Killington 4-28-17

[Ride Delaware ?]

When I logged my last day on closing day, April 2, at Mt. Ellen, I had hopes that my season wasn't over, but it seemed like it could be a stretch. Work has been busy and a quick warmup into spring seemed imminent. However, I lucked into my girlfriend being invited last minute to a wedding in Rutvegas, and I was able to work that into a couple extra days on the hill.

 

My girlfriend has off Wednesdays, so I spent it with her before heading north to my condo at the Bush on Thursday. Sugarbush had run daily through the previous weekend, but they close midweek before opening one last weekend. That left me the option of Killington within easy driving distance. The weather looked very nasty in the morning, so I decided to sleep in and wait until the system moved out in the afternoon.

 

The trip to the Killington base lodge takes just about an hour, and I made it about 12:30. They were reporting 8 trails open serviced by the Superstar lift, and there was a steady stream of people enjoying the trails. Luckily, there was no lift line. I got to the ticket window, where I paid $65 for my lift ticket. If I had my SP or lift ticket from another mountain, I could have gotten it half price, but I figured I didn't need any of that stuff at a different mountain, so I was SOL. I used it as a learning experience, and I will make sure to bring it next time.

 

The day was gorgeous by the time I arrived. I was told that it was chilly, windy, and socked in with fog until about 11:30, so I timed it just right. It was sunny and 70. I had my leg vents open and wore a long sleeve T to combat the sun and slight breeze.

 

The Superstar glacier is still in winter form. There was easily 12'-15' on the majority of the trail and it was obvious that no grooming had been necessary or occurred in awhile. However, there was a groomer parked at the top that had been pushing together the trail to Skye Lark, Bittersweet, and Skye Hawk. Both Skye Lark and Bittersweet still had plenty of coverage to get through the weekend. There was only one snirt spot that was getting thin. Otherwise, it was a perfect day for the corn harvest. Skye Hawk on the other hand, was on life support. Only about a third of the trail, skiers left was skiable at the top, and it funneled down to a small triangle that ended in a 3 foot bare spot to get on to Skye Lark.

 

Superstar was glorious. There was corn aplenty, no bare spots, and huge bumps. Spring skiing doesn't get much better than this.

 

There were some pushed together runouts for Skye Lark and Bittersweet, but after they close this weekend, im sure they will create the runout from Superstar to the Superstar Express. They left the slow control gate because of the intersection.

 

There was some good beer drinking and tailgating going on. The parking lot was mostly empty because most people park on the edge of the road closest to the lift.

 

Superstar easily has another 2 weekends in it. I don't think they will have any problems getting to the third weekend in May, but it will require some pushing at the usual "thin" spots. If you have a spare Friday, you can get 50% off with an SP or lift ticket. It's 25% off on weekends. You won't be disappointed.