Pico 2/3/2011

[Euler]

One of the best ski days of my life! I'd been planning on making it to Magic today, but the lift failure caused a last minute change of plans. $29 Vermonter day plus the mountain being closed Tuesday/Weds made Pico an easy choice.

We skiied from 10-4. conditions were powder and chopped powder and powder bumps and chowder powder and more powder bumps everywhere you turned. The only trail that got scraped down before the end of the day was upper pike. The rest were soft, fresh goodness all day long. The summit lift was on hold until about 11:30 due to a tiny bit of ice glazing on the metal, but there was absolutely NO crust issues on the snow surface.

This was my first time at Pico and I will definitely return. My favorites today were Summit Glades and Sidewinder, although there was not a single run that was less than outstanding. The vibe in the lodge was easygoing and small, but the mountain skied really big. Top to bottom runs on the summit quad were serious leg burners for me. It was my first full day of powder on serious terrain where I felt my skis dance under me, and I can't wait for more.

Tomorrow the kids and I will head to Bromley for "Family Friday", then it's a rest 'till Weds when I should be back at Mt. Snow,

 

[powhunter]

Nice!! Pico rocks on a pow day!

steveo

 

[riverc0il]

Its interesting that your experience is that Pico skis really big. I think it skis a lot shorter than its vertical suggests due to how flat the lower (and to some extent, mid) mountain is. Definitely should get more visits than it does, its a cool little place.

 

[Euler]

Its interesting that your experience is that Pico skis really big. I think it skis a lot shorter than its vertical suggests due to how flat the lower (and to some extent, mid) mountain is. Definitely should get more visits than it does, its a cool little place.

I usually ski @ Mt. Snow, and skiing from the top to bottom of the summit quad today at Pico was a whole different experience than lapping the North Face of Mt. Snow. You're definitely correct that the lower part of the mountain flattens out a lot, but I guess the soft conditions today kept me working hard the whole way down!

 

[gmcunni]

sounds like great day! I've been to Pico only a couple of times but caught Summit Glades on a pow day and it was a blast!

 

[TheBEast]

Nice report. I love that little pod on the upper right of the mountain, can't remember the name. Short on vert, but I hit it on a pow day a few years back and it was super fun just lapping that thing with no lines what-so-ever on a Sunday.

 

[Euler]

Nice report. I love that little pod on the upper right of the mountain, can't remember the name. Short on vert, but I hit it on a pow day a few years back and it was super fun just lapping that thing with no lines what-so-ever on a Sunday.

That was off the Outpost chair, I think. There are three or four really fun short blacks of that chair. The trails over there were windy and short, more suited for my level of fitness! That chair, though is about the sketchiest chair I've ever ridden. One of the towers looked like it was reinforced with plywood and cable ties!

 

[rocojerry]

That was off the Outpost chair, I think. There are three or four really fun short blacks of that chair. The trails over there were windy and short, more suited for my level of fitness! That chair, though is about the sketchiest chair I've ever ridden. One of the towers looked like it was reinforced with plywood and cable ties!

How were lines on the Outpost chair? or on the mountain in general? I was hoping to make it to Pico yesterday, but made the wrong call with heading to work instead.. I had a great day at K the day before, but Pico was the goal -- I just checked out A slope for the first time a few weekends ago, nice pitch and secluded little area over there --

 

[thetrailboss]

Glad to hear that you had a good day. Pico is a great place. Glad to hear that Outpost is running. I agree it needs to be replaced. It is getting old.

As to vertical, if you ski Pike or any of the main runs on the front side under either the Golden Express or Summit Express, then I agree that it may seem smaller. This includes lapping 49er. But when you get into the stuff on the sides, in particular Lower Sunset, Summit Glades, Upper Giant Killer, etc. and you start to ski out further, those runs tend to be longer and wilder. Summit Glades has a lot of great terrain if there is snow. It is like nothing else I can think of. Giant Killer is downright nasty. It is easy to mix it up when there is snow.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

great to hike up to the outpost runs if the chair isnt running, great pow and trees over there....love pico

 

[Highway Star]

Glad to hear that Outpost is running. I agree it needs to be replaced. It is getting old.

You = Fail.

Outpost Double = Win.

40 year old Carlevaro & Savio and it was running at 9am yesterday, with two Hall triples........unlike some other lifts. Should last at least another 20 years if they continue to maintain it.

 

[thetrailboss]

40 year old Carlevaro & Savio and it was running at 9am yesterday, with two Hall triples........unlike some other lifts. Should last at least another 20 years if they continue to maintain it.

HS = Fail.

It is in the state that it is in because of a lack of maintenance.

 

[Highway Star]

HS = Fail.

It is in the state that it is in because of a lack of maintenance.

LOL. It's in perfectly fine shape for a 40 year old lift. Maybe it could use some paint in a few years. It runs about 30 days a year.......I've never been stranded on it, and I've never heard of any mech problems with it. There are other even older CS double lifts still running.

 

[MrMagic]

while that lift is old it seems to be in decent shape. needs some paint, but worked last weekend when i was there.

 

[riverc0il]

I agree that Pico's Summit Glades are a really cool trail. Giant Killer didn't impress me much. Seemed like it flattened out just when it was getting started. Kind of a middle-hardscrabble-ultra-light. A-Slope is a top trail, definitely my fav at Pico.