steep had great drifts down the left side. The steep was bumpy with powder and a couple slick spots, but nothing bad. Crazy steep... you can't see the bottom till you're halfway down it. Not hard with the conditions today, but I can't imagine what its like when it's scraped.
Found a nice alternative to the K1... the Snowdon Triple. No line and while there was a breeze on the upper 1/3rd of it, it was nowhere near as bad as the quad. Took Killink to the Glades and High Traverse over to a beautiful Anarchy. One of the best glades I've ever skied... perfectly spaced trees, no crap sticking out, moderate pitch, and wonderful snow. The entire run was ruined by the Flume runout which was 100% ice. Had absolutely no control and thought I was gonna hit a tree on the last turn, but luckily there was a drift right there to stop in. But there was about 300' of nothing but ice before it which really sucked. I wish I could've hit anarchy more but didn't want to kill myself sliding down Flume.
Next up off the triple was Royal Flush. Really just about the same conditions as Black Friday... thin, hard, bumps, but pretty sweet. Didn't really expect those conditions on a powder day but it was fun. Some decent bump lines at the bottom. From the Canyon Quad I hit the Throne next which was just sick. Still some untracked spots and an awesome glade. Killington is full of awesome glades... can't imagine what Jay's are like.
Next I tried getting to Chop Chop, but couldn't find it and ended up just going down Highline which had 100% untouched boot deep powder on the right side the entire way.
Headed up the triple again and noticed from there that Superstar and Needles Eye were running. Took the Throne again to find the Canyon Quad closed for the day so I headed down the runout to Superstar Quad. Took Superstar which was totally windblown, but still very carveable. Popped in and out of the trees as well.
Took one last run down Ovation next which was starting to get a bit scraped, but still not bad at all.
Next up was Vertigo which was very good. The backs of the bumps were a bit icy but nothing bad. After the headwall, there were great bump lines on the next two pitches. Sweet run.
Off Needles Eye I took Great Eastern to bearly, hoping that Bear Quad would be open and I could get my first ever run on Devils Fiddle. Unfortunately it wasn't open so I took the Skye Quad and decided to make one last 20 minute long run. Started off on Thimble which had nice bumps and lots of powder. Took Needles Eye off that which had dense crud. Was really tired by that point and took some clumsy falls. Took that to some cross country runs (I think Carpenters Run and Home Stretch... both very flat, lots of skating). Finished off the day with Valley Plunge which completely turned me into rubber by the time I got to the bottom. Like Vertigo, big bumps that were a bit icy and lots of powder.
So with 5 hours of bumps at Wachusett last night and 7 hours of powder and bumps today, I'm completely wiped but today was probably the second best day of my life. I'll probably have a Wachusett report tomorrow night, but mostly relaxing runs as I think my body will prohibit me from bumps for a day. Still looking at Sundown as a possibility for Sunday if it doesn't rain.
Resort or Ski Area: Killington, VT
Conditions: 8-12"+ POWDER!! 40MPH+ wind gusts, 10s, snowy
Trip Report:
Sick sick sick day at K today. Best day since St Patty's '07, easily. Wish I could stay up there for the weekend, it's gonna be even more sick with even more snow (and hopefully less wind). It almost seems like a dream now, but I have rubbery limbs to remind me of what I just did.
Left home a little before 6 and pulled into Skyeship base at 8:45. Gondy was closed at the midstation and Needles Eye was also on windhold, so Northbrook Quad was the only way out. Took Highlander out because Snowshed was on windhold, and had to slog extra far because Superstar was also on windhold, not to mention the wind was blowing straight up Highlander.
Jumped on K1 and started off with Catwalk. The first narrow 30 feet or so were a bit slick, but after that it was just dirty with 3rd tracks and knee deep drifts everywhere. Pointed 'em down Downdraft after that which was full of powder down the right side. Completely windblown once it hit Double Dipper but the groomers did good enough to keep it from getting too slick.
Next run was down Big Dipper. Nothing too great... nice powder in spots and sheets of ice in others, including one real nasty spot about 3/4ths of the way down. Also had a lot of traffic which didn't help much.
