Killington Monday, Oct. 22.

[SallyCat]

I had the day off and a discount pass, so I thought I’d see what October skiing is all about. It’s not even noon and I’m writing a trip report, so you can probably see where this is going.

Don’t get me wrong, I am absolutely psyched thst Killington opened so early, and the two open runs are normally fun intermediate trails. Today though, the trails were jam-packed with people and made harrowing by the blazing snow guns running from top to bottom.

I did two runs and called it a day (meaning I went to the bar...). It just wasn’t worth the risk of dumb injury.

But I’m glad I came just to see what it was sll about, and now I’m even more psyched for the real season to begin!

 

[ski diva]

Glad you went, but your description pretty much sums up why I don’t go, even though it’s not far away. Too crowded, not enough open, not great conditions, and blazing snow guns are not my cup of tea.

 

[MilkyWookiee]

Thank you for giving it a shot so that we don't have to lol. Nice to know I'm not missing out on anything

 

[Jilly]

Thanks for taking one for the team!!

 

[SallyCat]

I actually went back down and did a few more runs after posting; I watched a lot of people leaving and few arriving, so figured the crowds would have thinned. True, and those few runs were pretty fun. But then it bumped up and I couldn’t see well enough to be comfortable, so I called it quits for real

 

[newboots]

*** spoiler alert ***

*** Heresy below ***
*
*
*
*

This is how I feel about late spring skiing when the resort throws a party. Crowds, lift lines, slush, mud, gravel, and rowdy intoxication.

I like tailgating in theory, but mud+gravel=parking lots in spring. Yuk. I prefer picnics in the yard, at the park, or on the beach. A real beach.

Signed,
Party Pooper in Vermont

 

[SallyCat]

*** spoiler alert ***

*** Heresy below ***
*
*
*
*

This is how I feel about late spring skiing when the resort throws a party. Crowds, lift lines, slush, mud, gravel, and rowdy intoxication.

Yeah, Killington cultivates that vibe for sure. That's why I prefer spring skiing at Okemo and if I want a break, I take it at the Jackson Gore base.

At Killington in the spring, the way to avoid the party atmosphere is to keep skiing, which is usually my preference!

 

[MilkyWookiee]

Yeah, Killington cultivates that vibe for sure. That's why I prefer spring skiing at Okemo and if I want a break, I take it at the Jackson Gore base.

I agree about okemo being great for spring skiing. However, when the weather is warm, I have a strict waffle cabin only rule for taking breaks. Or if I want a meal/beer, I go to solitude because they have outdoor seating, great trails, and no lift line. Gotta bake in that balaclava tan line!

 

[SallyCat]

Oh, excellent point! The Solitude chair is always a winner! When it’s open, Epic has great food, too. I hear they have a new chef, though, and if that impacts the chicken-and-waffle situation, I may have to avoid the Solitude area altogether; too painful.

 

[MilkyWookiee]

Oh, excellent point! The Solitude chair is always a winner! When it’s open, Epic has great food, too. I hear they have a new chef, though, and if that impacts the chicken-and-waffle situation, I may have to avoid the Solitude area altogether; too painful.

Pause for the cause. Solitude has/had chicken and waffles as a menu item?! I've been pairing waffle cabin waffles and roundhouse chicken fingers all this time...

 

[ski diva]

Pause for the cause. Solitude has/had chicken and waffles as a menu item?! I've been pairing waffle cabin waffles and roundhouse chicken fingers all this time...

Omigod the chicken and waffles is soooooo good! You haven't lived til you've tried it. I agree with SallyCat. If they get rid of it...

 

[SallyCat]

 

[MilkyWookiee]

On a punny note, the solitude restaurant is epic and now okemo is on the epic pass!

 

[Christy]

Killington question. What is that "skyship" I drove by on the way to meet you guys? Okay obviously it's a gondola, but the parking lot was small… Is it just for sightseers?

 

[SallyCat]

Killington question. What is that "skyship" I drove by on the way to meet you guys? Okay obviously it's a gondola, but the parking lot was small… Is it just for sightseers?

It's for skiers; there's a big parking lot on the other side of Rt. 4 that you access via the big bridge. I've never taken it because I usually drive up to the Bear Mountain lodge. But it's another way onto the mountain; convenient if you're coming from the Woodstock area, because if it's running it saves you about ten miles of driving.

 

[Tvan]

View attachment 9449

Sweet? Savory? Both? I can’t quite wrap my head around this combination.

 

[Abbi]

Sweet? Savory? Both? I can’t quite wrap my head around this combination.

Both. I had it once or twice. Epic is my stop of choice, mostly because I know everyone who works there! That and The Loft, of course! My problem, especially since I’ve lost more weight since last season, is nothing small on the menu. The “small plates” aren’t small by my dubious standards! But everything there was wonderful last year!

 

[Tvan]

Both. I had it once or twice. Epic is my stop of choice, mostly because I know everyone who works there! That and The Loft, of course! My problem, especially since I’ve lost more weight since last season, is nothing small on the menu. The “small plates” aren’t small by my dubious standards! But everything there was wonderful last year!

My dietary restrictions will prevent me from trying this, so I’ll take your word for it.

 

[nopoleskier]

Epic is a very good. ahh chicken and waffles... portions are definitely generous. And if you don't like stairs in boots there's an elevator down to the bathrooms!

 

[newboots]

You must have really been looking at the Skyeship, to miss the pedestrian bridge over the road! Both parking lots fill to overflowing when the gondola is open. But we generally ski from Bear Mountain, also, that seems less crowded than other lodges at K.