Killington: 12.16.01

[riverc0il]

15 trails were open with snow guns blowing all day, mostly on trails not open yet. crowds were okay until 11 when things started getting down right dangerous. <BR> <BR>for the upper part of the mountain, great northern, the glades, and the rimes were all scraped to a bone by 10 AM. some loose snow was being push around, but no more snowmaking in these areas (it needs more snow). beginners and snow boards were sliding out of control all over the place by afternoon time. <BR> <BR>for middle mountain: mouserun off the snowdon triple gets high marks for the run of the day. while the middle great northern began what can only be described as complete chaos. the trail is a green circle, yet huge bumps were forming. boarders were grabbing air, skiiers were bumping them up, and beginners were running into them then standing on them. not quite bumper cars, that comes later. <BR> <BR>the bottom 200 yards of great northern was the most frightening skiing experience i've ever had. i'll take any double diamond in any conditions over the chaos that happened on that green circle. the whole mountain dumped into that trail, it's the only place on the mountain that you really don't have a choice. if you are going to the bottom of the mountain, you had to get their via lower great northern. <BR> <BR>with two trails converging into one, the beginning of the trail was totally scraped. with less than 30 feet of trail width and a seemingly endless stream of skiers of all abilities, there was no room and no room for error. a fall for one meant a crash for all. this happened a lot. bumps built up every where. i try taking a line, and boarders are lieing in the middle of the trail, people are standing on top of the bumps, boarders are grabbing air at 35 MPH and then crashing... total chaos. i've never felt so stressed while i was skiing. if it wasn't for that unavoidable night mare, i may have stuck around past 1PM. but i go to ski to relax and enjoy, to get away from the rat race, not to be part of it. <BR> <BR>i probably would have enjoyed the place on a weekday. i'll never visit killington again on a weekend... i have never seen a skiier per trail ratio that high in my life.

 

[Dav e-Tigerskier]

K on midwinter weekend is fine. I wouldn't shy away on a midwinter weekend. With 200 trails open in midwinter the skier to trail ratio is VERY low

 

[joegm]

week-end skiing is a curse i would not wish upon the leaders of the taliban!!!! ( well, maybe the taliban ) i thank the good lord every time i come off of a lift that i do not have to do it...if i am ever lucky enough to have children , and they take to the sport, they will be doing homework over the vacation periods and will get to take other week off to go skiing!!!! the only perspective i offer is that the skiers of the world r jonesing and the trails counts r not there to support the jones so the perception of chaos is intensified...that sounds like it was pretty RIDICULOUS up there at K...i think it's gonna get a little better soon... hang in there!!!! and good report, man

 

[Anonymous]

Killi on a weekend is packed mid season or early season. It's only the degree of packed that changes. <BR> <BR>Jolly J

 

[S. Phillips]

Considering the conditions, lack of snow and the time of the year, one can expect these difficult conditions at Killington. Isn't this why they offer reduced ticket prices? It's always chancy this time of year.I've been sking K for 20 years and find the lines and skier ratios per trail on the weekends excellent when the whole mountain is open. Their conditions and snowmaking are the best in the East comparativly speaking. <BR>It's still December..has not snowed much yet, so get realistic and cut some slack! The whole winter is ahead of you. Have fun! JT

 

[S. Phillips]

Killington, VT. weekend of Jan.26th & 27th 02 <BR>Fabulous! Warm! Sunny! Light lift lines! Great snow even tho it rained during the week. One of those sweet skiing days one dreams of. Some hard pack on the lower intermediate trails from being scraped, the woods were a bit brownish at the end of the day, but the on the whole it was heaven. <BR>The mountain does live up to the best snow in the East.