Killington Ski Resort

Killington Ski Resort
View from the top of Killington Peak
Killington Ski Resort Location within the US Show map of the US Killington Ski Resort Location within the US Show map of Vermont
Location	Killington, Vermont, U.S.
Nearest city	Rutland
Coordinates	43°37′34″N 72°47′53″W / 43.626°N 72.798°W / 43.626; -72.798 (Killington Ski Resort)Coordinates: 43°37′34″N 72°47′53″W / 43.626°N 72.798°W / 43.626; -72.798 (Killington Ski Resort)
Vertical	3,050 ft (930 m)[1]
Top elevation	4,229 ft (1,289 m)  NAVD 88[2]
Base elevation	1,165 ft (355 m) (Skyeship)[1]
Skiable area	1,509 acres (6.1 km2)[1]
Runs	155 - 28% beginner - 33% intermediate - 39% advanced
Longest run	6.2 mi (10 km) (Juggernaut)
Lift system	22 lifts: 2 Gondolas, 5 express quads, 4 quads, 3 triples, 2 doubles, 6 surface lifts
Lift capacity	37,535 per hour
Snowfall	250 inches (640 cm)
Snowmaking	71%
Website	Killington.com

Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area is a ski resort in the northeast United States, near Killington, Vermont. It is the largest ski area in the eastern U.S., and has the largest vertical drop in New England at 3,050 feet (930 meters).^[3][4] Starting in the 2013–14 ski season, it was given the title "Beast of the East."

History

In 1954, Perry H. Merrill, the Father of Vermont's State Parks and Alpine Ski Areas and Vermont State land lease officer,^[5] wanted to see a ski resort developed on Killington Peak, the second highest mountain in Vermont. Preston Leete Smith agreed to work with him to develop this area. Killington opened 58 years ago on December 13, 1958.^[6]

The resort expanded in the 1960s at a pace "well above industry standards."^[5] Many new trails were created and Smith had beginner trails accessible from every lift. In the 1960s, Killington installed snowmaking equipment, which had been invented in the 1950s, but was considered a banana belt luxury. Several low-snow seasons proved their value.^[5]

Killington introduced the ticket wicket in 1963 to prevent skiers sharing lift tickets, while also not damaging ski clothing.^[7]

In the summer of 2011, the Killington area was damaged by Tropical Storm Irene in late August, which caused flooding and damage along U.S. Route 4, the road leading into Killington. The resort was damaged by excess runoff from Ottauquechee River, which lifted the Superstar Pub off of its foundation, condemning the structure. Killington has since repaired damaged infrastructure, and is operating at full or near-full potential.

Ownership

Powdr has announced that it will stop honoring "lifetime" lift passes issued by the previous owners after two years. A class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of about 800 pass holders.^[11]

Skiing Killington

Located in central Vermont, Killington has 155 trails, 22 lifts, and 1,509 acres (6.1 km²) extending across six interconnected mountain peaks. A seventh peak, Pico Mountain, was purchased by Killington in 1996, but operates as a separate resort. There have been proposals to connect Killington and Pico with a series of lifts and trails since 1998, but no plans have been finalized.

The primary mountain is Killington Peak at 4,241 ft (1,293 m), which has the second-highest summit in Vermont and has the second greatest vertical drop in the east (3,050 ft (930 m)), after Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, New York at 3,430 ft (1,045 m).

The mountains that make up the Killington resort separate the town of Killington (with its access road) from the city of Rutland.

Trails

The resort offers trails ranging from beginner to expert. Trails include "Outer Limits" a double black diamond mogul trail. The longest trail in the eastern U.S. is the 6.2-mile (10 km) beginner run, "Juggernaut". Part of the mountain is set aside for terrain parks, with five snowboard and alpine parks. Killington has a teaching area for first-time skiers, the "Accelerated Learning Area".

Killington has one of the east's largest half-pipes located at Bear Mountain for a portion of each winter season. There are boarder cross terrain and at least three to five major trails with ramps and jumps.

Mountains

A sign pointing to Devil's Fiddle and Outer Limits, some of the steepest trails at Killington

• Snowshed, devoted to beginners, is serviced by three lifts. It is an open slope, with a lodge and restaurant at the bottom. The adult ski school is located at Snowshed. Most condos and the Grand Hotel are located at the bottom of Snowshed.
• Ramshead has beginner and intermediate trails serviced by an express quad lift. The Ski School for children and teenagers is located at Ramshead base lodge. "Squeeze Play" is an easy gladed trail with wide gaps between trees.
• Snowdon Mountain provides a variety of beginner, intermediate and expert trails. Among the trails are Conclusion, rated double black diamond, and Great Northern, a beginner trail. There are two chairlifts (a triple from K-1 and a quad from end of Caper) and a Poma. Trails for advanced skiers include Great Bear and North Star.
• Killington Peak, the highest of the mountain peaks, includes the "Canyon Area", near the top, with some of the steepest terrain on the mountain. There are several double black diamond trails there, including Cascade, Downdraft, Double Dipper, and the Big Dipper Glade. It is serviced by the K-1 gondola and the Canyon Quad. Two shorter runs here include Rime and Reason, in North Ridge area. Easier trails (Bear Trax and Great Northern) connect to the rest of the mountain. There are lodges with restaurants at both the summit and base of Killington Peak. The peak was once accessible only by the original Killington gondola, which had three stages, beginning at the bottom of Skye Peak. It has been replaced by the two shorter gondolas. The K-1 gondola replaces the earlier Killington peak chairlift.

