Killington: What was it? What Does POWDR Want it to Be? You?

[SkiDork]

I thought you skied there? that hill going down into town where it changes from two lanes to one. Traffic traffic traffic. But I guess that is the price you pay to ski at K

I ski there every weekend. Problem is (or not a problem for me) my place is at Glazebrook, so the only time I ever go through Rutland (unless I'm making a special trip) is coming up Fri night (figure I go through there at around 11 PM) and going home Sunday night, which on average for me is after 6 PM. No traffic at either of those times.

 

[icedtea]

I thought you skied there? that hill going down into town where it changes from two lanes to one. Traffic traffic traffic. But I guess that is the price you pay to ski at K

not really...

 

[thorski]

Sometime before Nov. 15.....wooop-te-do......................

Isn't that about normal? Isn't it really all weather dependent?

 

[mondeo]

Isn't that about normal? Isn't it really all weather dependent?

Back in the day, when they had another 1000 feet of elevation and snow melted at 40 degrees, they'd open in late August.:razz:

Ok, when the K1 was a toe freezing double with a mid station, early October. Something involving trucks, too. The old-timers know the details.

 

[JimG.]

13 pages already...spectacular.

Still the king of off season ski area chatter.

 

[thorski]

Back in the day, when they had another 1000 feet of elevation and snow melted at 40 degrees, they'd open in late August.:razz:

Ok, when the K1 was a toe freezing double with a mid station, early October. Something involving trucks, too. The old-timers know the details.

I've skied there in october.

 

[boston_e]

edit: I started this response a few hours ago, glad to see this thread back on track...

Man, active participation from Tom and still it's just a bitchfest. Weird to have a mod fueling the fire...

I can't really comment on what K was - but what seems obvious to me is that current management are ignoring the strentgths of K and trying to run it as if it were just another hill. I was a passholder last year (and 2 yrs prior) but won't be this year.

The rich yuppie intermediate groomer market is already saturated in the northeast. The economy ain't going to jump back into hyperdrive = village, interconnect, etc. ain't happening for some time. Powdr needs to create a non-overlapping buisness plan - they will not be able to suck the yuppies from okemo, etc. K's target market should be the 20 something who wants to ski/board hard and party hard, and the commuter skier looking for challenge and variety (K is vastly more accesible to NY, CT, MA, than the MRV and Mansfield areas). They shoot themselves in the foot by continuously alienating these two types of skiers by attempting to target the yuppie groomer types. The mt has a geographical advantage with relatively easy access and elevation that should allow them to open earlier and (in particular) stay open later than any other mt. in VT. Unfortunately lifts need to be reconfigured to truly take advantage of elevation and aspect.

The first change has to be a philosphical one and could be communicated by simple actions. A greater commitment to blowing snow, recovering from ice events, an open boundaries (tree skiing policy), sane pricing for kids programs, and user friendly lift operating schedules would be evidence of a dramatic philopshical shift and would require little additional capital commitment (well, except the blowing snow and to a small extent lift ops).

I don't have time to go on, just hope to get this thread more on task...

I think a lot of this post is spot on...

IMO, Killington was always a "Ski hard and drink beer" mountian that was also friendly to kids and families (espically the type that were real "skier" families).

 

[RootDKJ]

Ok, when the K1 was a toe freezing double with a mid station, early October. Something involving trucks, too. The old-timers know the details.

Yeah, and they used to throw the wool blankets over you for the ride up...great memories.

Still the king of off season ski area chatter.

LOL Jim. It doesn't look like that's going to change anytime soon:razz:

 

[SkiDork]

13 pages already...spectacular.

Still the king of off season ski area chatter.

thats what Geoff said - its all about superlatives

 

[JerseyJoey]

Yeah, and they used to throw the wool blankets over you for the ride up...great memories.


LOL Jim. It doesn't look like that's going to change anytime soon:razz:

I remember those blankets on the old double. That lift could freeze you to death if the wind was blowing the right way. Good memories though of a different place and time.

As for getting through Rutland, there are plenty of shortcuts that keep you off both Routes 4 and 7. Plenty of 'em. Just gotta poke around.

 

[tcharron]

Aim for 5/16 on a half-groomed Superstar this year. I think that would satisfy most people.

That'd be awesome, actually. Skiing on my birthday (May 14th), and I can bring the kids.

 

[Tyrolean_skier]

Last fall we had crews clearing Low Rider, The Steps and sections of other gladed areas. Crews will be back out again this fall hitting more areas. BTW, Low Rider was very nice last season!

Spinmaster, you did way too much clearing in The Steps. It changed the whole character of that tree trail. I preferred it less open. The main line in Low Rider was done nicely and more people can ski it now but I prefer the other lines because the snow is usually better where it's less tracked.

 

[Tyrolean_skier]

Back in the day, when they had another 1000 feet of elevation and snow melted at 40 degrees, they'd open in late August.:razz:

Ok, when the K1 was a toe freezing double with a mid station, early October. Something involving trucks, too. The old-timers know the details.

I skied at K in early October by getting on a truck for a ride to the Canyon Quad, riding the quad, skiing the Glades, then riding the CQ back down and getting back on the truck to ride back to the base. There are old timers that remember taking the old Killington double up and skiing back down to the midstation on Cascade and repeating the process. I guess they downloaded that way too. Geoff and Mr. Moose might be able to clarify how it worked then.

 

[JerseyJoey]

I skied at K in early October by getting on a truck for a ride to the Canyon Quad, riding the quad, skiing the Glades, then riding the CQ back down and getting back on the truck to ride back to the base. There are old timers that remember taking the old Killington double up and skiing back down to the midstation on Cascade and repeating the process. I guess they downloaded that way too. Geoff and Mr. Moose might be able to clarify how it worked then.

Worked exactly like you said. I remember it well.

 

[deadheadskier]

Only time I downloaded at K was years ago on the old double. It was a pretty good set up.

 

[JerseyJoey]

Only time I downloaded at K was years ago on the old double. It was a pretty good set up.

That what we're talking about. Up from KBase to peak, ski to midstation a few runs, download from midstation to KBase. Rinse and repeat.

 

[Geoff]

That what we're talking about. Up from KBase to peak, ski to midstation a few runs, download from midstation to KBase. Rinse and repeat.

You could never download from the midstation that I recall. You had to ride back to the top, take your skis off, and ride all the way down. I always got huge vertigo when I got on the chair at the top.

 

[Geoff]

<gasp>

... and the sun rose, and night be came day, and the light shone upon all the skiers. And the skiers saw that there were spring bumps, and it was good.


Lower Skyelark last spring until it rotted away was excellent. Superb. Loved it. Can't say enough about making that last a good while late season as well. There was Superstar, half of Skyehawk (from Superstar blowover) and lower Skyelark. It was a great cross section of terrain. Bittersweet for intermediates was good too, but was the first to rot out and there is a diminishing return in keeping intermediates happy in late spring because once it's warm enough the bumps form too fast.

Sure hope this glimmer of hope pans out....

Yeah, lower Skyelark was really, really nice the last few weeks of the season. 'Twas unfortunate that it didn't quite make it to closing day. Middle Ovation was also a fun bump ribbon on far skier's left.

A Sunday May 15th closing, please. ...and bring back the triathalon for that weekend.

 

[Highway Star]

They need a midstation on the K-1 gondola, or a new lift on middle-upper Downdraft.

Or even a handle tow/poma on Upper Downdraft above the crossover. Or even some stairs (100 ft vert)!

 

[thetrailboss]

Bump.