Ski Mad World last Spring commented on the great perseverance of Killington in maintaining the lifts running despite a low snow year and a summer heat wave in late March.
Not giving up : Winter along with Jay & St-Sauveur – East Closing Thread 2012 – Part 8
Other areas on that May list closed 2-3 weeks earlier with the exception of Killington which only closed 9 days off last year date. Jay and MSS are currently within the 2-3 weeks range respectively.
There is a new president in town and he’s giving the Kmart regulars the right signals and it’s being noticed by some hardcore eastern skiers. Blowing snow at the first possible time and surprising everyone with a mid-October lift spin that no one saw coming due to the lackluster attempts and PR spin of the recent seasons instead.
Killington is opening indeed tomorrow morning, Saturday October 13, which is the earliest Eastern opening that I can recall in 15 years. I believe the earliest opening since then has been by Sunday River on October 14th 2009. In 1997, the last time they opened so early, the once mighty K managed to pull off an October 1st for a 4th and last time in their history.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 13, 2012
KILLINGTON SEASON PASS APPRECIATION EVENT
Exclusive to Killington Season Pass and Express Card holders, we will be running two lifts and one trail for Saturday October 13, 2012. Killington Express Card holders will be charged $25 for use of the Express Card. No day tickets will be sold.If conditions permit, this event will extend into Sunday, October 14, 2012. Operating hours for Sunday will be determined by Saturday evening.
The K-1 Express Gondola and the North Ride Triple Chair will operate from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Skiers and riders will use the Peak Walkway to access the one open trail, Rime.
Rime will be open with advanced terrain only and early season conditions exist. Terrain will not be groomed. Snowmaking will be in progress as temperatures permit. Walking, removing equipment and downloading are all required. There will be no terrain park features.
The K-1 Lodge will be open for guest services and restrooms. The Roaring Brook Umbrella Bars will be open with light fare and drinks.
I’m slightly disappointed that this is an exclusive event and that 99% of us can’t even show up and buy a lift ticket and ski (you can buy an express card, but need to ski there a few times to pay it off). First day for passholder is cool…the whole weekend is disappointing. It would be like MRG having shareholders day, but remaining close for the public. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy that K is spinning and happy there are giving it to its customers, heaven knows they suffered a lot and deserve it.
Killington would seem to be back to more than “simply offering a quality product” days and gunning to become a major player for the first flake to last. I’m pretty excited to see the return of the old philosophy, but they need to continue to reoccupying the ground that they abandoned over the last decade.
I was hoping to make my first return visit to Killington since 2004-2005, when I started my season at Killington in November and finishing up my Eastern skiing in mid-May on Superstar, but it looks like it won’t be returning this weekend. Anyway kudos to Killington, hoping to see you closed later than Jay and St-Sauveur AND well into May (or even the improbable June) to see if your really back.
In the meantime, welcome back…you’ve been missed.
List of Killington Seasons since 1966-67
** Appreciation Day
* 2005/2006 : Open for one weekend after huge October storm, reopen on November 19. K record states season as “October 29-30, Nov 19 – May 1”
Season Open – Close / Ski Days
2012/2013 October 13**
2011/2012 October 29 – April 22 / 176
2010/2011 November 2 – May 1 / 179
2009/2010 November 7 – April 25 / 153
2008/2009 November 2 – May 2 / 169
2007/2008 November 16 – April 20 / 157
2006/2007 November 23 – May 6 / 165
2005/2006* October 29* – May 1 / 166
2004/2005 November 9 – May 15 / 188
2003/2004 November 10 – May 12 / 184
2002/2003 October 25 – May 26 / 204
2001/2002 November 6 – June 1 / 202
2000/2001 October 29 – May 27 / 202
1999/2000 October 25 – May 29 / 205
1998/1999 October 22 – May 25 / 204
1997/1998 October 1 – May 25 / 205
1996/1997 October 4 – June 22 / 233
1995/1996 October 17 – June 10 / 224
1994/1995 October 3 – June 4 / 214
1993/1994 October 1 – June 9 / 243
1992/1993 October 1 – June 1 / 229
1991/1992 October 21 – June 14 / 226
1990/1991 October 27 – May 28 / 214
1989/1990 October 10 – May 28 / 208
1988/1989 October 13 – May 21 / 211
1987/1988 October 12 – June 1 / 227
1986/1987 October 10 – June 3 / 224
1985/1986 October 1- June 3 / 224
1984/1985 November 3 – June 2 / 212
1983/1984 October 20 – June 21 / 246
1982/1983 October 17 – June 16 / 240
1981/1982 October 20 – June 15 / 225
1980/1981 October 14 – May 27 / 226
1979/1980 October 10 – May 23 / 221
1978/1979 October 16 – May 22 / 219
1977/1978 October 24 – May 23 / 195
1976/1977 October 27 – May 15 / 201
1975/1976 October 30 – May 5 / 173
1974/1975 October 19 – May 12 / 190
1973/1974 November 5 – April 30 / 177
1972/1973 October 20 – April 15 / 184
1971/1972 November 9 – May 18 / 192
1970/1971 November 18 – May 21 / 184
1969/1970 October 24 – May 4 / 178
1968/1969 November 9 – May 10 / 183
1967/1968 November 5 – April 7 / 154
1966/1967 November 4 – May 2 / 180
Source: MadPatSki attic collection
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