lotsoskiing
Are they letting Ovation grow in, a la Whiteface with Empire a while back? Looks like only half the width was mowed
DrJeff
lotsoskiing;c-57807 wroteAre they letting Ovation grow in, a la Whiteface with Empire a while back? Looks like only half the width was mowed
The reality is with the throw of the air/water towers lining Ovation, and on top of that the shear volume of snow especially the lower headwall takes to cover that pitch, skiers right of that trail just really isn't in reliable play.
And if they do let it grow in, that nets them some "give back acreage" that regulatory agencies often like to see when requests for new terrain cutting may be made in the future
Chuckstah
They've been letting skiers right grow in for years now. I haven't skied there regularly since 2013 (?) Or so, and regrowth had started by then. It's the right choice. Fiddle as well, more trails need it.
newpylong
Yes, skier's right of Ovation have been left to regrow for more than a decade. Same for upper Fiddle. Double Dipper could use the same treatment...
joshua_segal
newpylong;c-57816 wroteYes, skier's right of Ovation have been left to regrow for more than a decade. Same for upper Fiddle. Double Dipper could use the same treatment...
Double Dipper is in a more popular section of the mountain, and with the snowmaking fire power they have on it, I think it is fine as it is.
slatham
I personally think Double Dipper is an ugly scare on the mountain. But I don't think they can do much to rectify it. ASC just made it way too wide, though part of that was due to lift placement. Letting Ovation grow in the way they are is the right idea for that trail IMHO.
newpylong
If they wanted to, DD could be cut in 1/3 (skier's right grown in or replanted) and not detrimentally affect the handling of downhill traffic. It would effectively be reduced to the width of the other Canyon trails. I suspect there are many other priorities though :) But that trail will unfortunately forever scar K-Peak. One of only a few Pres Smith mistakes.
slatham
newpylong;c-57832 wroteIf they wanted to, DD could be cut in 1/3 (skier's right grown in or replanted) and not detrimentally affect the handling of downhill traffic. It would effectively be reduced to the width of the other Canyon trails. I suspect there are many other priorities though :) But that trail will unfortunately forever scar K-Peak. One of only a few Pres Smith mistakes.
When was that done? Is that pre-ASC? Or did Pres stay after ASC purchase?
obienick
1) Canyon was 1990. That’d be under Pres
2) Why not move pipe slightly and have trees protecting the lift line between the lift and the trail. That’d be a far better improvement than letting stuff grow in from skiers’ right.
joshua_segal
Nov. 17, 2022 - Thurs.: Opening day at Killington
There was a big crowd waiting at the gondola line well before the noon opening time. By the time they opened the K1 to the public, the corral was overflowing. (It was only open for Season Pass and Icon Pass holders.)
The opening day swag was a cheesie hat with a patch sewn on with the Killington logo saying "First Day": not even the year. This a real come down from the hats they gave away a half-dozen years ago with the year, etc. knitted in.
The line to get down the Peak Stairway was impressive.
While it was a good first day, in the mind of many Killington regulars, it was a month late in coming. The snow held up well to traffic and the food was free, both at the Summit Lodge and the kiosks set up at the bottom of the North Ridge. Rime was open T2B and Reason was open until (IMO a half run, since one had to ski most of the way down on lower Rime). For those who like rails and the like, there were 8-features on Reason.
The line at the North Ridge got bad by 12:30, although it was still less than 5-minutes. The line was pretty much gone by 1:30.
Were any other SJers there?
slatham
Blame the weak swag on K, but the month delay was fully Mother Nature. No way they could have opened earlier than this week.
newpylong
Those "Killington regulars" must have missed the memo about certain conditions required to make snow. People are ridiculous. I was outside in shorts until a week ago.
joshua_segal
To newpylong and slatham: I think what we "Killington regulars" are lamenting is climate change, with memories of Oct. 1 skiing in 1993 and 1995.
That being said, with most of Killington's early season competition, most of the other areas that are opening tomorrow have T2B runs and will probably eat Killington's lunch.
newpylong
I hear that, I was on the K Double multiple times for first week of October turns.
That said, Killington's competition isn't hosting a World Cup and hasn't had to make as much snow on a single trail as all of the others combined and then some. This is a conscious decision that Killington has made over early season rollout. Not popular with some, but shouldn't be a surprise either.
Post Thanksgiving weekend when Skye Peak opens up, the expansion will catch up, like every year. But no one else will have terrain like that open yet.
MrMagic
So with okemo Sunday River ect ect open now and this weekend you still have to walk and take the stairs at killington. I was there on Friday they were not making any snow below north ridge except lower east fall. Seemed odd given the snow making on super star and the temperatures
newpylong
Yep, and Okemo and SR aren't hosting a World Cup.
They were in the process of moving from the NR feed to charging Snowdon Friday during the day. By 4PM they were making snow on GN wraparound, GN below North Ridge, UEF still, Lower Ridge, Middle Chute and Lower Bunny. They have a ton of gear online right now. T2B and Snowdon will be available very shortly.
joshua_segal
MrMagic;c-57929 wroteSo with okemo Sunday River ect ect open now and this weekend you still have to walk and take the stairs at killington. I was there on Friday they were not making any snow below north ridge except lower east fall. Seemed odd given the snow making on super star and the temperatures
I was there again yesterday (Sat., Nov. 20). I figured that with Okemo and Mount Snow having "no-stairway options", the crowd at Killington would be manageable.
There was a pretty steady 5-minute line on the North Ridge, but by 2PM, the traffic iced up Lower Rime pretty good.
The stairway was only one-way, with Great Northern now open from the summit to Lower Rime.
They were running guns on Great Northern beyond its connection with Lower Rime and consensus was that it would be T2B by Wednesday, as continuous 24/7 snowmaking wx continues.
slatham
FYI Mt Snow not open yesterday - today is opening day. 'Bush and Stowe opened though.
joshua_segal
It was reported that Killington was T2B as of today (11/21/22). In a bygone era, Killington used to scoop the early season product by a couple of weeks. The last few years, it's been only a day or two - and when the competition opens, it's with HS_detachables and T2B skiing.
I was at Mount Snow today and was extremely pleased with the product they offered.
I think that part of the problem is that Killington may be paying lip service to its early season customers, but all of the energy that was focused on us, is now focused on the World Cup. Business-wise, it's the right choice for Killington, but I doubt I will buy a season pass again in 2023-4.
slatham
joshua_segal;c-57955 wroteIt was reported that Killington was T2B as of today (11/21/22). In a bygone era, Killington used to scoop the early season product by a couple of weeks. The last few years, it's been only a day or two - and when the competition opens, it's with HS_detachables and T2B skiing.
I was at Mount Snow today and was extremely pleased with the product they offered.
I think that part of the problem is that Killington may be paying lip service to its early season customers, but all of the energy that was focused on us, is now focused on the World Cup. Business-wise, it's the right choice for Killington, but I doubt I will buy a season pass again in 2023-4.
It’s more the weather. It’s been so warm these last La Niña falls that even with their elevation advantage they couldn’t make snow. And when it finally got cold enough, it was cold (and late) enough for everyone.
In a typical year (whatever that is) when they get good snowmaking temps only above 2,500-3,000’ in late October or early November nobody can touch them.
