Pico receives approval to connect into Killington water source

[medfordmike]

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New Snowmaking Pipeline Build is Underway


Hello Pico Fans,
We have an exciting update today—the final permit has been granted for our Pico pipeline project, giving us the green light to install 16,850 feet of pipeline that will carry water for Pico snowmaking directly from Killington’s water source.


This additional water supply will allow Pico snowmakers to both blanket terrain more rapidly and achieve faster recovery after challenging weather events.



What’s more exciting is that the pipeline is just one piece of our ongoing capital investment project, the largest investment in Pico Mountain over the last 20 years. We’ve already installed more than 9,000 feet of new and replacement snowmaking pipe this summer, and come springtime, Pico’s primary pump house will receive extensive upgrades including the addition of three new pumps and a new control system, which will further increase snowmaking capacity.


We’re thrilled about the upcoming improvements and cannot wait for you to get out on the mountain and enjoy more consistent and reliable snow surfaces this winter.


Do you still need to purchase your pass? Pico’s 2019-20 My Pico Season Passes are on sale now with a new Kids Ski Free promotion, offering a free season pass to kids 12 and under with the purchase of an adult pass. Make sure you buy on or before October 17, 2019 for the lowest price.


If you need assistance selecting a pass, let us help! Call a Pico Mountain Season Pass Specialist at 1-800-887-3257 or email seasonpass@picomountain.com. We can answer any questions you might have, and help you decide.

 

[bdfreetuna]

Have skied Pico a lot and the only trails conditions can ever possibly suck on are Upper KA and maybe Upper Forty Niner.

I've found straight up hero snow conditions at Pico (besides those trails) more often than not.

Go on Thurs, Fri and Monday... place to yourself. Please never close.

 

[andrec10]

Pico really needed this. Still needs more snowmaking upgrades!

 

[thetrailboss]

And silly me to actually think this was something regarding that 20 some-odd year-old idea of the Interconnect.

Still good news.

 

[mbedle]

And silly me to actually think this was something regarding that 20 some-odd year-old idea of the Interconnect.

Still good news.

LOL me too.

 

[andrec10]

And silly me to actually think this was something regarding that 20 some-odd year-old idea of the Interconnect.

Still good news.

The interconnect will never happen in Current Vermont...

 

[cdskier]

The interconnect will never happen in Current Vermont...

And I think a lot of people are perfectly ok with that...

 

[Newpylong]

The interconnect will never happen in Current Vermont...

It's actually already permitted. Economical is another question, one that has been answered by the lack of movement.

 

[slatham]

It's actually already permitted. Economical is another question, one that has been answered by the lack of movement.

Why would you spend significant money to connect to a mountain that by itself cannot justify being open 7 days a week? There would need to be a very significant increase in demand. Until then more bang for your buck doing the improvements that they have been doing. IMHO.

 

[ss20]

Why would you spend significant money to connect to a mountain that by itself cannot justify being open 7 days a week? There would need to be a very significant increase in demand. Until then more bang for your buck doing the improvements that they have been doing. IMHO.

Yeah unfortunately running Pico and Killington interconnected would just be a monster in daily operations costs. 6 base lodges. 18-20 lifts running midweek with 25+ weekends/holidays. With the interconnect there'd be near or over 100 miles of trails, imagine grooming and making snow on just 70% of them.

There's just no ROI as the demand is not there. Which is a shame as I am pro-interconnect but understand it is incredibly unlikely to happen.

 

[thetrailboss]

It's actually already permitted. Economical is another question, one that has been answered by the lack of movement.

Exactly.

And looks like my comment spurred some interest...

 

[thetrailboss]

Why would you spend significant money to connect to a mountain that by itself cannot justify being open 7 days a week? There would need to be a very significant increase in demand. Until then more bang for your buck doing the improvements that they have been doing. IMHO.

As much as I would love to see the interconnect, I must admit that when I first discovered Pico in 2000 I fell in love with it as it was. I loved the character and lack of a crowd. I also loved the awesome pitch and narrow trails. I'm happy to see that they are making significant and much-needed improvements to its snowmaking, but the lifts are going to need some love soon.

 

[MEtoVTSkier]

Have no doubt, the character of the place WILL change once they re-do the pumphouse next spring. The following season will create evermore man-made/groomers everyone seems to complain about.

Although the Joe Average family skier masses will probably love it... and the masses are what pays the bills.

 

[drjeff]

The reality is that most every ski area out there has a goal, whether stated publicly or not, to have as much of, if not all of their snowmaking terrain open by Christmas week. That's going to require a bunch of capacity, even before you bring in the variable of how much mother nature will or won't cooperate in December (and before in many places).

Just because an area has snowmaking on a trail, doesn't always mean that they're going to keep resurfacing it over and over throughout the season to vastly change the character of the natural terrain underneath. If Killington mtn ops chooses to use these enhancements, once complete, to put down a base on all of their snowmaking terrain and then just keep their current "core trails" more regularly resurfaced as needed throughout the season, personally I don't think that's a bad thing at all

 

[jaytrem]

Seems like Powdr is enjoying spending that Park City money these days. Would still be surprised to see the interconnect happen, but no longer shocked.

 

[JimG.]

Keep Pico free...vote no to the interconnect.

 

[urungus]

Seems great as long as they don’t widen any trails to accommodate snowmaking.

 

[thetrailboss]

Seems like Powdr is enjoying spending that Park City money these days. Would still be surprised to see the interconnect happen, but no longer shocked.

Oh Mr. Cummings got his inheritance from Daddy Cummings. But he still does not have a lot of good business-sense. Money doesn't buy that.

 

[thetrailboss]

Seems great as long as they don’t widen any trails to accommodate snowmaking.

Agreed

 

[Newpylong]

No trails are being widened. These trails all originally had snowmaking on them, many not used in decades. The one (Bushwacker) they're installing new on is not being widened. I would not expect the core experience to change outside of quicker coverage and recovery. Snowmaking does not need to equal McSkiing.