Killington - Expert trails CLOSED, with NO Snowmaking....

[oakapple]

How many of us here would recommend Killington for Feb Vacation next year if a family with kids asked? Does giving up in early feb in a snowless year affect that recommendation, for me, yes.

I don't make my skiing plans 12 months in advance; do you?. Based on the terrain open NOW, I would not recommend Killington. But next year could be different.

 

[drjeff]

How many of us here would recommend Killington for Feb Vacation next year if a family with kids asked? Does giving up in early feb in a snowless year affect that recommendation, for me, yes.

Considering the number of of hill activities that the greater Killington area offers families, I'd still recommend K for Feb vacation week to a family. You gotta remember the needs/wants of an "average" family for a ski week put a GREAT deal of significance on what opportunities are available for the kids for all the hours a day that they're not on the hill as well as when they're on the hill

 

[bobbutts]

I don't make my skiing plans 12 months in advance; do you?. Based on the terrain open NOW, I would not recommend Killington. But next year could be different.

Nope, most of the time I plan it out when I wake up on my day off. I'm a day tripper.

I do get asked by friends and relatives who get out once per year and plan it 6 months ahead though. In my experience that's how a large percentage of the skiing public plans their vacations.

 

[Highway Star]

Nope, most of the time I plan it out when I wake up on my day off. I'm a day tripper.

I do get asked by friends and relatives who get out once per year and plan it 6 months ahead though. In my experience that's how a large percentage of the skiing public plans their vacations.

And that's exactly why Killington has lost premium market share to Okemo and Stratton.

Killington used to be the one with the best recovery, and have the most terrain regardless of weather. ASC understood that, even when broke they would ask for more snowmaking money from corporate in a bad snow year, and almost every thing would see snowmaking. These new guys......meh. Clearly they stopped making snow in any meaningful way right after the dew tour.

 

[Ski the Moguls]

And that's exactly why Killington has lost premium market share to Okemo and Stratton.

Killington used to be the one with the best recovery, and have the most terrain regardless of weather. ASC understood that, even when broke they would ask for more snowmaking money from corporate in a bad snow year, and almost every thing would see snowmaking. These new guys......meh. Clearly they stopped making snow in any meaningful way right after the dew tour.

And what really differentiates Killington from Stratton and Okemo is the double blacks. Without them, why drive the extra distance to get to Killington?

 

[ALLSKIING]

And that's exactly why Killington has lost premium market share to Okemo and Stratton.

Killington used to be the one with the best recovery, and have the most terrain regardless of weather. ASC understood that, even when broke they would ask for more snowmaking money from corporate in a bad snow year, and almost every thing would see snowmaking. These new guys......meh. Clearly they stopped making snow in any meaningful way right after the dew tour.

Did you really just defend ASC....Thats a joke in itself.... ASC killed the place! You have not skied K long enough to know the great days of k.

 

[Vortex]

Guns are still blazing at the River and we did get advanced terrain snow making. I think limited snow making on advanced terrain would bother me a bit too, but Who made more snow than them in Vt? Okemo maybe, but they started much later. Its all in what you are use to. Many mountains have very limited terrain right now.

I understand the property owner views. Its money and free time. Its What we all strive for.


I am big Sr guy, but K still has fantastic terrrain and makes more snow than almost anywhere else. In Vermont it was Mad River, K or Sugarbush for me. Bush if a big natural snow year. K if not. Mad river when there was fresh snow.

We will all feel better when we get our first 2 foot storm. We always get one during NH vaction week.

 

[mister moose]

And what really differentiates Killington from Stratton and Okemo is the double blacks. Without them, why drive the extra distance to get to Killington?

Personally, I'm thankful for the thousands of people that feel that way.

