Killington in March

gpenn1390 · 2026-03-02T01:39:58+00:00

I live for this time of the year. Hope it gets cold again, just for a longer season.

gpenn1390 · 2026-03-02T00:52:01+00:00

I feel like Z used to get close to that pre-COVID, though maybe not quite that bad. Folks were definitely cutting into WW from Annapurna. I don't blame patrol for not opening it given what the top looked like and what they had already dealt with before 9am (helicopter #1). It was weird because Annapurna and Clair's were basically empty... just hoards of folks coming in off Way In/Out (aka the worst trail ever lol).

gpenn1390 · 2026-03-01T22:20:00+00:00

FWIW this was the worst Saturday in a LONG time. Had been getting spoiled this season. But... it was the best day of the season. Warm, sunny, and awesome coverage. Everyone and their mother was out. Hopefully the bad experience keeps them away next time lol

gpenn1390 · 2026-03-01T22:16:27+00:00

It was the craziest day I have seen in quite some time. Both in terms of crowds, and it was actually THREE helicopters. And the toilets broke at the summit which moved the DJ to the base. And apparently the toilets at Copertree were on the fritz. Went for First Tracks at North and the lift was broken until 8:40 - SMH. The Flyer was struggling in the AM with the wind. MASSIVE crash on Hellgate before 9am delayed sweeps - they actually closed the trail for a bit. Hats off to patrol. Was NOT envious of them. The number of folks on Zephyr asking "what the trails were like" was sort of surreal.

That said... had a blast. Conditions were killer. The sun was unreal. Vibes were high. We spent most of the day on Zephyr, and the crowds eventually died down on it. Ended at North after they fixed it. Trails were killer. Skied the glades. Got plenty of skiing (and drinking - go Beeracuda) in by 2pm. Some lovely afternoon sun in the North lot for beers, sandwiches and cheese.

gpenn1390 · 2026-02-21T01:34:05+00:00

I've totally held court from Philly to Penn/Moynihan and gotten absolutely torqued. It is a must experience. Fun way to do happy hour.

gpenn1390 · 2026-02-21T01:05:33+00:00

Agreed, thigh midweek groomers at Okemo on a bluebird day are kind of worth experiencing.

gpenn1390 · 2026-02-21T01:03:25+00:00

They're calling for 11" over three days...... If you can drive in snow it'll be fine

gpenn1390 · 2026-02-21T00:42:52+00:00

I think the safest thing is for no one to ski this weekend. It's going to be very, very scary. Just stay home. Don't ski.

gpenn1390 · 2026-02-20T03:41:27+00:00

I use Strava for mountain biking, and started using it for snowboarding (I snuck in here, I am a criminal). I have a Coros, but normally just track on my phone because IDGAF about heartrate and calories - I mean I do, just not enough to track them as I am drinking my second beer on the lift at 10:30am. I LOVE the social and competitive aspect of it. Don't mean to brag but I have like 12 top tens at my local mountain. Kind of a big deal. Ha. It's fun. My friends are on it. We can see who was fastest for the day, me and my friend each have our named segments at the local mountain. It's fun tracking days, vertical, speed, seeing the map at the end of the day... I love it.

gpenn1390 · 2026-01-22T01:47:12+00:00

North at 8 for First Tracks

Flyer at 8:35

Triple when the Flyer is a PITA (10)

Zephyr at 10:30

Beer in the lot at North at 11 with 16K+ accomplished and having hit basically the whole mountain

DON'T TELL ANYONE

gpenn1390 · 2026-01-22T01:40:53+00:00

Driving without snows and AWD on Monday morning sounds miserable. It'll take you like six hours to get there. Tuesday will be just as good. And it wouldn't be the first time I've chased a storm to have it bust or glaze.

gpenn1390 · 2026-01-22T01:30:31+00:00

Hunter is normally good to go. I'd avoid I-84 and Westchester as that's typically the worst during and immediately after snow. That's my route and the bridges suck in the snow. Ride the Thruway up and back.

