I’ve enjoyed beating up on Killington over the years, especially my anti-capitalist anti-consumerism post-college-angst years (if aren’t a socialist in your 20s you have no heart, if you’re still a socialist in your 30s you have no brain). But in recent memory, I’ve always had good early and late season days there. Killington came at this season with a completely different attitude. There has been a void in New England skiing for a long time and it is nice to have that void finally refilled.
As Sugarloaf and Sugarbush both close, Killington is not just still open but talking about June. Maybe they will get there, maybe they won’t. But the talk is hardly hypothetical marketing bluster, it is absolutely doable.
Unlike in past years when “The Beast” announced an earlier than planned April closing despite ample snow just before a massive storm that they would not reopen for, Killington is honestly playing for keeps this season. And it is about time. All hail Killington, undisputed King of Spring with the earliest opening, latest closing, and longest season. Thank you.
Killington offered two top to bottom runs with Superstar and Skye Lark (the later with a lower option to Bittersweet). High Road was open but required two hops to make the connection from Superstar to Lower Skye Lark. This connection was made for the best top to bottom run from Superstar to Lower Skye Lark.
Upper/Middle Skye Lark was recently groomed but you wouldn’t know it as bumps were already forming by my first run at 10:00am. The bumps were the typical variable spaced hodgepodge that warm spring days produce on recently groomed trails. But some lines started forming as the day progressed.
The best lines of the day were found on Lower Skye Lark. The bumps started tight then spread out a bit after the roll over and then tightened up before a thin disjointed section that will surely separate this week. I really enjoyed lapping this section and it made Upper/Middle Skye Lark worth it. Cutting in from Superstar via High Road was worth the double hop.
Superstar is essentially edge to edge except under the quad (which is set behind the impressive wall of snow guns). The base depth varies depending on location but sections in the middle exceed twelve feet in depth. While riding the quad, there is one point at which the snow is higher than eye level from the chairlift. The massive wall of snow at the top of the headwall is impressive and will surely carry Superstar through the month of May.
Bumps were large on the headwall but skier’s right had a really nice line of moderately sized bumps. The middle section of Superstar had incredible lines. Lower Superstar was typical of late season at Killington with large bumps in between large icy flat troughs. As usual, skier’s right and left on Lower had better options but I preferred cutting over to Lower Skye Lark via High Road.
So how long will it last? High Road is done. Lower Skye Lark will disconnect this week but could be skiable with dirt side stepping next week as it is full excepting the break. Upper/Middle Skye Lark didn’t seem to have deep base depth and bare spots and holes were showing. It may or may not make it to next week. Interestingly enough, Bittersweet has massive base depth until the flat out. I suspect Killington will get one more weekend of Skye Lark at best, it might not make it but certainly could.
Superstar will go through May without question. There is just so much snow stock piled up top in addition to crazy base depths in the middle section of the trail. But the bottom of the trail doesn’t quite have that stock pile. They can keep pushing the snow down but June skiing may require walking back to the lift from where the snow will end. I give June skiing at Killington strong odds if Killington wants it bad enough.
Crowds certainly responded with every chairlift being utilized and occasionally a short one minute wait for a seat. Crowd density on Skye Lark occasionally became concerning (by my standards) though Superstar spread out the crowd reasonably well. Let’s put it this way: there is no way that Killington was operating at a loss, especially when you factor in the well placed and well utilized umbrella bar.
I’ll be back and I’ll happily not bring a lunch either to support the cause. Let’s ALL support the cause of late season skiing. Killington has a quality product and they are giving us what we asked for. Don’t let some bean counter say “I told you so”. Go get some May lift serviced turns at the only place you still can.
2 thoughts on “Killington: King of Spring”
+1 on all of it River. If Killington is going to be the beast, we all owe her the cost of lift ticket and and a tab at the umbrella bar.
As it always is, great to ski with you.
I expected to see Harv and yourself in June if they make it.