Killington 2018-9
Oct. 19, 2018 - Fri. - Opening Day
What a spectacular day! While officially scheduled to open at 10AM, in fact they started loading people on the K1 just after 9:30. (I wonder when Sunday River started loading their lift - also scheduled to open at 10AM.)
The "party favor" for opening day was a gator. There were supposedly 300 of them and I know they ran out, so there were over 300 people there for opening day.
The conditions were a little crunchy in the first hour, but as the temps rose and traffic did its magic, the surface got really nice with wonderful moguls (not the gnarly kind as exist in May on Superstar.)
The weather was beautiful with sunshine and comfortable temps. The lift line maxed at 5 minutes between opening and 11:30. After that, the lift line pretty much disappeared. Unfortunately, I had an early evening commitment and had to quit at 1:30.
For those who remember opening days, they usually have Upper and Lower Rime + Reason. The bonus was Upper East Fall (East Glade for us old timers). That prevented the serious crowding on Lower Rime.
The snow was deep and full width.
What a spectacular day! While officially scheduled to open at 10AM, in fact they started loading people on the K1 just after 9:30. (I wonder when Sunday River started loading their lift - also scheduled to open at 10AM.)
The "party favor" for opening day was a gator. There were supposedly 300 of them and I know they ran out, so there were over 300 people there for opening day.
The conditions were a little crunchy in the first hour, but as the temps rose and traffic did its magic, the surface got really nice with wonderful moguls (not the gnarly kind as exist in May on Superstar.)
The weather was beautiful with sunshine and comfortable temps. The lift line maxed at 5 minutes between opening and 11:30. After that, the lift line pretty much disappeared. Unfortunately, I had an early evening commitment and had to quit at 1:30.
For those who remember opening days, they usually have Upper and Lower Rime + Reason. The bonus was Upper East Fall (East Glade for us old timers). That prevented the serious crowding on Lower Rime.
The snow was deep and full width.
Comments
Great start Joshua!
Wow skiing inOct, leaves still on?
I knew you could post a great pic!
Skiing looks great. East Glade is a great early season treat.
Longest lift line was about 5 min. between 10:15 and 11:30.
As to the Upper Snowden Poma: I neither saw it nor was I near either the place that it was or the place where it is supposed to be. Answer to IBrake's question: I don't know.
Jeremy (nelsap) made a nice report at:
http://www.snowjournal.com/discussion/2124/killington-oct-25-2018
A couple of things I'd like to add:
1) While I hate the noise and the wetness of skiing though snow guns, I recognize the need for it at every opportunity the weather permits it, if they want to stay open despite some of the early season warm spells.
2) Killington diverts half or more of their early season snowmaking to Superstar for the World Cup, but the trail is not available to guests. That slows their ability to open Great Northern.
3) The layout of Killington is such that they are no longer set up for the early season product. There are several reasons for that:
a) Places like Mt. Snow Sunday River and Wildcat are opening without the long walk within days of Killington's opening. While I like the walk up and down the Heavenly Traverse Stairway, a lot of people don't. The good news: It does keep the crowd down.
b) Killington had the perfect layout for early/late season skiing on the old Killington FG Chair with their "load-only" mid-station. Running one lift they were able to provide nice intermediate skiing from the summit to the midstation (which was located at the spot where Cascade branches to the west and become the Cascade Headwall).
The answer:
1. Install a loading mid-station on K1 at that point. Probably expensive but probably would need the least permitting.
or
2. Install a short chair from that spot to the top. This chair would serve three functions.
Either of those options would:
a) It would provide an alternate way to the summit if the K1 can't operate.
b) It would provide another intermediate route on Killington proper during mid-season
c) It would reduce the need for the Superstar Glacier because the higher elevation would hold the snow much better.
d) If they did get a crowd late/early season, they could add the North Ridge without walking.
I think Killington realizes how important the early and late season product is to their reputation and ultimately their bottom line.
Edited to say it looks like the insert pic is working once again!
Downdraft Headwall nearly always burned away, requiring a steep scramble down to Upper Cascade. It's not easy to maintain late season snow on Upper Great Northern.
I agree though that a mid-station on K Gondola could work. I don't know why they didn't go the Chondola route with upgrading K. Chairs would be easier to unload.
Looks like he'd fit in w JS and us old grey beards
The mountain was pretty empty today with drizzle and light rain much of the day. The skiing is great and the offerings were expanded since my last visit:
From Killington Peak:
- Great Northern to Rime
- Downdraft Headwall
Upper half of North Ridge
- Rime
- Reason
- Upper Double Dipper
- High Traverse
Lower Half of North Ridge:
- Rime
- Upper East Fall
It did provide nice variety. At the end of the day (or for lunch), the stairway was required. No sign yet of Killington providing a way down without using the walkway.
Snow on Superstar and some of Skyelark looks good for the World Cup, but it won't be available to the public until December.
No change in open terrain since my Nov. 1 report. T2B is advertised for Weds. the 13th. Based on the weather and the ongoing snowmaking, they should make that.
The grandstand for the World Cup Race is being delivered and set up. There should be no problem for Killington to make pass snow control for the race. I heard it was already 12 feet deep on the headwall.
Pretty crowded today with AM lift lines at 7 to 8 minutes.
Some non-snowmaking terrain opened including the West Glade. Snow is very skiable on much of the mountain and has been liberally poached. Word is, Patrol has pulled a lot of tickets. All sorts of (temporary) construction going on in anticipation of the World Cup.
Extensive snowmaking ongoing on Snowdon as well as East Fall.
I saw one of the tunnels today for the first time. The traffic pattern for it is unclear. The jury is out as to whether or not it will help anything, but I give them credit for trying.
A few of the new gondola cars are on the K1. Much more knee room + much nicer windows. They have done something (not sure what) to make them much quieter than the old ones with almost no change in noise level when the grip passes over the sheaves. Perhaps one of our lift experts can explain how that might work. The rope did stop once on the way up and the car I was in swung uncomfortably (i.e. I was scared momentarily). Don't know what that was all about.
It was a great day - although if one was looking for a powder day it did not materialize. While Killington reported 8", it was at most 4" with some sleet and freezing rain. Lots of new terrain to ski with the opening of the Snowden Triple. The weekend they will add the Canyon Quad with East Fall added to the "open" list. The tunnel was open, but it wasn't obvious to me how it will help. Perhaps it will become clearer when the trails to the west of the Triple open.
After a couple of weeks out of ski country, with what has been reported as the greatest November skiing in at least the last 25 years; I return to rain.
Never-the-less, the skiing was exceptional on the groomed runs, but very difficult on the ungroomed which were a breakable crust over a couple of inches of nice snow.
Despite roping a bunch of runs, there was a lot of great skiing to be had.
For those who appreciate the aesthetics of skiing, Killington is a mess. The only of the major summer projects completed is the change-over to the new gondola cars on K1:
- The new Snowdon 6-pack is still not running
- The transplanted poma from Snowdon to Ramshead doesn't even have the towers up
- The South Ridge lift doesn't have the haul rope up yet
- The tunnel/overpass on Snowdon, still has a lot of construction equipment around it, so I assume there is more work to do
Reports are that the FIS Race was a big hit and a big success.