A view of the North Ridge area of Killington Peak in 2002

• Skye Peak includes all types of terrain. Trails include Ovation, a black forming into a double black when it becomes Lower Ovation, the steepest trail on the mountain, and Superstar, a black diamond that is wide and has lots of artificial snow to stay open late into the spring. It is serviced by the Superstar Express Quad, the Skye Peak Express Quad, and the Skyeship Express Gondola, erected in 1994.
• Bear Mountain: Home to Outer Limits, a very steep double black diamond mogul run, and Devil's Fiddle, another double black diamond. Bear Mountain also features terrain parks, including a superpipe. It is serviced by one lift and has a lodge and restaurant. Bear Mountain frequently hosts large-scale competitive racing and freestyle events.

Bear Mountain

• Sunrise Mountain: Sunrise Mountain is serviced by one lift and is all beginner terrain. It was developed in the early 1980s, but due to its relatively low elevation, the lower portions of Sunrise had difficulty maintaining snow cover, so they were removed from the trail system. The triple chair, which originally extended further downhill to the southern corner of US-4 and VT-100 in W. Bridgewater, was shortened, and the "Northeast Passage" entrance to Killington ceased to exist in the late 1990s. Killington originally opened Sunrise with the intent of expanding skiing trails and lifts southeast into an area known as Parker's Gore. When these plans were halted due to concerns for bear habitat, the costs of snowmaking and maintaining terrain at such a low elevation were no longer justified by the few skiers utilizing the area.^[12]

Pico Mountain

Pico Mountain is located on a separate mountain, Pico Peak, several miles away from the main resort. It has 50 trails covering 17 mi (27 km), all serviced by 6 lifts. Runs include The Pike, 49er, Summit Glades, Upper KA, Giant Killer, and Sunset 71. There are hotels, condos and restaurants at the base. The mountain is accessible from the main base by car or bus.

Pico was once an independent ski resort called Pico Peak, and was bought out of bankruptcy by Killington in the mid-1990s. Lift tickets at Killington are valid at Pico. There have been plans to connect Pico to the main Killington resort since it was purchased. Connector trails have been cut. Combined the two resorts offer over 1977 acres of skiable terrain.^[1]

Snow and season length

Killington averages 250 inches (6.4 m) of natural snow each winter. That, coupled with a snowmaking system that covers 71% of the trails, has allowed Killington to offer what is often the longest skiing season in eastern North America, which usually spans from late October to late May.^[13] But, it has opened as early as October 1 and closed as late as June 22. Killington had a reputation for being the first ski area every season in the eastern U.S. to open, as well as the last to close, although in recent years the length of the season has begun to shorten. For example, in the 15 years between 1986 and 2001, the resort opened in October in every year but one, and never closed earlier than May 21. But in the five years ending in 2011, opening day has always been in November, and closing day has never made it past May 6. Killingtons Opening and Closing Dates: 2015/2016- Opened October 18 2014/2015- November 3- May 25 2013/2014- October 23- May 18 2012/2013- October 13- May 26 ^[14]

Mountain statistics

The base elevation is 1,165 ft (355 m) and the vertical drop is 3,050 ft (930 m).^[1]

• Summit elevation (Killington Peak) 4,229 ft (1,289 m)  NAVD 88^[15]
• Pico Peak - 3,967 ft (1,209 m)^[1]
• Skye Peak - 3,800 ft (1,158 m)^[1]
• Ramshead Peak - 3,610 ft (1,100 m)^[1]
• Snowdon Peak - 3,592 ft (1,095 m)^[1]
• Bear Mountain - 3,295 ft (1,004 m)^[1]
• Sunrise Mountain - 2,456 ft (749 m)^[1]

Trails

• 212 trails (including Pico Mountain) measuring 73 miles (117 km)

• - Easier 28 %
• - More Difficult 33%
• - Most Difficult: 39%

Lifts

Interior of Skyeship Gondola

• 22 Lifts

• gondolas: 2 currently operating (Original Killington Gondola dismantled in 1993, and replaced with Skyeship)
• quadruples: 9 (5 are high speed)
• triples: 3
• doubles: 2
• surface: 6

Summer

Killington has 45 miles (72 km) of hiking and mountain biking trails, and an 18-hole golf course. It also has lift accessed mountain biking in the summer with technical trail features, jumps, and other obstacles.^[16] In March 2015, the resort sucessfuly applied to the state for permit allowing them to add zip lines and a mountain coaster.^[17]

Gallery

References

External links

• Official website
• History of Killington Mt - VT Living Magazine
• Killington - NewEnglandSkiHistory.com - history and photos