Killington

[ALLSKIING]

I have to give them props for all the great expert trails open and very good conditions even before the storm....BUT.....No ski school or beginner terrain open for the kids before Dec 14 is tough on them. My 9 year old is skiing but try to explain to my 4 year old that even 2 feet of snow won't open the carpet early. Then she give me a sad face when she watches me head out.:-x

 

[loafer89]

I know that for you, Dave, Sunday River or Maine in general is not a practical option, but we are happy with our Maine Passes and Boyne sure knows how to take care of their snow and make customers happy.

Killington seems to have done a 360 with the kind of customer that they want at the mountain, and that is fine with me, we just will not ski there early season.

Don't get me wrong, I like expert terrain too, but I would rather go to a mountain where every level of ability was opened if my son wanted it, especially with expensive fuel prices.

 

[millerm277]

Before I start, I have to give them props for the aggressive snowmaking, and for the making snow on trails that haven't seen it since pre-2002, such as Conclusion and Ovation.

However, I'm extremely disappointed that they are sticking to their schedule this strictly, and it is going to hurt them. Not opening Rams Head at this point is ridiculous, especially since it means that tons of people have to take shuttles to get to the skiing from parking in Vale, RH, and SS. (I've been told by a few people that the reason they won't open Snowshed earlier is because they're still renovating the lodge...)

 

[2knees]

However, I'm extremely disappointed that they are sticking to their schedule this strictly, and it is going to hurt them. Not opening Rams Head at this point is ridiculous, especially since it means that tons of people have to take shuttles to get to the skiing from parking in Vale, RH, and SS. (I've been told by a few people that the reason they won't open Snowshed earlier is because they're still renovating the lodge...)

BOOOOOOOOO. HISSSSS.

Just get out and ski man. The complaining season is over.

 

[Greg]

BOOOOOOOOO. HISSSSS.

Just get out and ski man. The complaining season is over.

Word to that, brotha! :roll:

Amazing what a little powder does for ya, huh?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I also have to give Killington props....I got my ass kicked on the big whales on East Falls and the Highline racing trail last week..plus there was tons of high speed cruising off the peak and from the Poma. For an occasional Killington skier like myself I think Powder is doing a great job. People love Park City and Killington is the Park City of Vermont and all the foreign workers are friendly..Holla

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

BOOOOOOOOO. HISSSSS.

Just get out and ski man. The complaining season is over.

It's impossible to please everybody...most diehard early season skiers are psyched to have some blacks open early season but then people are upset that there are no green trails. It's hard to please everybody;...

 

[2knees]

It's impossible to please everybody...most diehard early season skiers are psyched to have some blacks open early season but then people are upset that there are no green trails. It's hard to please everybody;...

You are correct sir. I think Allskiing has a very valid point as a pass holder with small children. Nowhere for them to ski right now. Millerm, as a 15 year old with i hope, no children, not so much. Not to pick on miller as i think he posts some good stuff. His obsession with knocking killington just makes me scratch my head sometimes.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Miller is 15..I thought he was another NJ lawyer or accountant..lol

 

[millerm277]

Millerm, as a 15 year old with i hope, no children, not so much.

I hope so too....just kidding. :lol:

Not to pick on miller as i think he posts some good stuff. His obsession with knocking killington just makes me scratch my head sometimes.

If we're going overnight, I'm obviously usually going with my family. That means wherever we're going has to have beginner/intermediate stuff open for my mom and sister. (Although later in the season my dad and I will go by ourselves a few times). Since we have passes and friends at K, it's not likely that I can convince them to go elsewhere, even if I wanted to. That, and I do like Killington a lot, as it's where I learned to ski, and it's where I've skied a large portion of my days, so I know it very well.

So far, many of their decisions have/will wind up affecting the number of days I can ski there, so yes...I'm annoyed. (And, not being able to get out skiing until this sunday may have something to do with it).

 

[ALLSKIING]

I did not start this thread to bash K...We all know that was done to nausea over the summer. I am just surprised with the decision not to let the little ones ski a month past opening day.

 

[jaywbigred]

Miller is 15..I thought he was another NJ lawyer or accountant..lol

Right they are all bad people.

 

[drjeff]

I did not start this thread to bash K...We all know that was done to nausea over the summer. I am just surprised with the decision not to let the little ones ski a month past opening day.

