Killington: Devil's Fiddle - will it see snowmaking this year?

[Highway Star]

Devil's Fiddle, next to Outer Limits on Killington's Bear Mountain, is Killington's best and most interesting trail, quite possibly the best trail in the northeast....due to the the pitch, variety of lines, and terrain features. It gets enough natural snow to open, however, once skied out it has MANY stumps and rocks especially in the narrower lower section.

Up until the last few years, the Fiddle always got some amount of snowmaking. Back in the 80's and 90's, it was enough to bury the entire original width of the trail. Since then, brush has grown in, narrowing the trail, and snowmaking has been cut back. The last time the Fiddle saw snowmaking was in FEBURARY 2006, and that was only a strip down one side and the runout. The last two seasons have seen no snowmaking, and although it was open a reasonable amount, cover was marginal.

The Fiddle is a gem of eastern skiing, and one of Killington's flagship trails....Spinmaster, can you comment on if Killington has any plans to make snow on the Fiddle this year? Thanks!!!

 

[TheBEast]

Devil's Fiddle, next to Outer Limits on Killington's Bear Mountain, is Killington's best and most interesting trail, quite possibly the best trail in the northeast....due to the the pitch, variety of lines, and terrain features.

While I really enjoy skiing the Fiddle, the runout is brutal and in my mind one of the reasons it doesn't make my top 5 list. It does need some off season work for all the stumps and brush to bring it back to it's glory.

My guess is they don't make snow on it.

Anyone know who they sold the old DF chair to?

 

[Highway Star]

While I really enjoy skiing the Fiddle, the runout is brutal and in my mind one of the reasons it doesn't make my top 5 list. It does need some off season work for all the stumps and brush to bring it back to it's glory.

My guess is they don't make snow on it.

Anyone know who they sold the old DF chair to?

The chair is still in place, but the cable and chairs are off. Don't know if it was sold or not.

While they have done a large amount of brush cutting the last 2 years on most trails, they seem want the Fiddle to grow in and get narrower....probably so it collects snow better. I would prefer if they cut it to the original width and made snow on it....but obviously, that costs money!!!

 

[Greg]

Devil's Fiddle, next to Outer Limits on Killington's Bear Mountain, is Killington's best and most interesting trail, quite possibly the best trail in the northeast....due to the the pitch, variety of lines, and terrain features.

Quite the statement. I can't discount it since I've never skied it. Do you think snowmaking would change the characteristics of it? After all, if you bury the thing with snow, it just becomes another wide steep snowmaking trail, no?

 

[2knees]

you couldnt, or you wouldnt, bury the cliff band that resides up top but it would alter it for sure. I havent skied that trail in so long its a fuzzy memory but it is a sick trail. putting it in the top 5 isnt out of the question based on what i remember.

 

[JerseyJoey]

After all, if you bury the thing with snow, it just becomes another wide steep snowmaking trail, no?

No.

 

[RootDKJ]

The chair is still in place, but the cable and chairs are off. Don't know if it was sold or not.

While they have done a large amount of brush cutting the last 2 years on most trails, they seem want the Fiddle to grow in and get narrower....probably so it collects snow better. I would prefer if they cut it to the original width and made snow on it....but obviously, that costs money!!!

When I was there last week, I came across Falls Brook and thought I saw the cable still on, but there was a huge empty spool next to the lift.
The empty spool wasn't mounted onto anything, unless they are going to roll it up by hand :blink:....j/k

 

[awf170]

Looks pretty radtastic to me.

 

[Highway Star]

Looks pretty radtastic to me.

Great video. That's from when the trail was the full original width and they made snow on it....a bit too much snow imho....

 

[skiadikt]

Quite the statement. I can't discount it since I've never skied it. Do you think snowmaking would change the characteristics of it? After all, if you bury the thing with snow, it just becomes another wide steep snowmaking trail, no?

nah it was originally designed as a snowmaking trail. SKI always made snow on it. while it opens sometimes on nat, it really needs snowmaking to be open consistently.

 

[powbmps]

If you can catch that trail on a powder day (open or closed) it's awesome.

I got over there last season the first day it was open (12/18/07). It was memorable for sure. I took a few runs on it this season (12/22/08) and found some of the sweetest East Coast powder I've ever seen. Not much of a base, but the snow was so light, dry and deeeep. Strange seeing the lift towers with no cable/chairs. Wonder if they will take the rest of the pieces down?

