Killington Ski Resort

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Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area
Location: Killington, Vermont, US
Nearest city: Rutland
Top elevation: 4241 ft (1292.7 m)
Base elevation: 1165 ft (355 m)
Skiable area: 1209 acres (489 ha)
Runs: 200
Longest run: 6.6 mi (9.9 km)
Lift system: 33 chairs: 2 Gondolas, 6 Express Quads, 6 Quads, 6 Triples, 4 Doubles, 9 Surface Lifts
Snowfall: 21 ft (6.4 m)
Web site: Killington Mountain Resort and Ski Area
It has been suggested that Sunrise Mountain be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area is a ski resort near Killington, Vermont. It is the largest ski area in eastern North America. A good business day at Killington can attract as many as 17,000 skiers.

Contents

[edit] History

In 1954, Perry H. Merrill, the Father of Vermont's State Parks and Alpine Ski Areas and Vermont State land lease officer[1], wanted to see a ski resort developed on Killington Peak, the second highest mountain in Vermont. He found Preston Leete Smith who shared the vision. They agreed to work together to develop this area. Killington opened December 13, 1958.[2] The 1960s was a good business environment for Killington Ski Resort. The resort continued to expand at a pace "well above industry standards."[1] 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 considered a "banana belt" luxury. Several low snow seasons proved their value.[1] Later, Killington was bought by a company named SKI. Currently Killington is owned by the American Skiing Company. Killington is now owned by SP land holdings it was purchased from American skiing compan for 83.4 million dollars.

[edit] Skiing Killington

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Located in central Vermont, 200 trails and 33 lifts extend across seven mountain peaks. The main peak, Killington Peak (4,241 ft, 1293 m), is the second highest in Vermont and has the greatest vertical drop in the east (3,050 feet, 930 m) after Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, New York, (3,430 feet, 1045 m). Six of the peaks of Killington are interconnected. The seventh, Pico Peak, operated as an independent ski area until 1996, when it was purchased by Killington's parent company, American Skiing Company. There are plans to connect Killington and Pico with a series of lifts and trails.

[edit] Trails

The resort offers a variety of trails from gentle to expert. Killington may be most famous for steep trails that expert skiers absolutely love. Among their trails are "Outer Limits" a double black diamond mogul trail that is the steepest mogul run in all of New England. The longest trail in the east is the 6.2-mile (9.9 km) "Juggernaut." Snowboarders can enjoy Killington as well; part of the mountain is set aside for the pleasure of snowboarders. Killington has five snowboard and alpine parks.

[edit] Mountains

  • Snowshed: A section on the mountain devoted for the beginners, Snowshed is serviced by three lifts. An open slope, Snowshed is a perfect place to ski if you are learning. There is a lodge and restaurant at the bottom of the slope.
  • Rams Head: Rams Head offers beginner and intermediate trails serviced by a high-speed express quad. It is considered a place to ski with your family and provides day care and a learning school.[3] There is also a lodge and restaurant at the base of Rams Head.
  • Snowdon Mountain: Snowdon provides a variety of trails. Beginner, Intermediate, Expert skiers can all enjoy this section of Killington. Among the trails are Conclusion, a double black diamond and Great Northern, a beginner trail. There are two lift-chairs and a Poma.
  • Killington Peak: If you're looking for a challenge, head to Killington Peak. Part of Killington Peak, the "Canyon Area", is the steepest part of the mountain. There are many double black diamonds including: Cascade, Downdraft, Double Dipper, and the Big Dipper Glade. It is serviced by the K1 gondola and the Canyon Quad. Also, there are a few easier connecting trails (Great Eastern and Great Northern) that can connect you with the rest of the mountain. There is a restaurant and lodge at the summit and base of Killington Peak
A view of the North Ridge area of Killington Peak. Taken in the Winter of 2002.
A view of the North Ridge area of Killington Peak. Taken in the Winter of 2002.
  • Skye Peak: Offers all types of terrain. If you want a challenge, try Ovation, a double black diamond that is one of the steepest on the mountain. There is also Superstar, a black diamond that is wide and has lots of snow, making it one of the last to close. Also, you can access easier trails and intermediate trails from here. It is serviced by the Superstar Express Quad, the Skye Peak Quad, and the Skyeship Gondola.
  • Bear Mountain: Is home to Outer Limits, a very steep double black diamond mogul run. Also, they have Devil's Fiddle, another double black diamond. There are many terrain parks here including a Superpipe. This is all serviced by two lifts. There is often music blaring here and Bear Mountain has a lodge and restaurant.
  • Sunrise Mountain: Sunrise Mountain is serviced by one lift and it is all beginner terrain.
  • Pico Mountain: Pico a separate mountain, away from the main resort. They offer 50 trails, 17 miles, of all variety including gentle slopes, to steep trails and glades all serviced by 6 lifts. Popular runs include: The Pike, 49er, Summit Glades, Upper KA, Giant Killer, and Sunset 71. There are hotels, condos, restaurants at the base.
Pico History: Pico was once an independent ski resort called Pico Peak. Killington brought Pico Peak in bankruptcy in the mid-1990s. There have been plans to connect Pico to the other Killington mountains since it was purchased. Connector trails have been cut; however, the more expensive lift and snowmaking systems that would make such a connection possible have not been installed as of 2006.

