Outpost at Pico

[Highway Star]

So let me get this straight......The outpost double rarely runs, but it is a relatively short, easy hike to the top of the lift via the "That a way" trail. No one ever wants to or thinks of doing this though, so the trails don't get skied.

So let's say hypothetically, there was a 1 foot dump overnight, you'd essentially have your own, practically lift served, private powder stash?

Am I reading this correctly?

No, no, it's not like that at all. That's the west side of the mountain, it's typically wind blasted very badly, plus it's only at like 2500ft. I've never seen a foot of snow over there, you're luckly to get 4" of concrete.

 

[Newpylong]

In non elite talk, Outpost faces North, get's plenty of natural snow and is largely protected from wind, and is an easy hike when the lift isn't running.

 

[Highway Star]

In non elite talk, Outpost faces North, get's plenty of natural snow and is largely protected from wind, and is an easy hike when the lift isn't running.

I'm not kidding - while Outpost dues faces due north, it is on the western side of the mountain, with no buffer from west and south west winds coming up from the Rutland valley. I've seen more seriously windpacked snow there, more often, than anywhere on Killington or Pico. It is literally the worst wind effected zone in the whole area. It also gets less snow than anywhere due to the exposure and low elevation. You're likely to see 3 times as much snow in the "snowdon bowl" because it's protected by the ridgeline. Outpost is certainly not the place to be on a powder day, stick to the snowdon bowl for sure.

 

[thetrailboss]

In non elite talk, Outpost faces North, get's plenty of natural snow and is largely protected from wind, and is an easy hike when the lift isn't running.

+ 1


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[The Sneak]

Was there this past winter and outpost was def running.

On a feb vacation weekday


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[mister moose]

It depends on the storm. I've seen snowfall the same as the rest of the mountain, and I've seen 12" on Wrangler, decreasing westbound to less than 5 inches on Doozie. Every powder day is different. There are general truths, and we all have our favorites and routines. Some days a trail gets skied to death, and some days you have it to yourself. Can't explain it. The one thing I do know is that to get it you have to be there.