I've never really thought about it but it's got the pitch and terrain features to rank right up there.

 

[Newpylong]

Devil's Fiddle, next to Outer Limits on Killington's Bear Mountain, is Killington's best and most interesting trail, quite possibly the best trail in the northeast....due to the the pitch, variety of lines, and terrain features. It gets enough natural snow to open, however, once skied out it has MANY stumps and rocks especially in the narrower lower section.

Up until the last few years, the Fiddle always got some amount of snowmaking. Back in the 80's and 90's, it was enough to bury the entire original width of the trail. Since then, brush has grown in, narrowing the trail, and snowmaking has been cut back. The last time the Fiddle saw snowmaking was in FEBURARY 2006, and that was only a strip down one side and the runout. The last two seasons have seen no snowmaking, and although it was open a reasonable amount, cover was marginal.

The Fiddle is a gem of eastern skiing, and one of Killington's flagship trails....Spinmaster, can you comment on if Killington has any plans to make snow on the Fiddle this year? Thanks!!!

You are correct in that snow was usually made on the trail in the past, but you weren't around in the 80's to back this claim up.

It would be ridiculous to hack away the growth that is coming in to skier's right. Let the thing narrow up and hold snow better. The less Double Dippers at Killington the better.

I also, would like to know what POWDR has in mind for the trail and chair. Its a shame having that run sit there year after year without snow on it except for a few good dumps.

 

[ALLSKIING]

You are correct in that snow was usually made on the trail in the past, but you weren't around in the 80's to back this claim up.

It would be ridiculous to hack away the growth that is coming in to skier's right. Let the thing narrow up and hold snow better. The less Double Dippers at Killington the better.

I also, would like to know what POWDR has in mind for the trail and chair. Its a shame having that run sit there year after year without snow on it except for a few good dumps.

Thats my thought. Its wide enough as it is let the trail grow in more. As far as the snowmaking, I would like to see them put some guns on it just to have it open more. I would never say it the top trail in the east but I would put it in the top 10.

 

[carbonXshell]

check out this guys attempt to ski switch after dropping in...

 

[campgottagopee]

check out this guys attempt to ski switch after dropping in...

That's just how I'd ski it

 

[poconovfr]

If you can catch that trail on a powder day (open or closed) it's awsome.

Same goes for anything steep and riddled with trees on the east coast.
The Fiddle is a worthy run but there are many equally as fun.

 

[Highway Star]

You are correct in that snow was usually made on the trail in the past, but you weren't around in the 80's to back this claim up.

It would be ridiculous to hack away the growth that is coming in to skier's right. Let the thing narrow up and hold snow better. The less Double Dippers at Killington the better.

I also, would like to know what POWDR has in mind for the trail and chair. Its a shame having that run sit there year after year without snow on it except for a few good dumps.

Thats my thought. Its wide enough as it is let the trail grow in more. As far as the snowmaking, I would like to see them put some guns on it just to have it open more. I would never say it the top trail in the east but I would put it in the top 10.

You guys don't ski Killington regularly and you obviously don't know....

All the brush does is provide a waste of space between the Fiddle and Devil's Den. Due to the shape of the Fiddle and the direction if faces, it traps snow very well regardless of the trees.

The trail only gets narrower for about 200 yards in the lower middle section, by almost half it's original width. The remainder of the trail, top and bottom, is very close to it's original width, with less than 50 feet of growth.

If anything, they should thin out the brush and let it merge better with devil's den.

Yes, it is the best trail in the east. Name another trail at a resort (not a glade) which is better.....

 

[poconovfr]

Goat,Starr,Redline,Stiens,Anything off the Castle rock chair,K-27,..........awe hell this could go on all nite. It's a good trail....one of many in New England. Now if you want to get into glades.......

 

[campgottagopee]

Yes, it is the best trail in the east. Name another trail at a resort (not a glade) which is better.....

IMHO, that's a strech--but hey, what do I know-----mmmm, try Liftline at Smuggs---Empire at WF---Front Four comes to mind at Stowe

It's a fun trail, but I wouldn't call it the best---just sayin'

 

[Highway Star]

Goat,Starr,Redline,Stiens,Anything off the Castle rock chair,K-27,..........awe hell this could go on all nite. It's a good trail....one of many in New England. Now if you want to get into glades.......

Nope.

Overall, the Fiddle blows away all those. What it lacks in vert it makes up for in width and variety.