Killington April 30th - May 1st 2005

[loafer89]

My family and I just got back from our weekend trip to Killington, where we enjoyed making the last turns of our ski season.

Our ski day started out on saturday morning, with a drive up to a nearly deserted K-1 base lodge at 7:30am. We had to wait until nearly 8:00am for the basin ski shop to open, so we could buy a lift ticket. I started out the day skiing wth my son with our first run down Skye Lark-High Road-Bittersweet. The conditions were nice groomed machine snow, and since it was fairly cold the night before, the snow was somewhat firm early on. The weather was nice with some sunshine and temps in the middle 40's.

We proceeded to take a top to bottom run on Skyelark, with nice groomed snow. After this I meet up with BobR and we skied down Superstar (Warrens first time)and skied the other two open trails again until about 11:00am when it started to get really cloudy for good, and begin to drizzle.

Bob started up the tailgate party about 11:30 and he provided for an excellent time. The weather remained mainly rain free until about 12:30pm, when it began to rain steadily and we packed things up at 1pm.

Sunday May 1st started out really gloomy with heavy fog and mist. Warren and I entered into the May 1st slalom at 8:00am and skied a warm up run on Skyelark-Highroad-Bittersweet again. The rain and fog had really deteriorated the snowcover and there were many bare spots and puddles on the way down.

I skied alone for three runs, and skied Skyelark top to bottom, the lower part took a heavy hit from the weather and is really thin in some spots. The Superstar headwall is down to the base ice on skiers right. There is still about 5' of snowcover piled up next to the top of the Superstar HSQ, so they still have snow to push around the top. The rest of the trail is in great shape with deep cover all the way down.

Warren and I skied down to a massive (45 minute) line that made it's way down the Superstar headwall. We had to sidestep quite a long way to the starting gate. Warren skied three gates in thick fog before falling, but he still had fun. I skied down to get him and we finished our season skiing on Middle superstar to Bittersweet.

I have posted pictures in the gallery.

 

[BeanoNYC]

see now I'm jealous that I didn't make it. The conditions looked better than I had expected. I'm assuming that that's BobR with the tiedye at the tailgate party picture.

 

[loafer89]

The conditions were good for the first three hours of skiing on saturday, and we were able to get in a short tailgate party through 1pm.

Yes that's Bob in the tiedye, we also met up with Charlie and Dave, nice people all around.

 

[Greg]

I'm assuming that that's BobR with the tiedye at the tailgate party picture.

Only Bob R can pull off wearing a tie-dye t-shirt and plaid shorts like that... :blink: :lol: :wink:
:beer:

 

[ALLSKIING]

Nice pics...Superstar looks like alot of fun still.

 

[loafer89]

The first 50' or so of the headwall is melting fast, the middle part of Superstar has about 6' of cover.
I think they will make it another week without walking at the top if the weather cooperates.

Bob is a brave man to wear shorts in upper 40's temperatures. I was wearing my ski suit with my hat and gloves on.

 

[riverc0il]

sorry i couldn't make the kmart gathering saturday. i woke up around 7am with a headache from one of my last weekend's partying in boston i checked out the forecast and saw rain moving in. i couldn't get up there any sooner than 11 right when it looked like the rain was going to start, and i couldn't justify spending $39 for three trails in crappy weather. just as well, i conserved my strength for a great day in tucks this afternoon! might do K next week, not sure yet.

 

[loafer89]

I understand that, with the price of the ticket being what is was and with rain in the forecast. I wanted to go this weekend, because it is still early enough to have some blue terrain still open. My son did ski Superstar top to bottom with Bob and his son, and he only took one fall on the lower headwall.

Saturday was not bad, we did manage to get in 10 runs before it rained, and 4 were with sunshine. Today was just foggy, with no rain.

 

[awf170]

sorry i couldn't make the kmart gathering saturday. i woke up around 7am with a headache from one of my last weekend's partying in boston i checked out the forecast and saw rain moving in. i couldn't get up there any sooner than 11 right when it looked like the rain was going to start, and i couldn't justify spending $39 for three trails in crappy weather. just as well, i conserved my strength for a great day in tucks this afternoon! might do K next week, not sure yet.

trip report?
nvm i saw it on the other forum... now what about pics

 

[marcski]

Is that your wife? Now that is impressive...(at least it would be for me...) getting the wife on skis in May on a cloudy, rainy day!!

