Killington...December 16-18. Worth the drive from NJ?

[gores95]

Hey guys. My first post in a while so it must be getting closer to ski season! Actually I have been doing a bit of lurking and have enjoyed the "Guess the ski mountain" posts, etc.

I'm thinking of taking the wife and two daughters to K-Mart the weekend before X-Mas to get a jump on the ski season. Anyone been up there at that time and what kind of conditions are typical? I am hoping for a COLD winter so maybe some December snows are in order!

Also has anyone stayed at the North Star Lodge on Killington Road? Looks like a nice place and has an outdoor heated pool which will be a big hit with the kids. I can cancel my reservation up to 14 days beforehand without penalty. So if during first week of December temps are in the 60's no problem to cancel.

I have not been to K-Mart in 10+ years but I figure they would have the most terrain available during the mid-December timeframe (without having to drive to Northern VT).

Thanks,

Marc

 

[Vortex]

Geoff, Tyrolean skier and AndyZee are the K regulars I can think of off the top of my head. I would think there will be enough terrain to make it worth the trip. Usually by thankxgiving its really in an exspansion mode. I would try a PM to one of those folks. I'm sure you would get help.

 

[Brettski]

Hell yes...head up the thuway and cut over..through whithall...man it's been a while...4 hours to Rutland...well that was in an 89 Jetta, not a minivan

another 1/2 hour up to the access road....

The northstar looks like they got some good deals for ski and stay...kids under 12 are free...whatever that means....

 

[SkiDog]

Im usually up there for the xmas to new years and this year I am not doing it because the last 3 years the snow has been less than stellar. I think if you could push it off you'd be better off, but they WILL have snow just a matter of the quality..but as in another post..turns are turns..im a Kmart regualar too..ALL FOR ONE PASS BABY!!!

As for the North Star I cannot comment, but I can say one of the nicest places i've stayed on the mtn is the INN AT LONG TRAIL..very very quaint and I think its a package (least when I went) which included breakfast and dinner both of which blew me away with how good they were, the rates were reasonable and there's a great traditional irish pub right in the building and a nice big hot tub.....right across from pico, but since you'll have a car its only like a 5 min trip to KMART...

hope you have fun..

M

 

[JimG.]

but I can say one of the nicest places i've stayed on the mtn is the INN AT LONG TRAIL..very very quaint and I think its a package (least when I went) which included breakfast and dinner both of which blew me away with how good they were, the rates were reasonable and there's a great traditional irish pub right in the building and a nice big hot tub.....right across from pico, but since you'll have a car its only like a 5 min trip to KMART...

hope you have fun..

M

Been there, very nice.

 

[SkiDog]

but I can say one of the nicest places i've stayed on the mtn is the INN AT LONG TRAIL..very very quaint and I think its a package (least when I went) which included breakfast and dinner both of which blew me away with how good they were, the rates were reasonable and there's a great traditional irish pub right in the building and a nice big hot tub.....right across from pico, but since you'll have a car its only like a 5 min trip to KMART...

hope you have fun..

M

Been there, very nice.

Yeah very...IMHO....kinda bed and breakfasty, but yet not...

now I have a condo at the base of the mtn so wont be staying there anymore, but I do hike behind it and occassionally go get the best GUINESS in town..



M

 

[Brettski]

Hey, who else can say they have a bolder in their pub

 

[SkiDog]

Hey, who else can say they have a bolder in their pub

EXACTLY.....

M

 

[Brettski]

I got a quote form the Summit Lodge.


Friday and Saturday 16/17

Family of 5, in their family suite, full country breakfast (whoopee) and lift tickets...$685 plus tax

ouch

 

[ALLSKIING]

I was at K Jan 13 last year and it was all ice. You can never tell from year to year. Keep checking AZ its the best way to find out what the conditions are like.

 

[RossiSkier]

According the Old Farmer's Almanac, there is going to be a big Christimas snowfall and it's going to be a very cold December. When that blizzard comes could make or break your trip. In any event, it should be cold enough for them to have been blowing snow, but it's anybody's guess how many of those trails will be open. It's a real crap shoot. Do you have ALLFORONE passes?

 

[Joshua]

I was there at that time 2 years ago and it was AMAZING!! Like all places in December in the NE, it can be raining and 40, snowing and 20, or just plain nothing. One thing it won't be is crowded, so if you hit it right, it will be an amazing time.

 

[riverc0il]

i'd say go for it. especially considering you can back out within 14 days, though a lot can change in 14 days and winter weather is hard to predict only two or three days out. kmart will hands down have the most open terrain in new england at that point. if you can go mid-week even better, i would expect big crowds on the weekend, especially before half the mountain is open.

 

[gores95]

Thanks guys for all the replies. My wife gave me the thumbs up so we are going to go for it. North Star Lodge was quite a bit cheaper than the Inn at Long Trail so that's where we are going to be. They both have gotten good reviews at Tripadvisor.com.

Now let's hope for a COLD November/December!

Marc

 

[Joshua]

well, at least December, you dont need a cold november

the year i went, november sucks, but in the beginning of decembr killington got 2 feet of powder and it was like 75% open....

 

[andyzee]

This past season it was actually pretty good on 12/18. That's the last day I skied in 2004, had an accident that put me out of comission for 5 weeks. On 12/18 the snow conditions were good, there were 118 trails open. After that, if memory serves right, it warmed up and conditions went downhill for a couple of weeks. Obviusly it changes from year to year. But, could almost guarentee that me and my All for One Pass will be there