[edit] Snow

Killington averages 250 inches of natural snow each winter. That, coupled with a snowmaking system that covers 70% of the trails, has allowed Killington to offer what is often the longest skiing season in eastern North America, typically lasting from October to May.

[edit] Lodging

Around Killington, there are many different places to spend the night. The lodging situation includes around 120 inns, lodges and condos.

[edit] Mountain Statistics

[edit] Elevation

The following mountains are part of the ski area:

  • Summit elevation (Killington Peak) 4,241’ (1,293 m)
  • Pico Peak 3,900 ft (1,189 m)
  • Skye Peak 3,800 ft (1,158 m)
  • Ramshead Peak 3,610 ft (1,100 m)
  • Snowdon Peak 3,592 ft (1,095 m)
  • Bear Mountain 3,295 ft (1,004 m)
  • Sunrise Mountain 2,456 ft (749 m)
  • Base elevation is 1,165 (325 m)
  • Vertical Drop 3050 ft (930 m)

[edit] Trails

  • 200 trails
  • easier: 26%, 52 trails
  • more difficult: 36%, 71 trails
  • most difficult: 38%, 77 trails
  • 87 miles of trail

[edit] Lifts

  • 33 Lifts

[edit] Long Ski Season

Killington had a reputation for being the first ski area every season in the Eastern United States to open, as well as the last to close, although this has changed in recent years. On October 25, 2002, After 41 consecutive years of being the first ski area in the east to open, a small ski area in Connecticut called Woodbury Ski Area opened a very small amount of terrain before Killington could open, thus ending the streak.[4] The resort packs up to 30 feet of man made snow each year on Superstar, a single black diamond run on the North side of Skye Peak. The trail is home to an annual slalom race on May 1st, and is always the last trail to close.


Season Open Date Close Date Open Days Snowfall Note
2006-2007 Nov 23 TBD TBD TBD Closed Dec 1 and 2
2005-2006 Oct 29 May 1 166 191" Closed from Oct 31 to Nov 18
2004-2005 Nov 9 May 15 188 206"
2003-2004 Nov 10 May 12 184 215"
2002-2003 Oct 25 May 26 204 291"
2001-2002 Nov 6 Jun 1 202 192"
2000-2001 Oct 29 May 27 202 316"
1999-2000 Oct 25 May 29 205 209"
1998-1999 Oct 22 May 25 204 186"
1997-1998 Oct 1 May 25 205 242"
1996-1997 Oct 4 Jun 22 233 301"
1995-1996 Oct 17 Jun 10 224 307"
1994-1995 Oct 3 Jun 4 214 182"
1993-1994 Oct 1 Jun 9 243 279"
1992-1993 Oct 1 Jun 1 229 300"
1991-1992 Oct 21 June 14 226 198"
1990-1991 Oct 27 May 28 214 206"
1989-1990 Oct 10 May 28 208 249"
1988-1989 Oct 13 May 21 211 202"
1987-1988 Oct 12 June 1 227 238"
1986-1987 Oct 10 June 3 224 233"
1985-1986 Oct 28 June 1 217 198"
1984-1985 Nov 3 June 2 212 220"
1983-1984 Oct 20 June 21 246 238"
1982-1983 Oct 17 June 16 240 197"
1981-1982 Oct 20 June 15 225 268"
1980-1981 Oct 14 May 27 226 257"
1979-1980 Oct 10 May 23 221 138"
1978-1979 Oct 16 May 22 219 292"
1977-1978 Oct 24 May 23 195 341"
1976-1977 Oct 27 May 15 201 346"
1975-1976 Oct 30 May 5 173 232"
1974-1975 Oct 19 May 12 190 307"
1973-1974 Nov 5 Apr 30 177 193"
1972-1973 Oct 20 Apr 28 184 267"
1971-1972 Nov 9 May 18 192 323"
1970-1971 Nov 18 May 21 184 334"
1969-1970
1968-1969 May 10 183 306"
1967-1968 Nov 6 154 204"
1966-1967 Nov 4 183
1965-1966 Nov 18 May 18 167 277"
1964-1965 Nov 21 May 4 160
1963-1964 Dec 4 214
1962-1963 Dec 8 May 5 148 267"
1961-1962 Dec 2 Apr 30 150
1960-1961 Dec 14 May 8 145
1959-1960 May 8
1958-1959 Dec 13 Apr 16 124

[5]

[edit] Summer

In the summer, Killington offers 45 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Killington Peak can be reached by gondola lift in the summer. At the summit, tourists are treated with panoramic views of 5 states (Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Maine and Massachusetts) and Canada. There is also a restaurant at the summit where tourists can stop for a bite to eat. At the base, the resort also offers water slide and alpine slide activities as well as 18-hole championship golf and mini-golf and a climbing wall.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Jeremy Davis. The History of Vermont Skiing: One Hundred Years of Growth. Retrieved on November 16, 2006.
  2. ^ Killington Ski Resort. More mountains than you can ski in a week. Retrieved on November 16, 2006.
  3. ^ Meg Lukens Noonan (January 5, 1997). Killington. = New York Times. Retrieved on November 16, 2006.
  4. ^ Tommy Hine (October 25, 2002). Woodbury 1, Killington 0. New England & Northeast Ski Forums - AlpineZone Forums. Retrieved on November 17, 2006.
  5. ^ Killington Ski Resort. Endless Winter. Retrieved on November 16, 2006.
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