Page 32 - SRCG_HTML_2008

Destination Report: East

Killington

Resort

By Andrew Horn

Vermont’s Killington Resort is the largest ski and snow-
board resort in Eastern North America and celebrates its
50th birthday this December. Serving as many as 17,000
skiers a day, the resort has 150 trails and 25 lifts across
seven mountain peaks. The main peak, Killington Peak,
is the second
V highest in Vermont at 4,241 feet and has
the second greatest vertical drop (3,050 feet) in the East.
With an average annual snowfall of 250 inches and a ski-
able area of 1,215 acres, the resort has become a central
destination for skiers. Killington’s 70 miles of diverse ter-
rain offer skiers and riders of all ability levels a choice of
wide-open courses, narrow New England runs, moguls,
steeps and 13 tree skiing areas. Terrain parks at Bear
Mountain provide freeskiers and riders opportunities for
jibbing and jumping, including The Stash and a 430-foot-
long, Olympic-size Superpipe with 22-foot walls.

The resort has continuously grown over the years and will
expand even more with a series of improvements costing
$8.4 million. Such upgrades include the new Skye Peak
Express, ski trails, efficiency upgrades to the world’s
most extensive snowmaking system and expanded envi-
ronmental programs.
golf. Offering more than 100 restaurants and bars and
Skye Peak Express replaces Skye Peak Quad, reducing shopping options, Killington is one of the top resorts in
ride time from 14 minutes to less than five, allowing more the Northeast for entertainment and skiing.
access to Bear Mountain and cruising trails such as
Skyeburt, Cruise Control and Needle’s Eye. One of only While Snowshed, Rams Head and Sunrise Mountain are
four in the world, The Stash is an all-natural terrain park mainly for beginners, Skye Peak and Snowdon Mountain
with 34 features, including tree jibs, road jumps and log provide a variety of terrain and trails that are suitable for
slides. The new Magic Carpet replaces the F-10 Poma lift, a wide range of abilities. Bear Mountain has a very steep
providing first-time skiers with a more pleasant uphill double black diamond mogul run, Devil’s Fiddle, and a
experience. Trails will be reconfigured, ensuring uninter- superpipe. Killington Peak has numerous double black
rupted skiing and riding. Improvements to the snowmak- diamond trails in addition to a few easier connecting
ing system increase efficiency and production while tak- trails. Pico Mountain is located on a separate mountain
ing steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and become away from the rest of the resort, but work is being done
increasingly environmentally friendly. to connect the mountain to the resort with lifts and trails.

There also are numerous off-mountain activities in which There are approximately 120 inns, lodges and condos at
visitors can engage, including dog sledding, cross country Killington. Killington Peak’s summit has an indoor restau-
skiing, sleigh rides, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and ice rant, while the Peak Restaurant is serviced by a gondola
skating. Summer options include an 18-hole champi- lift, allowing non-skiers to dine with the added cost of a
onship golf course, Kona Mountain Bike Park with more ride fee.
than 45 miles of trails and Pico Mountain Adventure
Center with alpine slides, climbing walls and miniature Contact: 800-621-6867, killington.com.

32 MIDWEST SKIER 2008/2009 DIRECTORY www.skicmsc.com