Old Killington pictures

Geoff · Post by **Geoff** » Jan 23rd, '08, 08:52

I always date pictures by looking for Downdraft. If it's a glade trail, it's pre-1980. I used to drive down from Burlington to ski it in the spring. It was the best glade skiing in the east.

If Downdraft is a cut trail and Double Dipper doesn't exist, it's pre-1988.

Highway Star · Post by **Highway Star** » Jan 23rd, '08, 09:18

Powderputz wrote:This picture was taken around 1968:
1) Summit lodge was built '68-69; Gondola was completed late 1968 for 1969 ski season. No Gondola towers appear to be seen just below summit lodge opening.
2) Glades triple chair was built '70; not present in this picture
3) Rime and East Glade trails appear not present. Weren't they cut in 1969, in preparation for Glades triple and snowmaking system (1971).

The plan was to keep Killington open until Memorial Day by having spring skiing on Rime, Goat Path and Upper Cascade (down to the K-chair midstation).

What picture?

newpylong · Post by **newpylong** » Jan 23rd, '08, 21:31

Geoff wrote:
If Downdraft is a cut trail and Double Dipper doesn't exist, it's pre-1988.

1992...

No way that last one is from the 60's though... its the 80's. You can't see any lift towers in any photos from the base. I see the Glades and associated trails. You can see some base signage there on the left, 80-90's style. There is a fairly modern groomer. The lift is the second peak double.

Dr Z · Post by **Dr Z** » Jan 27th, '08, 23:13

Finally got a copier that does slides, so here are some old pics to add. Sorry about the quality but they were taken with a cheap Kodak and I didn't think to clean the slides before I scanned them.

It was Jan/Feb 1966 and temps some days that week were in the minus 20's (minus 30 something up top one of the days) at the chalet which was just off the access road. I don't remember how far up the road it was located but we had a great view of K Peak from the deck. It was about 50 - 100 yds. off the east side of the road.

Goat Path

Old lift ticket booth next to KBL

South Ridge and Top of Bear

K Chair liftline and Cascade

Somewhere at the top of Cascade

So cold no cars started. Solution - push start one so the others could be jumped.

Access road. Not sure, but place on the right may now be the Happy Bear.

Home for the week.

Oh, also, the learn to ski week ticket was around $26.00(for the week) - two hour daily group lesson with Hans or Franz;lift ticket for the week and all the free gluvine you could drink at Happy Hour in KBL.

buzzkill · Post by **buzzkill** » Jan 27th, '08, 23:44

Great stuff, Dr. Z, thanks for sharing these rare views into the past.
View of the untouched Bear Mtn and South Ridge, just priceless.
And the stretch pants.. oh snap...... Mad props, dude.

edit: Was there a mid-station on the original K chair pictured?

tyrolean_skier · Post by **tyrolean_skier** » Jan 28th, '08, 01:01

Thanks for sharing those pictures Dr.Z. Love the pictures of the guys in stretch pants. Their legs look so skinny.

Geoff · Post by **Geoff** » Jan 28th, '08, 07:20

newpylong wrote:
Geoff wrote:
If Downdraft is a cut trail and Double Dipper doesn't exist, it's pre-1988.
1992...

Double Dipper was cut long before 1992. I got busted poaching it in 1989. It was cut for several years before they put the lift in. It pretty much always had a 'reserved' rope across it and skier's left would always fill in nicely with powder.

Geoff · Post by **Geoff** » Jan 28th, '08, 07:24

This one is cool. It's shot before they cut the trees on Downdraft. I'm not sure I remember the K Chair being yellow.

skip · Post by **skip** » Jan 28th, '08, 07:32

Geoff wrote:
This one is cool. It's shot before they cut the trees on Downdraft. I'm not sure I remember the K Chair being yellow.

'Twas, in its original incarnation. That lift was removed in favor of the (then) more modern Killington double and relocated to Needle's Eye.

Dr Z · Post by **Dr Z** » Jan 28th, '08, 08:04

buzzkill wrote:Great stuff, Dr. Z, thanks for sharing these rare views into the past.
View of the untouched Bear Mtn and South Ridge, just priceless.
And the stretch pants.. oh snap...... Mad props, dude.

edit: Was there a mid-station on the original K chair pictured?

Mid-station is the dark dot where lower Cascade bears off to skiers left.

newpylong · Post by **newpylong** » Jan 28th, '08, 08:04

Really??? I remember both the trail being cut and the lift going in in the same year.... interesting... ha.

Geoff wrote:
newpylong wrote:
Geoff wrote:
If Downdraft is a cut trail and Double Dipper doesn't exist, it's pre-1988.
1992...

Double Dipper was cut long before 1992. I got busted poaching it in 1989. It was cut for several years before they put the lift in. It pretty much always had a 'reserved' rope across it and skier's left would always fill in nicely with powder.

buzzkill · Post by **buzzkill** » Jan 28th, '08, 08:48

newpylong wrote:Really??? I remember both the trail being cut and the lift going in in the same year.... interesting... ha.

Geoff wrote:
newpylong wrote:
Geoff wrote:
If Downdraft is a cut trail and Double Dipper doesn't exist, it's pre-1988.
1992...

Double Dipper was cut long before 1992. I got busted poaching it in 1989. It was cut for several years before they put the lift in. It pretty much always had a 'reserved' rope across it and skier's left would always fill in nicely with powder.

yeah, they logged DD in summer '87, left a mess of stumps and sht for
years until the Canyon Quad went up.

johnny the jibber · Post by **johnny the jibber** » Jan 28th, '08, 12:41

what trail is cut on skye? bittersweet? and what else is missing from this picture?

Dr Z · Post by **Dr Z** » Jan 28th, '08, 12:47

johnny the jibber wrote:what trail is cut on skye? bittersweet? and what else is missing from this picture?

Just about everything

I wondered the same thing. At that point there was not lift serviced skiing in that area.

skip · Post by **skip** » Jan 28th, '08, 13:04

johnny the jibber wrote:what trail is cut on skye? bittersweet?

Skyelark. Bittersweet was added in the '80s.