With the managerial descisions they're making, and the infatuation with sticking to the dates they set and not wavering based on what current conditions/needs are, does anyone really think they'll spin the lifts past their stated mid-April close date???

Childcare/Kids programs is a huge issue for many of those coveted intermediate/advanced skiers/riders they're targeting, and a profit source too. Simply put, at K later this year, if you see an instructor with a group of 5 kids (and you'll likely see many), that's $900 they've taken in for that group of kids that day, and that doesn't even get into the $$ that mom and dad will spend.

This weekend could very well be ugly up at K. Decent weather, first real good snowstorm hit a few days ago, even into the major metropolitan areas, far enough away from x-mas that the few time a year day-trippers aren't totally panicing about last minute gift shopping, and K with only 1 base lodge scheduled to be open, and no kids programs. It has the ability to hurt the return visit, and that's not good at this time of the year, even if they do want to shrink their customer base somewhat.

 

[millerm277]

This weekend could very well be ugly up at K. Decent weather, first real good snowstorm hit a few days ago, even into the major metropolitan areas, far enough away from x-mas that the few time a year day-trippers aren't totally panicing about last minute gift shopping, and K with only 1 base lodge scheduled to be open, and no kids programs. It has the ability to hurt the return visit, and that's not good at this time of the year, even if they do want to shrink their customer base somewhat.

The Peak lodge is open as well, but from what I've heard, they haven't been making that known enough to actually have anyone go to it. (A bigger sign at the top would probably help). Parking will suck if you aren't there early, you'll have to either try to walk up lower GN, or wait for a shuttle, since KBL will be the only lot within walking distance. If they are smart, they'll at least spin one of the Snowshed Doubles in the morning, just to get people out of the parking lot.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

The Peak lodge is open as well, but from what I've heard, they haven't been making that known enough to actually have anyone go to it. Parking will suck if you aren't there early, you'll have to either try to walk up lower GN, or wait for a shuttle, since KBL will be the only lot within walking distance. If they were smart, they'd at least spin one of the Snowshed Doubles in the morning, just to get people out of the parking lot.

Doesn't Killington have shuttle busses from the outer lots? How early do you think the KBL lot will fill up this weekend?

 

[trainlazz]

Up there just today. Fantastic conditions. Powder stashes everywhere! It was like I had the whole place to myself. I did wish Ramshead was open 'cause I usually use Header as my warm-up run. Also, I wish that after all the snow they've gotten, they would spin stage 2 of the Skyeship so I could access Needle's Eye and Cruise Control, two of my faves. Overall a great day, though.
As for this weekend, you haven't a shot of getting parking at KBL if you show up there past 9am especially with this rails to riches event!
The new owners are doing a fine job I think. I'm 30 and single, so the whole lack of children's programs doesn't affect me. They should, though, learn to roll with the punches and open other lodges early based on demand. A family of 4 or 5 will spend a lot more money at the resort than me who has a ski share off the access road and filled out this guest survey only after hearing I would be rewarded with a free cup of coffee. (Mmmm... coffee. Have you seen the concession pricing? $7.25 for a simple turkey sandwich!)

 

[JimG.]

Observation:

Folks who have actually skied at Killington this season have nothing but positive things to say.

Folks who have not are still slinging complaints and saying the place has no clue.

The second group needs to get out and ski more.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Observation:

Folks who have actually skied at Killington this season have nothing but positive things to say.

Folks who have not are still slinging complaints and saying the place has no clue.

The second group needs to get out and ski more.

I totally agree I was totally impressed with K-mart last Monday..and $7.25 for a turkey sandwich is a bargain at a ski area..it's almost that much at a diner..lol

 

[JimG.]

I totally agree I was totally impressed with K-mart last Monday..and $7.25 for a turkey sandwich is a bargain at a ski area..it's almost that much at a diner..lol

I wasn't going to mention that, but it's actually a fairly standard price for a Turkey sandwich in alot of delis in NY.

Which doesn't mean it's not expensive, just that it doesn't blow me away in terms of ski area food pricing.

When are the children's programs supposed to start at K? They have not started yet at Hunter either, but I think they will this coming weekend.

 

[ALLSKIING]

I wasn't going to mention that, but it's actually a fairly standard price for a Turkey sandwich in alot of delis in NY.

Which doesn't mean it's not expensive, just that it doesn't blow me away in terms of ski area food pricing.

When are the children's programs supposed to start at K? They have not started yet at Hunter either, but I think they will this coming weekend.

Dec 14th