While
Sunday River
continues to be the first resort to open in the East, Killington is bigger,
higher in elevation, and has more trails. It is referred to as
“the Beast of the East.” Located in the heart of Vermont, a 3-½ hour
drive from Portland, Killington is indeed a big dog among New England
skiing puppies.
But Beastly? Seems a little harsh for a ski resort with two high-speed
heated gondolas, 12 comfy quads and a most extensive
snowmaking system.
Perhaps part of the beastly reputation comes from the sprawling
layout. Killington is the biggest ski area in the Northeast with 200
trails, and 31 lifts.
Negotiating this vast trail network is a bear. With seven separate
skiing mountains, including its own Bear Mountain, it is a maze even
with the multipart trail map in hand.
Did
I mention Killington has the highest lift-serviced peak in New England
at 4,215-feet? That is over 1,000 feet higher than the summit of
Sunday River.
Killington’s notorious bump run Outer Limits is the steepest trail in
the East with a drop of 1,200 vertical-feet in a half-mile. Also, home
to the longest trail, the Juggernaut meanders 6.7 miles from the
summit.
Killington’s ski season is among the longest of Eastern ski areas with a
four-decade history of being first in the East to open (in October)
until Sunday River took that claim in the last decade and Killington backed
off under new ownership by Powdr Corp., still the Big K has one of the
longest seasons in all of North America.
So, where to begin? Find a place to hang your hat so you can tackle
the beast over the course of a few days. Killington’s Grand Resort
Hotel is an ideal location, modeled after Sunday River’s. You can opt
for a standard hotel room, on up to a two or three bedroom suite with
an efficiency kitchen. Kids enjoy splashing around in the decadent
outdoor heated pool, while grown ups soak their sore ski muscles in
the two hot tubs.
Most rooms have a view of the slopes, and you can walk across a
skier’s bridge from the full service hotel to board a lower mountain
ski lift. The hotel is convenient to several restaurants, the indoor
climbing wall and ski school at Snowshed Lodge, and close to Rams Head
Family Center.
Killington also has loads of condominiums nestled in and around the
base area for rent, or have your pick from dozens of lodges and inns
along the bustling access road. Your best bet is to call central
reservations, since they offer the widest selection of ski town
accommodations in North America – yet another accolade.
The
tamest terrain is at Snowshed and Rams Head. These are the beginner
friendly areas where the recently revamped learning and family centers
are based.
Killington Peak, reached by the cushy multi-colored K-1 gondola, is
the centerpiece of the ski area and the true summit. From atop
Killington Peak, you can see competitor ski areas in the distance,
Stratton, Okemo, and Ascutney. From here you can ski many classic
trails like Great Eastern and Cascade, and reach the upper elevation
runs in the Glade area where many of the locals tend to hide out.
Bear Mountain is a mogul-lovers haven, and tends to get the most sun.
This is where Donna Weinbrecht learned to master the moguls as a
youngster; you can appreciate her gold-winning talent as you bounce
down the big bumps of Outer Limits.
Come spring when the snow softens and the winter dress code loosens,
Bear Mountain is the site of Killington’s festive “beach parties.”
Superstar
and Needles Eye, located in the hub of the area, offer lots of great
descents. Superstar is home to the Killington Glacier, where they
stockpile up to 30-feet of snow throughout the winter so die-hards can
ski in to June.
A fun way to see and ski much of the vast resort is to ski all the way
down to the base of the Skyeship Gondola. As you wander down miles of
trails to Route 4, you will feel like you have entered another zip
code, but you are still within ski area boundaries and you have
descended the entire 3,050 vertical feet.
If you require professional guidance, Killington offers a free Meet
the Mountain Tour that lasts 2-1/2 hours – these things take time at
the Beast.
A word of caution, it is easy to get separated from your party at this
sizeable resort with one wrong turn, so radios or a meet spot are
worth having.
With 1,182 skiable acres, Killington is best tamed over a week,
preferably mid-week since New Yorkers move in on this skiing Mecca on
weekends.
A bonus during a Killington stay is to ski sister resort Pico, next
door, This ski area is the real deal, dating back
to 1937. Here skiers are rewarded with time-honored New England ski
trails, no crowds and beautiful Vermont views.
The plans is to interconnect Pico with Killington, but until then you
need to drive or take the shuttle to Pico to enjoy the four dozen
pristine trails on this quieter side.
Killington possesses one more accolade, “the best Eastern ski town for
nightlife.” There are over 100 bars and restaurants along the
Killington Access Road. With so many thriving places, you can sniff
out great happy hours and eateries for every craving.
The resort town is not all geared for party animals; there are plenty
of family and kid friendly places. Casey’s Caboose is a great train
stop with kids in tow, full of railroad memorabilia. Parents can enjoy
drink specials while the kids munch on free appetizers and popcorn.
There is a definite Vermont charm that exists in the shops and country
stores that dot the resort area, despite Killington’s size and volume
of skier traffic and the influx of out-of-towners.
Killington has it all, snow, speedy lifts, great après ski and dining,
and plenty of beds to rest your head.
The Beast of the East definitely warrants a ski visit, this monster
mountain should not intimidate you.
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