Long shadow from the top of Bittersweet looking North towards Killington Basin.

Long shadow from the top of Bittersweet looking North towards Killington Basin.

This time of year, the sun barely gets over the ridge line between Killington Peak and Skye Peak. With the sun low on the horizon, long shadows are cast by the trees at the edge of open ski trails. Their shadows are like giant hands, poised to grab any skier or rider who intersects their darkness.

But that darkness, holds the key.

The minimal sunshine falling around the mountain lowers the ambient temperature. Force thousands of gallons of water and air through miles of pipe. Create a pinhole in the plumbing at the tip of a fixture to generate an aerosol when you combine the two. Spray the mixture into the shadow assisted cool air....and Voila... you have snow where Mother Nature is expecting bare ground.

The Killington Resort has been very busy making snow. Lots of it. So much so that they are able to open 3 of the 6 mountains at the Killington Resort including Skye Peak, Killington Peak, and Snowdon. In addition, snow makers have been at work on Snowshed, and it looks like Upper Rams Head.

Killington Peak to Skye Peak from Snowdon

Today the resort was offering skiing and riding from 5 lifts including the K1 Gondola, Snowshed Quad, North Ridge Triple, Bunny Buster Poma, and Superstar Quad. Conditions were generally machine groomed packed powder. Light was definitely dim as the sky was covered in a high overcast and the sun, as previously mentioned was fairly low on the horizon.

Highline and Killington Peak from the Superstar Quad

Bittersweet and Skye Lark were nicely covered with a very nice surface. The Upper headwall on Superstar was also open. Most skiers and riders were able to make nice carving turns down the steep slope. Off of Killington Peak, the North Ridge Pod is continuing to function as the anchor set of trails. A terrain park is set up in Reason for those who want to enjoy some rails. Great Northern down to Snowdon and Bunny Buster was skiing well. Chute under the Snowdon Quad was open with some areas of thin cover.

Attendance at the resort today was higher than I expected, although I was able to park within 100 feet of the Snowdon quad and never waited in a lift line. Lots of people from down south up for the weekend to get some pre turkey day runs in before the holiday shopping season begins.

The forecast is calling for temperatures to warm up a bit, For those planning on skiing and riding this weekend, that is all good, as it will soften up the surfaces a little. Next week, it looks like the deep freeze returns, which means a restart of the snow making system and (hopefully) more terrain open for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Let it snow!