Next runs were Patsy's and Low Rider off the (insert Chevy Chase rant from Christmas Vacation here) Slowdon Quad. The woods were very nice, still lots of untouched and no one in them, but the ride on the quad SUCKED. I can take slow and cold, but 40MPH winds straight down the line made it 12 minutes of absolute agony. I tried putting my head down to keep my face from ripping off but it didn't help much. I wish I could've hit those 2 more, but I just couldn't take that quad ride in the wind.
After a second frigid ride up that damn lift, I got the hell out of there via Glades Triple over to Jug and Jug Handle. They were actually a bit nasty and thin, but still some powder to be had. I heard Pipe Dream and Breakaway were off the hook but I never got back over there.
Took a 30+ minute warmup break in Bear lodge, unthawing my toes which took a hit on the quad. Hopped on the Skye Peak Express which felt like it was running very slow (expected with the wind). Got blasted by gusts just after it went over Skyeburst. Took a run down Growler which had nice powder the entire way. Beautiful glade with minimal traffic with the Bear Quad down.
Next run off the quad was down Nowhere to Skyebits. Both weren't really glades as much as they were just 10 foot wide paths through the woods, but they were soft and good.
Waited in the only line of the day, a 5 minute one at K1. Took Launch Pad over to Ovation which was awesome. The upper half before the steep had great drifts down the left side. The steep was bumpy with powder and a couple slick spots, but nothing bad. Crazy steep... you can't see the bottom till you're halfway down it. Not hard with the conditions today, but I can't imagine what its like when it's scraped.
Found a nice alternative to the K1... the Snowdon Triple. No line and while there was a breeze on the upper 1/3rd of it, it was nowhere near as bad as the quad. Took Killink to the Glades and High Traverse over to a beautiful Anarchy. One of the best glades I've ever skied... perfectly spaced trees, no crap sticking out, moderate pitch, and wonderful snow. The entire run was ruined by the Flume runout which was 100% ice. Had absolutely no control and thought I was gonna hit a tree on the last turn, but luckily there was a drift right there to stop in. But there was about 300' of nothing but ice before it which really sucked. I wish I could've hit anarchy more but didn't want to kill myself sliding down Flume.
Next up off the triple was Royal Flush. Really just about the same conditions as Black Friday... thin, hard, bumps, but pretty sweet. Didn't really expect those conditions on a powder day but it was fun. Some decent bump lines at the bottom. From the Canyon Quad I hit the Throne next which was just sick. Still some untracked spots and an awesome glade. Killington is full of awesome glades... can't imagine what Jay's are like.
Next I tried getting to Chop Chop, but couldn't find it and ended up just going down Highline which had 100% untouched boot deep powder on the right side the entire way.
Headed up the triple again and noticed from there that Superstar and Needles Eye were running. Took the Throne again to find the Canyon Quad closed for the day so I headed down the runout to Superstar Quad. Took Superstar which was totally windblown, but still very carveable. Popped in and out of the trees as well.
Took one last run down Ovation next which was starting to get a bit scraped, but still not bad at all.
Next up was Vertigo which was very good. The backs of the bumps were a bit icy but nothing bad. After the headwall, there were great bump lines on the next two pitches. Sweet run.
Off Needles Eye I took Great Eastern to bearly, hoping that Bear Quad would be open and I could get my first ever run on Devils Fiddle. Unfortunately it wasn't open so I took the Skye Quad and decided to make one last 20 minute long run. Started off on Thimble which had nice bumps and lots of powder. Took Needles Eye off that which had dense crud. Was really tired by that point and took some clumsy falls. Took that to some cross country runs (I think Carpenters Run and Home Stretch... both very flat, lots of skating). Finished off the day with Valley Plunge which completely turned me into rubber by the time I got to the bottom. Like Vertigo, big bumps that were a bit icy and lots of powder.
So with 5 hours of bumps at Wachusett last night and 7 hours of powder and bumps today, I'm completely wiped but today was probably the second best day of my life. I'll probably have a Wachusett report tomorrow night, but mostly relaxing runs as I think my body will prohibit me from bumps for a day. Still looking at Sundown as a possibility for Sunday if it doesn't rain.
