Killington 2022-3 Thread

joshua_segal

Apr. 11, 2023 - Tues.
After skiing well over 100 days since my last trip to Killington, I remember why I love Killington.

So much great, steep and mogul-ly terrain and so much open. I even hiked up to Cat Walk.

I do highly recommend a trip there and here is a photo looking down Catwalk:

ski_it

Looks like a lot of fun. That trail seems much more open than I can recall.
Geesh JS you put us young’uns to shame.

joshua_segal

ski_it;c-60349 wroteLooks like a lot of fun. That trail seems much more open than I can recall.
Geesh JS you put us young’uns to shame.

I'm not a very good photographer, but the entrance shown in the photo is less than a cat-width wide. The trail makes an almost right turn at the center of that photo.

Climbing is the only way to ski Cat Walk. In the old days, one could ski most of it via a trail called "Heavenly Traverse" which is now the route of the "Peak Stairway".

joshua_segal

There has been discussion as to whether or not the Killington Glacier on Superstar is big enough. I've been there a couple of times this week and I would say the quantity of snow is similar to previous years on the headwall and Preston's Pitch. It would appear to be lighter on Middle Superstar.

Many of you remember the Ess-curve that appeared at the junction of Middle Superstar and Preston's Pitch. In recent years, they have hit that section hard and it hasn't been the problem it used to be. It remains to be seen, but Middle Superstar has always had snow that outlasted both the Headwall and Preston's Pitch.

I wonder if based on observations of the past, that making less snow in the middle was intentional. We'll figure it out if they are still skiing on June 1.

newpylong

joshua_segal;c-60350 wrote
ski_it;c-60349 wroteLooks like a lot of fun. That trail seems much more open than I can recall.
Geesh JS you put us young’uns to shame.
I'm not a very good photographer, but the entrance shown in the photo is less than a cat-width wide. The trail makes an almost right turn at the center of that photo.

Climbing is the only way to ski Cat Walk. In the old days, one could ski most of it via a trail called "Heavenly Traverse" which is now the route of the "Peak Stairway".

Heavenly Traverse only got you to the flatter (wider) lower section though, always had to hike to the top to get the good part of Catwalk.

Making less snow on SS was only due to blowing the budget earlier the year. They got to the point where snowmaking opportunities were running out and it was "good enough".

They won't make 6/1. Besides the headwall, snowpack is lower than previous years (I spoke to their head groomer). Some of the cats have depth gauges.

joshua_segal

newpylong;c-60354 wrote
joshua_segal;c-60350 wrote
ski_it;c-60349 wroteLooks like a lot of fun. That trail seems much more open than I can recall.
Geesh JS you put us young’uns to shame.
I'm not a very good photographer, but the entrance shown in the photo is less than a cat-width wide. The trail makes an almost right turn at the center of that photo.

Climbing is the only way to ski Cat Walk. In the old days, one could ski most of it via a trail called "Heavenly Traverse" which is now the route of the "Peak Stairway".
Heavenly Traverse only got you to the flatter (wider) lower section though, always had to hike to the top to get the good part of Catwalk.

Making less snow on SS was only due to blowing the budget earlier the year. They got to the point where snowmaking opportunities were running out and it was "good enough".

They won't make 6/1. Besides the headwall, snowpack is lower than previous years (I spoke to their head groomer). Some of the cats have depth gauges.

Of course, you are right on Catwalk - but you could at least look up and get some encouragement to do the climb!

Regarding snowpack on Superstar:
I've never seen snowpack to be a problem on Middle SS. The problems have always been on the headwall and Preston's pitch. They cleared up the "ess" curve problem. It remains to be seen if they just didn't make as much on Middle because they didn't need it.

marcski

The upper headwall has a good amount of snow. However, I believe the rest of the trail has less than in previous years. This week really hurt them. I hope they can get to Memorial Day... I'm not sure how late in May they will get this year. This past weekend was splendid.

Chuckstah

Great day on SS today with near perfect bumps last couple of hours with the bright sun. Mid O is hanging on nicely if you don't mind the walk out. Lower Skylarke is pretty much cooked. U Skylarke to Bitter okay. Fun watching Olympian Hannah Soar and her crew absolutely killing it on SS.

Chuckstah

Looks good to go tomorrow, SS half groomed per report, as well as a groomed Skye- Bitter. Who will I see?

joshua_segal

May 12, 2023 - Fri.
Might have been my last day of the season.

Snow never set up. Skiing was exhausting. Crowd was large. No lift lines, but few chairs going up empty, putting way too many skiers on Superstar.

No options except SS, with a small-short park on lower Skye Hawk.

lotsoskiing

Looks like ants on an anthill. Wild.

Chuckstah

Fun morning today on SS. 15 quick runs with the recent groom and out
of there aroun

d 12:00. Big bumps are forming on the head wall, but the rest of the way was rather mixed with some world cup ice and spread out mounds of snow. Very good cover ttb, but not sure how long it will last without new breaks forming. Hopefully June first for one final day. It was definitely worth the trip.

shpride

It looks like there is still left at the top

Chuckstah

The pile at the top was probably about 10 ft deep, should last this weekend but you never know with 85 Sunday and Monday.

lotsoskiing

looks great but will take a beating next week

ski_it

Very cool Chuck! That looks amazing for late May.

riverc0il

As good as I've seen Superstar on Memorial Day weekend. Almost edge to edge, top to bottom. Still a decent pile on top of the headwall.

lotsoskiing

That is remarkable, but not surprising for Killington. They are the best at what they do for early and late season.

Bet they sold a few beers this weekend, too

joshua_segal

May 29, 2023 - Monday (Memorial Day)
I took a few photos, but nothing different than photos already posted.

All the naysayers who suggested that Killington hadn't made enough snow and would not make the 3rd weekend in May were proven wrong. It was T2B.

I'd estimate the crowd at more than 500 people. There was a steady, albeit short, liftline all day and Superstar was crowded.

If Killington wanted to do so, they could easily be open next weekend. Closing day at Killington involves substantial walking and riding the lift with skis-off. However, I suspect that Thursday, June 1, will be closing day given the forecast.

My biggest complaint:
I called the Killington information number on Saturday to find out when opening time would be on Monday. While Mondays are usually 9 AM, Holiday hours are 8 AM. The information line operator confirmed that it was 8 AM. I, along with many others, were waiting in a sea of black flies at the base of the lift waiting until 9 AM.

newpylong

As it turned out, the nights were nearly all in the 30s and 40s, providing quite the gift to Killington. The fact of the matter is they did not make as much snow there as past years due to making more elsewhere (fine by me).

This is one of those things I am more than happy to have been wrong about.

Next weekend by no means would be a layup. By the end of the day yesterday the Tower 5 and 3 breaks were already in full force and getting worse by the hour. The snow above for repairs will dwindle quick.

I suspect they could do it, but the walking would be substantial even by June standards. Not worth it if you can nail 6/1 without walking and be done.

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