The "Pico" Thread

[riverc0il]

wow, nice old map of pico! looks like better lift placement than the current HSQ. what a freaky HSQ it is, too!

 

[thetrailboss]

I like that map as well! Very nice! Riv--what was wrong with the HSQ?

 

[deadheadskier]

I remember rides on the Giant Killer poma that serviced the summit area at Pico, that was one steep liftline.

I LOVED that lift


I wish there were more active Poma's in the ski biz

 

[2knees]

Here is a scan of the 1989-1990 map with the Summit Poma (E lift) 2,329' long, as well as the Birch Glade Double (D lift) 2,766' long, both have been removed.

wow thanks for that map. I was at Green Mtn College in 1988-89 and Pico offered us 250 dollar season passes with no restrictions. I skied there just about every day they were open. I believe that was the first or second year of the g lift and those trails. The summit quad was very new also. Thankfully they didnt make you go top to bottom on that as the lower 1/3 of pico is really just a run out. The giant killer poma was almost never open that year but what an unbelievable ride that was. I havent been back to pico since. 100+ days there in one year was enough.

 

[thetrailboss]

I believe that was the first or second year of the g lift and those trails. The summit quad was very new also.

Interesting. So that lift may have been the original summit double just relocated then? That would make sense. It's a bummer that the Birch Glades Double is no longer there. Some nice terrain over there. Summit Glade is nice as well.

 

[thetrailboss]

Yep, this is the same thread as before. Just isolated the "Snowdon/K-mart" posts from the Pico ones.

 

[snowmonster]

Thanks to the people on this site, my friends and I discovered Pico this year. We were heading to Killington on a Sunday and were throwing around stories about crowds and people crashing into each other on trails. When I piped up and said that someone on the Alpinezone site had referred to Snowshed as Bloodshed and how Killington was referred to as K-Mart, we decided to check out Pico instead and were not disappointed.

Less people, more space to play on, families around us and a more laid back less mall-like atmosphere. All the trails led to the same lodge so it was easy to meet up. Plus Pico had a student rate (which I don't think Killington had) so the students in the group got to ski for about $30. There was a playoff game being played that day so all the New York Giants fans left at around lunch leaving just a happy few to ski any trail we wanted. I had one of my best skiing days there this year there so I'm definitely a fan of this smaller sister of Killington!

Selfishly I'd rather keep quiet about Pico since it may attract all those avoiding the crowds at Killington and Pico may get too many people for its own good. But, why let a good thing go to waste.

 

[thetrailboss]

Glad we could help you, Snowmonster :beer:

I agree with you about keeping the place secret, but I do hope to pose a ? about Pico in the AZ Challenge to the Killington Rep. It is too good a place to let go.

 

[meat]

indeed, but top to bottom skiing at pico really stinks with a long run out. i like looking at pico as a series of skiing pods. outpost, A-B, and summit chairs are the way to go. no need to use the lower HSQ except to access the summit quad for skiing up top.

steve you got the right idea here. I used to ski Pico a bunch back in the day, and even some a few years ago. I would never hesistate to go to Pico over Killington on a weekend especially. when at K, I would only really ski off the snowdon quad, best trees, snow, and less crowded, but at Pico I would ski those three "Pods" you mentioned and they are quality!

The old Giant Killer poma line is a great ski run, talk about steep and narrow. I also saw a lady nearly kill herself taking a fall down the poma line in the early 90s, tumbled a good ways of it, scared the crap out of me. each area of pico has its own feel, each one kind of feels like its own little ski area, especially A slope area and the ole' yella outpost, great stashes all over the place.

 

[teachski]

Unfortunately, many people think like kcyanks1 does. The higher priced area with the more well known name must be better. That is actually fortunate for many of the rest of us. It keeps areas like Pico, Burke, Black and Magic with less skier traffic which means we get to ski or ride more. The down side to that is the cost of operation. With less traffic some of these places are struggling to stay open. We need to support these areas as much as possible. If you need to ski a "brand" name, do that mid-week, but give the underdogs traffic on the weekends. They need a break...don't just follow a name.

