Any cheap cool improvements/changes they could do?

[Highway Star]

It's looking like there's not much in the way of shiny new lifts, etc, going in this summer year. More pipes/paint/mulch, and maybe a widening of skylark (for better or worse), refining the new great eastern, and flattening viper pit (booo).

They haven't let anything out yet. Last year's act 250 was submitted in mid July.

Anyway, is there anything that you think would be cool if they did to improve them mountain, that doesn't cost much?

Personally, I'd like to see a couple very narrow narrow natural snow trails cut, like roundabout.....steep or not steep. Maybe some revisions to trail routing in high traffic areas. A better plan for early season skiing, such as opening on superstar. Maybe a midstation on the Snowdon triple or the south ridge triple.

.....AND.............FIX THE SNOWMAKING ON DEVIL'S FIDDLE. (and cut/glade some of the lower brush while they're at it!!)

[Geoff]

I think Killington should get whatever permitting they need to start doing a "Jay Peak" to the woods. It would be a huge attraction to have the fallen logs, saplings, and low branches tended to across the mountain. Take every possible advantage of that 250". That would help stop the bleed of the season pass base to the Mad River Valley.

The only other thing I'd try to address this summer is anything that would improve the customer experience for never-nevers and family/groups during peak weekends and the holiday periods. It's really a queuing problem where they need automation to deal with as many of the people as possible. You should be able to do virtually anything from a kiosk with a simple swipe of a credit card. You should also be able to do things like process a discount ticket from a season pass holder promotion. I think that linking all the direct-to-lift products to a credit card would be a help. They have a labor shortage that really shows up during the morning crush at peak periods. They need to automate as much as possible.

Winter ops where they blow snow on Fiddle would be huge. Fiddle needs to be marketed as the March spring skiing trail. You need to give advanced skiers a reason to use Bear. At the moment, it's boring groomers and park rats. Edge to edge cover on OL with a seeded bump line + 50% groomed combined with Fiddle reliably open is a real attraction.

[thorski]

It's looking like there's not much in the way of shiny new lifts, etc, going in this summer year. More pipes/paint/mulch, and maybe a widening of skylark (for better or worse), refining the new great eastern, and flattening viper pit (booo).

They haven't let anything out yet. Last year's act 250 was submitted in mid July.

Anyway, is there anything that you think would be cool if they did to improve them mountain, that doesn't cost much?

Personally, I'd like to see a couple very narrow narrow natural snow trails cut, like roundabout.....steep or not steep. Maybe some revisions to trail routing in high traffic areas. A better plan for early season skiing, such as opening on superstar. Maybe a midstation on the Snowdon triple or the south ridge triple.

.....AND.............FIX THE SNOWMAKING ON DEVIL'S FIDDLE. (and cut/glade some of the lower brush while they're at it!!)

Let's bring up some sledge hammers, get rid of that death rock and clear out the darkness a little more once inside.

[rogman]

Widening lower Wildfire to deal with the problems created by events is a travesty. They would do better to add a trail skiers left of the half pipe. Blowing snow on DF would also give another route down. They've dropped the ball big time on that one. And I agree with Geoff about marketing it.

I'd like to see them automate the scanning for the high traffic lifts; K1, Superstar, Ramshead, Snowshed, Skyepeak Express. Being groped by a stressed out attendant on a busy day is not a good customer experience. Probably not cheap, but some labor savings to be had there.

As Geoff said, lot of opportunities in them thar woods. There's a few places that could use a bridge or to improve the exit.

Put some money into the regrading the half pipe so you don't have to blow a gazillion cubic feet of snow and spend a month building it.

Build a deck off of Superstar pub. And while you're at it, lower the price of beer.

[RENO]

K will be fixing some snowmaking pipe, painting, mowing and other needed repairs. That's it for this summer.
Snowmaking on DF is a dead issue. They obviously have abandoned that area.
They should definitely build up the pipe so they don't need to blow snow on it to get it open till the season is 1/2 over...

[rogman]

Snowmaking on DF is a dead issue. They obviously have abandoned that area.

From a bang for the buck perspective, that one's a no-brainer. Stupid Star is the trail everyone loves to hate, DF is the one everyone loves to love. Merely cut back the brush? It'll be on every ski chatroom in the country. Actually turn on the guns? More positive press than they've seen in two years. Cheap buzz, something they desperately need.

[Gangsta Rider]

Heard they are going to paint the SRT chairs.

[tyrolean_skier]

Heard they are going to paint the SRT chairs.

What about the foot rests? Those are all rusty.