Damn, I wish I could have been there. I would have loved every minute!

 

[loafer89]

My wife is the redhead wearing the pink jacket, and she did not ski on saturday. The lady wearing the helmet was one of the people from Killington Zone that was parked next to us.

 

[Vortex]

Well it was fun. I'm a little slow on the draw I stated out Monday with a flat tire but here we go.

It was great to meet Loafer89 and Warren and his bride. We made a few runs together and my son felt the moisture around 10am and it was his sign to start hanging out. Congrats to Warrnen on his 1st Superstar run. The boys watched videos and were boys. Thankx MRs Laofer89 my son felt welcome. Covered in Mud and loving it. :wink:

Loafer89 and I took some more runs with the Killington zone people later on and had a blast. More on this later. I found Superstar in great shape to start the day. My son and I really got into it 1st thing. 2 passes by the groomer made it soft frozengranular..Made us all look good on the hill. By 10.30 is was mushy and bumpy.

Around 11.30 I went to fire up the Grill. Loafer89 had parked next to the K zone folk so the flesh bruning stated. I had send (Ski Dork Zone Adminstator) a PM earlier in the week about getting both groups together.. All those folks were very friendly and made us feel welcome. Charlie drove up and hung out with us for the meal also. Very cool Charlie very cool. :beer:

I met Andy Zee from our board and theirs, and his bride. ( Ski Dork& Tyrolean Skier, They drop in sometimes) Thankx for sharing your space and being very friendly Props. We met SkiBumbtress, Ski Nut Dave. G-Smashed, (Self imposed exile Junior :wink Mrs G and MR G. Ice Princess and Ice man played with Warren and my son and had a blast. Probably others; those were who stuck out. Laundry needed big time after this.
It was great community feeling in the NCP. I left as a drown rat at 1.45 with my son saying can we come here next Sat. :beer:

 

[bvibert]

Sounds like a nice day. Now I'm really sorry I had to miss it! :angry: Oh well there's always next year I guess...

 

[Tyrolean_skier]

My wife is the redhead wearing the pink jacket, and she did not ski on saturday. The lady wearing the helmet was one of the people from Killington Zone that was parked next to us.

I looked at the picture that you are talking about and that is me in the skiing outfit. I love to ski and I ski as much as possible - you can call me a skiing fanatic. My husband and children all ski as well but they are not a diehard as I am.

Loafer89 it was nice meeting you, your wife and son. Thanks again for those yummy cookies that your wife brought to the mountain.

 

[loafer89]

Sorry that I did not remember your name :dunce: I also like to ski alot, now that my son is skiing more, we hope to be at Killington alot next season.

I think that you are from my part of the woods? I live in Lake Grove, maybe we could get together again next season. Warren loves other children.

 

[Tyrolean_skier]

Sorry that I did not remember your name :dunce: I also like to ski alot, now that my son is skiing more, we hope to be at Killington alot next season.

I think that you are from my part of the woods? I live in Lake Grove, maybe we could get together again next season. Warren loves other children.

Yep we live in Merrick so not too far from you. You probably spoke more with my husband SkiDork - big tall guy with hardly any hair on his head. The K-zone people meet every Saturday and Sunday during the regular season at 10 AM directly across from the big electronic board and directly in front of the stairs leading to the two bars at Killington Base Lodge. You are welcome to join us any time. In early season (like Thanksgiving weekend) the meeting will probably occur at the top of the North Ridge Triple. I am not usually there that weekend since I do not have the Friday off but there will be others who will be present. The late season meetings (like now) usually occur by the Superstar quad since noone wants to walk over to KBL to then come back to get on the lift.

 

[Vortex]

My wife is the redhead wearing the pink jacket, and she did not ski on saturday. The lady wearing the helmet was one of the people from Killington Zone that was parked next to us.

I looked at the picture that you are talking about and that is me in the skiing outfit. I love to ski and I ski as much as possible - you can call me a skiing fanatic. My husband and children all ski as well but they are not a diehard as I am.

Loafer89 it was nice meeting you, your wife and son. Thanks again for those yummy cookies that your wife brought to the mountain.

I knew it was you... just was not sure if you wanted us posting that. Thankx again.