 

[Phildozer]

wow, nice old map of pico! looks like better lift placement than the current HSQ. what a freaky HSQ it is, too!

What makes it freaky?

 

[teachski]

ve several Pico maps from a variety of years on my site. Here is the latest addition to the site.: http://teachski.com/brochures2/pico/pico93.htm and my newest. I also have as early as the late 50's for your viewing pleasure.

 

[BeanoNYC]

ve several Pico maps from a variety of years on my site. Here is the latest addition to the site.: http://teachski.com/brochures2/pico/pico93.htm and my newest. I also have as early as the late 50's for your viewing pleasure.

$5.50 for a peak lift ticket in the late 50's!!!! That's great. Thanks.

 

[riverc0il]

What makes it freaky?

looks like some of the posts got lost in the thread conversion. it is one of those weird looking yan high speeders. yan makes some freaky looking lifts. on top of that, it was retro-fitted due to safety reasons after a yan at a different area had some "issues."

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Very Funky hangers on those Y.A.N. chairs. If my memory serves me well, they are Y.A.N. chairs with some one elses grips and other equipment. The folks at "You're Airborn Now" were big on making interesting looking lifts...not so good on quality.

 

[loafer89]

Is this the old Yan equiptment in my photo of the Pico summit from March 1993:

 

[snowmonster]

Considering how Pico is a little less glitzy than its neighbor down the road and considering the popularity of places like MRG, wouldn't it be a great idea to make Pico the "retro" resort in the ASC chain? They already aren't making as much snow on Pico, might as well go whole hog and go down the whole natural snow route -- no (or very minimal) snowmaking and no grooming. Let all the trails become "wild things" and let the bumps form. Pico can then attract the advanced and expert skiers who hate the so-called McMountains. Marketers at ASC can sell the mountain to its passholders as the mountain that gives you the MRG-type experience while staying within the ASC chain.

 

[riverc0il]

Considering how Pico is a little less glitzy than its neighbor down the road and considering the popularity of places like MRG, wouldn't it be a great idea to make Pico the "retro" resort in the ASC chain?

it would be a great idea, but it doesn't fit ASC's clientel. people who buy ASC passes look for snow making, grooming, and consistancy. now, most of ASC's pass holders are not buying the pass to ski at pico, especially judging by a traffic comparison with nearby kmart. but, when someone with an ASC pass shows up or people are booking vacations, they are going to want and be looking for snow making and groomers, not MRG style. not that pico has the best maintainence any ways, but their target market, even those day tripping, are generally not looking for a MRG styled ski experience. those people that do look for that experience are in the minority, even at pico.

 

[thetrailboss]

it would be a great idea, but it doesn't fit ASC's clientel. people who buy ASC passes look for snow making, grooming, and consistancy. now, most of ASC's pass holders are not buying the pass to ski at pico, especially judging by a traffic comparison with nearby kmart. but, when someone with an ASC pass shows up or people are booking vacations, they are going to want and be looking for snow making and groomers, not MRG style. not that pico has the best maintainence any ways, but their target market, even those day tripping, are generally not looking for a MRG styled ski experience. those people that do look for that experience are in the minority, even at pico.

Yes, I agree. Good idea in theory, but not in reality. Especially considering the weather of this season...would only mean less $$$. Given Pico's location, snowmaking is needed. IMHO it is a better ski area that Attitash.

 

[TC]

Pico

Pico is a great place to ski. The glades and the vertical are great. I Haven't Skied there in awile but upper giant killer was always a great run. I had worked there in 94 for a few seasons. They didn't have a lot of funding and we had a small crew of people working there. I remember greasing the gear boxes on that yan lift and creating the newest trail bronco. It was alot of fun.