Heavy snow falling on Killington Resort as seen from lower Superstar headwall.

Heavy snow falling on Killington Resort as seen from lower Superstar headwall.

It's about time! Just as the weather forecasters had predicted (they got one right!) a heavy snow storm swept into the Green Mountains during the overnight hours. By the time the lifts opened at 9:00 AM, the Killington Resort had received 4 to 6 inches of new snow. It has been snowing heavily most of the day.

I was on a chair lift at 9:00 AM. I had told a friend that I could ski for an hour or so this morning, as work does get in the way. But what a nice hour.

The first run, which shall remain nameless, was just great. We had hit a trail which had only been touched by either a lifty going to work, or a lone ski patroller checking the terrain before opening. Untracked shin to knee deep snow the whole way. The snow was a little heavier than I was expecting. Given the cold ground temperatures last night (low to mid teens), I was expecting a light fluffy powder. While this was no where near Sierra Cement, it still had some density to it. In the scheme of things, it is probably very good, as it will do a nice job in the long term covering the hardpack base. But it was a little surprising on the first run.

The second run was down Panic Button to Middle/Lower Vertigo. Again, basically untracked the whole way. Panic Button was previously groomed flat, so the new snow was very consistent. Vertigo had slight, rolling, bumps. Nominal attention needed to be paid to the ski line to minimize any jarring bump impacts. But since any line you took was fresh.. who really cares.

By this time, people were starting to discover untracked areas so we headed back into the resort proper. A trip down Skye Lark and Bittersweet were next on the list with a side detour down Low Road. By this time, Skye Lark was pretty chopped up by people who don't spread out on a powder day. The sides were still ok, but as the snow was dense, there was some rodeo riding to be done based upon your speed down the trail. Low Road was probably a mistake. Sometimes it can be a nice little trail besides the woods trail with deep powder. The snow was there, but there were also huge bumps lurking just underneath. So it goes.

My final run of the morning was down Upper Ovation to Lower Superstar. Upper O was a little choppy; not nearly as bad as Skye Lark. Skiers right near the bushes was pretty consistent. Skiers left was a little skiddy between the hardpack and the new snow. Not a bad finishing run however.

From Middle O I went over to lower Superstar and took this mornings picture. Skiers right, where most of the skiers went, was pretty much scraped off. Skiers left, which I mentioned was groomed in a previous post, was really nice. Fairly deep, with nice soft snow the whole way down.

I only spent an hour today... but it was the right hour to be on the mountain!

Let it snow!