[Big Bob]

Heard they are going to paint the SRT chairs.

Wasn't one of the rumors floating around that the SRT and North Ridge chairs would be replaced after next season??

[chefdanielk]

Hiked up to the South Ridge today, they are working on the lift. Lot's off holes dug up on pipe dream, looks like they are replacing quite a bit of the snowmaking pipe.

[lilywhite]

Only did DF once, when Mtn man and friends were in a tour mode. Spring mush...rocks everyhere. Was scared to go in. Thought it was awesome!!
NO-NOT the cliff:) Worst mistake for years...not running the DF chair. If for no other reason...to keep greenies OUT of Bear and clogging up OL & Skyship/peak quad. Sorry, I give up on the name changes.
The other worst..rarely running the SRT, which yes...I kinda hate to sit my skis on the rusty bars. Think maybe some "pleasantly spaced" trees should be installed on whazzit called now ..upper pipedream?...to reduce the wind devastation. Mother nature does have its ways.
Ignorance of K to acknowledge it is rather amazing to me.
Also, Not cleaning out stumps/trunks concealed by snow on tree trails...kinda stupid in my book.
Not an expert here, but I would much rather be in trees if I didn't have to worry about soft mounds concealing serious injuries..ex 2' Dia tree trunks cut 18" above ground. I would think the experts would prefer not to have that surprise either???

[lilywhite]

I agree that everything could be much more automated. If an employee gives out a comp discpunt, there should be no reason to make them waste their time to meet the giftee at a stupid ticket window. If I can boot up in my car and ski to a lift (ohh 2 years without a season pass!) and swipe a card...without going thru the aggravation of walking to a ticket window, I ..and many others, would be thrilled.
And, while ther have been some great lift attendants, I have witnessed several that do not pay attention/react fast enough to pretty bad situations.
Just saying it nicely.

I think Killington should get whatever permitting they need to start doing a "Jay Peak" to the woods. It would be a huge attraction to have the fallen logs, saplings, and low branches tended to across the mountain. Take every possible advantage of that 250". That would help stop the bleed of the season pass base to the Mad River Valley.

The only other thing I'd try to address this summer is anything that would improve the customer experience for never-nevers and family/groups during peak weekends and the holiday periods. It's really a queuing problem where they need automation to deal with as many of the people as possible. You should be able to do virtually anything from a kiosk with a simple swipe of a credit card. You should also be able to do things like process a discount ticket from a season pass holder promotion. I think that linking all the direct-to-lift products to a credit card would be a help. They have a labor shortage that really shows up during the morning crush at peak periods. They need to automate as much as possible.

Winter ops where they blow snow on Fiddle would be huge. Fiddle needs to be marketed as the March spring skiing trail. You need to give advanced skiers a reason to use Bear. At the moment, it's boring groomers and park rats. Edge to edge cover on OL with a seeded bump line + 50% groomed combined with Fiddle reliably open is a real attraction.

[JerseyGuy]

Killington doesn't need to change a thing. Powdr is definitely on the right track with constant improvements to the World's Most Extensive Snowmaking System! And they've demonstrated their dedication to the Best Skiing Experience In the East with a multi-million dollar new Skye Peak Lift, plus they're bring in Awesome!!!! new improvements like the Stash. The guests have never been happier and the parking lots are always full and I have 573 pictures to prove it... wanna see?

There's nothing else they can do to make the Bestest Ski Resort In the World even betterer, despite what those stupid malcontents like JG say that don't even ski here anyway so just shut up already, OK?

SkippySnow, out.

(Dammit, now you got ME saying it!)

SkiingSnow, out.

[skiadikt]

Snowmaking on DF is a dead issue. They obviously have abandoned that area.

like rogman says, outside of the interconnect and skiing til memorial day, this is the one thing they could do that would bring some buzz back to killington and show they're moving in the 'right' direction. relatively cheap. cut some brush, turn on the guns (they still worked 3 yrs ago) and people will be talking. there's nothing like spring skiing on the fiddle. yep a no-brainer.

[Dr. NO]

Snowmaking on DF is a dead issue. They obviously have abandoned that area.

like rogman says, outside of the interconnect and skiing til memorial day, this is the one thing they could do that would bring some buzz back to killington and show they're moving in the 'right' direction. relatively cheap. cut some brush, turn on the guns (they still worked 3 yrs ago) and people will be talking. there's nothing like spring skiing on the fiddle. yep a no-brainer.

They have to have Bear open for good spring skiing on the Fiddle, and that ain't gonna happen.