 

[steamboat1]

Personally, I'm thankful for the thousands of people that feel that way.

ditto

 

[2knees]

Considering the number of of hill activities that the greater Killington area offers families, I'd still recommend K for Feb vacation week to a family. You gotta remember the needs/wants of an "average" family for a ski week put a GREAT deal of significance on what opportunities are available for the kids for all the hours a day that they're not on the hill as well as when they're on the hill

I'm curious, besides skiing what does k offer? there is no village or central area that most bigtime resorts have. I take my kids there but only when we stay at our neighbors house up there. Otherwise, we avoid K because of the lack of non skiing activities.

This is not a knock on the mountain itself or the nightlife or any of that. I'm talking about 5 thru 10 yo kids.

 

[Highway Star]

Did you really just defend ASC....Thats a joke in itself.... ASC killed the place! You have not skied K long enough to know the great days of k.

I first skied Killington in 1987.....soooo.

In recent memory, the last few years of ASC had largely bad weather, but they were still able to open Downdraft and Dipper.

 

[ALLSKIING]

In 8 years being a regular at Killington

I first skied Killington in 1987.....soooo.

Ok a regular long enough.

 

[Ski the Moguls]

And what really differentiates Killington from Stratton and Okemo is the double blacks. Without them, why drive the extra distance to get to Killington?

Personally, I'm thankful for the thousands of people that feel that way.

It sounds like you do not agree. I thought about it, and I did forget about K's nightlife being significantly better. Was that It?

Other than the steeps and the nightlife, what really makes K worth the extra drive past Okemo and Stratton?

Fact is, the main reason K is more popular that Sugarbush (which certainly has the steeps) is the shorter drive.

 

[mister moose]

It sounds like you do not agree. I thought about it, and I did forget about K's nightlife being significantly better. Was that It?

Other than the steeps and the nightlife, what really makes K worth the extra drive past Okemo and Stratton?

Fact is, the main reason K is more popular that Sugarbush (which certainly has the steeps) is the shorter drive.

It was a simple statement on the current level of crowding at Killington, or on many days, the lack of it. If the masses drove the extra hour to Killington, I'd have to drive farther north another hour myself.

I've skied Mt Snow and Okemo enough to know that the terrain (not just the steeps), the crowding, the powder day grooming policy, the restaurants, the snowfall, and the latitude are all not the best choice for me.

 

[Highway Star]

Well, they groomed OL. Now it's 37% open:

http://www.killingtonzone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34221

SERIOUSLY???

 

[mediamogul]

Well, they groomed OL. Now it's 37% open:

http://www.killingtonzone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34221

SERIOUSLY???

Man I'm just happy I didn't have to watch them groom the Fiddle this year. I've given up on OL at this point. Better bumps to be found elsewhere. No Vertigo though!!! What the hell!

 

[Black Phantom]

Man I'm just happy I didn't have to watch them groom the Fiddle this year. I've given up on OL at this point. Better bumps to be found elsewhere. No Vertigo though!!! What the hell!

Where?

 

[mediamogul]

Where?

At this exact moment you'd have a hard time finding a decent bump line anywhere on the hill. Saw a pic of OL midweek this week where it was actually bumped up, report showing it as groomed so I'm sure that will be its weekend condition. This season only decent bump lines I've seen have been on west glade, escapade, vagabond, northstar and mouse trap. Oh and surprise showing early season on upper east fall right after they turned off the guns. That was nice.

 

[Highway Star]

Man I'm just happy I didn't have to watch them groom the Fiddle this year. I've given up on OL at this point. Better bumps to be found elsewhere. No Vertigo though!!! What the hell!

Every time I look at or think of OL this year I throw up in my mouth a little bit.
uke::idea:

 

[mediamogul]

Every time I look at or think of OL this year I throw up in my mouth a little bit.
uke::idea:

Lost cause. (cue sad Charlie Brown music)

I'm trying hard not to think of how amazing the Fiddle was last year in the spring. 65 degree bluebird day on that southern exposure skiing in a tee shirt. One of the best days I had on skis all year.

I can't imagine what this spring will be like...

I hope they at least resurface some of the trails President's week. I doubt very much that we will see new trails added to the roster, especially blacks, barring a big dump.