Killington is going to open before Sunday River this season.

[Puck it]

Interesting idea. The whole fan gun thing has been debated endlessly at K-zone. There is power available up there AFAIK. However, the trails are actually fairly narrow compared to the optimal trail width for fans. There can also be serious wind up there, they call it the north ridge area because it's right on the ridge. Killington currently uses traditional K3000 guns and newer ratniks in their early season/marginal temp snowmaking efforts - both these can be run with a huge amount of compressed air allowing for better output than a fan gun at marginal temps, and they can make snow at even higher temps. They are are just very expensive to run due to all the diesel fuel consumed in the compressors. However, they may be running their HKD ranger low-e guns right now, tough to say.

I do agree that fan guns on the peak are seemingly attractive for both early season and resurfacing, but wind and trail size issues are very real. Perhaps they could do an automated system that mixed fan guns and air-water guns......?

They have installed fan guns in base areas and high traffic areas where they think they will make snow regularly throughout the season. We would certainly like it if they installed fan guns on some of the supertrails, and they do produce great quality snow. Even a half dozen large fan guns on double dipper or Devil's fiddle, if run quite often, would greatly improve the snow surface on average.

Do you have the real HS tied up somewhere?

 

[JerseyJoey]

Do you have the real HS tied up somewhere?

Was thinking the same thing. Something ain't right.

 

[moguler6]

They still have snow from last weeks storm, it's snowing, they have a 24 hr blowing window, the trail report says they are blowing, the walk way is done, and Sunday River did some blowing of their own. Killington has to be planning to open?!

 

[WJenness]

They still have snow from last weeks storm, it's snowing, they have a 24 hr blowing window, the trail report says they are blowing, the walk way is done, and Sunday River did some blowing of their own. Killington has to be planning to open?!

We were all convinced of a K early open last year too...

I'll believe it when they start loading the K-1...

-w

 

[jimmywilson69]

Interesting idea. The whole fan gun thing has been debated endlessly at K-zone. There is power available up there AFAIK. However, the trails are actually fairly narrow compared to the optimal trail width for fans. There can also be serious wind up there, they call it the north ridge area because it's right on the ridge. Killington currently uses traditional K3000 guns and newer ratniks in their early season/marginal temp snowmaking efforts - both these can be run with a huge amount of compressed air allowing for better output than a fan gun at marginal temps, and they can make snow at even higher temps. They are are just very expensive to run due to all the diesel fuel consumed in the compressors. However, they may be running their HKD ranger low-e guns right now, tough to say.

I do agree that fan guns on the peak are seemingly attractive for both early season and resurfacing, but wind and trail size issues are very real. Perhaps they could do an automated system that mixed fan guns and air-water guns......?

They have installed fan guns in base areas and high traffic areas where they think they will make snow regularly throughout the season. We would certainly like it if they installed fan guns on some of the supertrails, and they do produce great quality snow. Even a half dozen large fan guns on double dipper or Devil's fiddle, if run quite often, would greatly improve the snow surface on average.

I'm not even thinking permanent fan guns. They could use "mobile" units and put them directly in the middle of the slope while they are bas building. This is the approach A-basin and Loveland use.

I know wind is an issue up there as it's ALWAYS windy in North Ridge, but there is good tree cover too, since it's all evergreens.

The trails in PA are not any wider or maybe even narrower than Rime, Reason, East Fall, etc. and they use fan guns.

 

[Highway Star]

I'm not even thinking permanent fan guns. They could use "mobile" units and put them directly in the middle of the slope while they are bas building. This is the approach A-basin and Loveland use.

I know wind is an issue up there as it's ALWAYS windy in North Ridge, but there is good tree cover too, since it's all evergreens.

The trails in PA are not any wider or maybe even narrower than Rime, Reason, East Fall, etc. and they use fan guns.

Fair enough, than you for your insight!

 

[tjf67]

They didn't blow until Monday, which was their first real opportunity of more than a couple hours at once.

They blew snow on Monday and at that point the storm model was showing rain. That I dont get. There were other nights where those guns could have been on most of the night. Why blow at all unless you are going to go all out to open. Hopefully they realized they F'ed up last week and are going to make it happen for today. If they don't open this weekend they wont be able to open next.

 

[moguler6]

They blew snow on Monday and at that point the storm model was showing rain. That I dont get. There were other nights where those guns could have been on most of the night. Why blow at all unless you are going to go all out to open. Hopefully they realized they F'ed up last week and are going to make it happen for today. If they don't open this weekend they wont be able to open next.

I could be mistaken, but Mondays blow was nothing more than a system test. Just like the one Sunday River did back on Oct 10th.

 

[moguler6]

Clouds lifted, it looks like they are indeed blowing on the mountain view cam.

http://www.killington.com/winter/multimedia/webcam/mountainview.html

 

[skiingsnow]

I could be mistaken, but Mondays blow was nothing more than a system test. Just like the one Sunday River did back on Oct 10th.

Negative, it was for base building.

 

[Bostonian]

"However, as much as we would like to spin the K-1 Gondola and North Ridge Triple and get our guests on the hill this weekend, we have several sections on the mountain that require additional snow to open than what the current snowmaking production window provides. But rest assured, our snowmaking and grooming teams are making every effort to get us all on the mountain as soon as they can. " - From the Killington Website.


BOOOOOOOO!

 

[Riverskier]

Is anyone surprised? Not me, seems like par for the course...

 

[KingM]

Negative, it was for base building.

How do you build base in the middle of October? Most of the snow they blow in November melts off, sometimes completely, depending on the year. Barring a miracle, you're going to see a couple more weeks of up and down temps. Blowing right now is just PR.

 

[jimmywilson69]

I take that as more snow melted from last week than any of us thought it would at that elevation.

 

[Sotto]

from killingtons facebbbook page "All of us here at Killington Resort are very excited to get you (and us!) out on the mountain as soon as possible! However, as much as we'd like to open this weekend, we still need to produce more snow than the current snowmaking production window provides. Please, THNIK COLD and THINK SNOW!"

 

[Highway Star]

Yeah.....this is lame. Just when you think they were going to turn a corner on their attitude and public perception, make up for closing early last season..........another let down. You have to wonder if they actually don't have enough snow, or if they are sandbagging us and just aren't ready for various BS reason. Or they didn't go all out with the snowmaking. Whack.

I'm quite curious about how much snow is up there. I may take a hike and get some detailed pics in the AM.

 

[o3jeff]

fail

 

[Highway Star]

fail

lol.

Killington = EPIC FAIL!!!!!

 

[gmcunni]

fail

epic



oh wait, this isn't the word association thread....

 

[Highway Star]

Weather doesn't look good for next weekend either, we might not be skiing until Thanksgiving.