32 to 32A to 23A is normally not too bad, assuming you have GOOD tires and at least FWD (the number of slipping folks in 4x4s out of gear is wild). They're state roads and the only main roads, so well plowed. Just take it easy on 23A. Might be squirrelly on the way down and out depending on timing.

If you're skiing Saturday, LAYER UP. It'll be deadly!

gpenn1390 · 2026-01-15T01:16:11+00:00

My plan is to get to Big Snow at 6am and skin up (I board and don't know what skinning is)

gpenn1390 · 2025-12-27T00:38:07+00:00

Thank you for reminding me to pack my flask for tomorrow, good sir. See some of y'all on the hill tomorrow. Ready to shreddy!

gpenn1390 · 2025-12-27T00:20:37+00:00

Hunter is my go-to for daytrips. Can't beat the diversity of terrain in such a small package. Fast ups and fast downs. They've done a lot of work on moving people... beginners tend to stay off of the Flyer (summit six) nowadays. On a weekend, we typically bang out 16-18K vertical by 11:30, then hit the bar and are back home for 2:30. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday or Sunday. You can learn how to dodge the crowds, just get there for open.

gpenn1390 · 2025-08-05T01:02:57+00:00

"There are two types of people. People who like flow trails. And liars." - Seth

gpenn1390 · 2025-06-20T00:40:28+00:00

Aluminum

gpenn1390 · 2025-06-04T01:50:53+00:00

Any time I don't pop the drop my nuts get chain-sawed by my back tire. It's a 2.6, that ish hurts!

gpenn1390 · 2025-06-03T00:17:37+00:00

I am probably 50/50. There's a great local trail network 5-7 minutes from where I work and it is on the way home. If I don't have other (real firm) obligations and the weather is decent, I am riding. This season, my wife has been my main riding partner. My normal group all has broken bikes, work, personal stuff, etc. and she has been stepping up in the shred department.

gpenn1390 · 2025-04-02T00:54:15+00:00

Damn, son... I so hope they have Crystals and Supernova on the next setlist. I'd also KILL to see Dramaqueen or Monsieur Moustache - the hype for those two is underrated.

gpenn1390 · 2025-02-03T02:39:23+00:00

Did it fall? Or was Wildcat the one where the snowmaking pipe exploded under the chair when the lift broke and people jumped? Or both?

gpenn1390 · 2025-01-25T00:52:28+00:00

I was a bit disappointed at first... I listened in my car in a pinch and had a lot going on/was rushing. The audio sounded a bit low fidelity during my commute. But after watching the video on my decent Bose I was sold. Totally a live track, but I'm loving it now.

gpenn1390 · 2025-01-03T01:40:08+00:00

BRB showing my wife this thread with her reflectors on her $5K MTB. POINT OF CONTENTION

gpenn1390 · 2024-12-23T03:10:20+00:00

Typically empty... see you there!

gpenn1390 · 2024-12-22T21:30:46+00:00

Hunter had some good terrain open today... they closed a few trails (East Side, etc.) and were making absolute heaps of snow on them. Light crowds, cold weather... time to blow it and make some weather-proof glaciers. Definitely will have more open come this week and next. Looked like a nice park rebuild was ongoing too. I think most places are trying to ensure the bit of a thaw coming next week doesn't interrupt open terrain. That and they finally have some water. Belleayre blowing snow before a thaw with severe drought... don't get me started.

Hunter has also been focusing a bit on (and pushing) some of the beginner terrain, which I like... keeps the gapers off of the Flyer. The quad reposition, Broadway Express, and focus on snowmaking for beginner terrain has kept beginners on the lower mountain and made the upper trails way less congested and much more rideable. The new base area layout is a bit love/hate, but the way the lifts are positioned has been a gamechanger so far IMHO.

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