Skiing into the shadows

Skiing into the shadows

All around the area, residents and guests alike were pointing to the fiery orb in the sky. It is a rare ski day in December when there is perfect sunshine at Killington; and today was the day.

We started several hours earlier today than on Wednesday, catching the Snowdon Quad from the parking lot at about 9:10. The temperatures were in the mid 20's. Once again the Killington Resort had snow guns working all across the resort. But with sunshine bouncing off my face during the ride to the top, it was clear that it was going to be a beautiful morning to make some turns on the snow at Killington.

We started out fairly easy with a run through the terrain park on Mouse Run. I looped over a couple of the features; no air yet cause the knee is still on the mend. The undulations in the park were just the right "kick in the pants" to get the juices flowing for more.

After a quick trip through the singles line on the K1 Gondola and the ride to the peak, we skied down to the North Ridge Area. Great Northern was getting a little "sandy"; the residual effect of nightly grooming of the frozen packed powder man made surface. Upper East Falls was very nice. A touch of a slide 2/3rds of the way down in the middle, but there was plenty of nice soft goodness all over to support some sweeping carves down the fall line.

Looping down Rime and Great Northern completed the cycle. East Falls (proper) was open, but Mary is still working on her ski legs. It was either that or a few runs off the Superstar Quad, so off to Superstar we went.

At Superstar, the resort is still pounding it with snow making. Snow Guns have been left to continuously operate on Superstar. After a grooming run or 3, it looks like Superstar will be opening again from top to bottom soon.

Sky Lark was nice machine groomed granular. We did it over a couple of times. Upper Bittersweet was a wind blown skating rink. The turn at the Needles Eye Quad Upper Station was particularly treacherous, as not only was it wind blow hard, but the lights went out as soon as you crested the down hill side of the trail. But so it goes.... nothing ventured nothing gained. No harm not foul. (Fill in the blank with your favorite self loathing phrase... Bittersweet was not a do-over!)

The resort is continuing to make snow in advance of the Christmas season. Now if Mother Nature can keep things cold and give us a little help... all will be right with the world.

Where ever you may be, aim your snow dance at Killington. Let it snow!