Category: Vermont

2012-2013 Season, Killington, November

Opening Day at Killington

Snowmaking on Rime

Killington opened for the season today, and this time everyone was invited. This was my first early season experience since the installation of the Peak Walkway which is a game changer for Killington. With Killington’s renewed sense of identity, it will be difficult for any other mountain in the northeast to open sooner.

I took advantage of a 2 for 1 offer, taking a half dozen runs for nineteen fiddy. Uploading was provided by the K1 which unceremoniously dumped me out on the Great Northern gauntlet. Snow guns were everywhere creating an impenetrable cloud of near blindness.

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2012-2013 Season, Earned Turns, November, Stowe

Mansfield: Worth the Effort

Skinning Gondolier

After two false starts, my season finally begins. The allure of an epic 26 hour road trip to West Virginia was considerable (especially after seeing the incredible reports). But with snow on the way, guns prepped to blow, and a potential storm on the horizon, I decided to stay put. Driving halfway to Florida for skiing would have been quite an adventure but I couldn’t justify it with things looking so good locally.

Instead of driving all day Saturday to ski Sunday, I drove on Sunday to ski on Sunday, returning to my own bed at night. And tomorrow, I’ll do the same but with lift assistance. The next day, I’ll recuperate and watch the storm come in and then repeat the process with better results.

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2011-2012 Season, April, Killington

Closing Weekend at Killington

Gondola Cars All Lined Up

Day twenty-nine: almost halfway to my season goal of sixty. I never thought approaching thirty days would feel like an accomplishment. But with two months remaining of this craptastic season, I’ll be extremely happy to hit thirty on Mount Washington next month.

A terrible season puts things in perspective. Killington making it to April 22nd this year is a significant accomplishment. In past years, closing this weekend was considered an “epic fail”. And if not for a late season dump, this weekend would not have been possible. So there is some perspective, it could always be worse no matter how bad it seems to get.

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2011-2012 Season, April, Jay Peak

Juxtaposition at Jay

Old Jay, New Jay

Highs are higher because of the lows. My father never appreciated that part of my personal philosophy, perhaps fearing I would probe for lower depths instead of reaching for new heights. I not only ride the emotional roller coaster, I relish the experience. The roller coaster is an essential part of northeastern skiing. You can enjoy the ride, attempt to cope, or grab a barf bag.

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