Re: Killington's feedback on several kzone topics

[RustyK]

Early opening

Peak lodge opening.

New glades opening.

BMMC.

What's to complain about?

Grade B+
(As Guy in shots would say)

[tt431]

I have family members and friends coming to Killington the week of the 12th through the 21st, which BTW, is vacation week for many schools in the NY area. I don't know if you are aware of it. It would be very disappointing for them if there were no intermediate/beginner terrain open. They all made reservations at the Grand. No Ramshead, no K1 gondola, no Peak Lodge, and no Yurt? Adding to what MrsG said about lunch at the Yurt, we tried to make reservations for dinner at the Yurt this weekend, it was booked. Everybody knows how difficult it is to get a table and eat at the Peak Lodge as well. Why would you close such successful eating establishments early? IMO, closing key features at Killington early creates a vicious cycle.
Other than that, congratulations on a great job this season so far.

K- 1 gondola & Peak Lodge– is scheduled to close April 13th. We will keep this area open an extra week depending on weather.

did you even read this? if there's snow - it'll stay open - if it's a washout - it won't.

Late April vacation this year is not good for the mountain.

I would respond to you if your post made sense. What does "Late April vacation this year is not good for the mountain" even mean?

Easter Sunday is April 20 - late this year so most of the kids vacations are at least a week later - MA kids are not on break until the last week of April.

Because its so late - I'm sure reservations are down more than usual. So why keep anything open late during the week for no paying customers.

Next year - Easter is April 5 so the vacation week will be a week earlier. More people - keep it open

Because Easter is late - I'm sure the mountain will lose some business.

Capice?

NY schools are off that week as I mentioned, "12th through the 21st, which BTW, is vacation week for many schools in the NY area". Did you even read my post before your rant? The week before your MA vacation week. Capice?

[Ski_the_Moguls]

I have family members and friends coming to Killington the week of the 12th through the 21st, which BTW, is vacation week for many schools in the NY area. I don't know if you are aware of it. It would be very disappointing for them if there were no intermediate/beginner terrain open. They all made reservations at the Grand. No Ramshead, no K1 gondola, no Peak Lodge, and no Yurt? Adding to what MrsG said about lunch at the Yurt, we tried to make reservations for dinner at the Yurt this weekend, it was booked. Everybody knows how difficult it is to get a table and eat at the Peak Lodge as well. Why would you close such successful eating establishments early? IMO, closing key features at Killington early creates a vicious cycle.
Other than that, congratulations on a great job this season so far.

K- 1 gondola & Peak Lodge– is scheduled to close April 13th. We will keep this area open an extra week depending on weather.

did you even read this? if there's snow - it'll stay open - if it's a washout - it won't.

Late April vacation this year is not good for the mountain.

I would respond to you if your post made sense. What does "Late April vacation this year is not good for the mountain" even mean?

Easter Sunday is April 20 - late this year so most of the kids vacations are at least a week later - MA kids are not on break until the last week of April.

Because its so late - I'm sure reservations are down more than usual. So why keep anything open late during the week for no paying customers.

Next year - Easter is April 5 so the vacation week will be a week earlier. More people - keep it open

Because Easter is late - I'm sure the mountain will lose some business.

Capice?

NY schools are off that week as I mentioned, "12th through the 21st, which BTW, is vacation week for many schools in the NY area". Did you even read my post before your rant? The week before your MA vacation week. Capice?

Yep, we will be there that April 12 to 20 week and my son is really hoping to enjoy his wonderful pasta lunches up at the Peak even during the weekdays.

[skiersleft]

This is easy to express syllogistically:
-----
Mike promised June, weather permitting

Mike hasn't made enough snow on SS to make it to June

Ergo, Mike failed to deliver what he promised.
------

Easy as pie. Moose explained why the budget thing is a red herring. Better to open
85% of terrain and blow SS to make a run for June than 100% and not make a credible run for June.

[tyrolean_skier]

This is easy to express syllogistically:
-----
Mike promised June, weather permitting

Mike hasn't made enough snow on SS to make it to June

Ergo, Mike failed to deliver what he promised.
------

Easy as pie. Moose explained why the budget thing is a red herring. Better to open
85% of terrain and blow SS to make a run for June than 100% and not make a credible run for June.

Stop whining. Mike and his staff had to deal with a lot of resurfacing this year which I am sure decreased their budget tremendously. Utah is still in control so maybe Mike was told that he had to shut down some of the operations because the ticket sales were not supporting the expenses. I think Mike and his staff did a wonderful job this year and I hope Mother Nature will cooperate a little so we can stretch this season to late May at least.

In addition, did you ever make a promise that you couldn't keep due to unforeseen circumstances?

[hillbangin]

This is easy to express syllogistically:
-----
Mike promised June, weather permitting

Mike hasn't made enough snow on SS to make it to June

Ergo, Mike failed to deliver what he promised.
------

Easy as pie. Moose explained why the budget thing is a red herring. Better to open
85% of terrain and blow SS to make a run for June than 100% and not make a credible run for June.

Let's not forget they had to blow a ton of snow up in the canyon to get it open for Feb vacation.

I know we appreciated it - when the only way down is Cascade and E Falls - everything gets completely skied out and very crowded.

Also appreciated they blew snow on Ovation repeatedly.

I'd rather have more trails during the season than ski till June -

And the numbers bear it out.

Place was empty for a Saturday this weekend - and very few at Pico.

Will be even less there next weekend, and the next.

Being open till June is great marketing - but probably not great business - and absolutely not great skiing.

People buying tickets don't ski in May.

[Dr. NO]

This is easy to express syllogistically:
-----
Mike promised June, weather permitting

Mike hasn't made enough snow on SS to make it to June

Ergo, Mike failed to deliver what he promised.
------

Easy as pie. Moose explained why the budget thing is a red herring. Better to open
85% of terrain and blow SS to make a run for June than 100% and not make a credible run for June.

Let's not forget they had to blow a ton of snow up in the canyon to get it open for Feb vacation.

I know we appreciated it - when the only way down is Cascade and E Falls - everything gets completely skied out and very crowded.

Also appreciated they blew snow on Ovation repeatedly.

I'd rather have more trails during the season than ski till June -

And the numbers bear it out.

Place was empty for a Saturday this weekend - and very few at Pico.

Will be even less there next weekend, and the next.

Being open till June is great marketing - but probably not great business - and absolutely not great skiing.

People buying tickets don't ski in May.

Curious, have you skied to the end of May or into June with full coverage on Superstar, Skyelark and Bittersweet? Parking lots used to fill up pretty good along with the access road parking. Yeah, pass holders and partyers, but many spring passes were sold and daily lift tickets. May 1st and June 1st races attracted several ski clubs who took bus trips for the events. Maybe not your cup of tea, but many LOVE corn snow, nice weather and bumps.

[hillbangin]

This is easy to express syllogistically:
-----
Mike promised June, weather permitting

Mike hasn't made enough snow on SS to make it to June

Ergo, Mike failed to deliver what he promised.
------

Easy as pie. Moose explained why the budget thing is a red herring. Better to open
85% of terrain and blow SS to make a run for June than 100% and not make a credible run for June.

Let's not forget they had to blow a ton of snow up in the canyon to get it open for Feb vacation.

I know we appreciated it - when the only way down is Cascade and E Falls - everything gets completely skied out and very crowded.

Also appreciated they blew snow on Ovation repeatedly.

I'd rather have more trails during the season than ski till June -

And the numbers bear it out.

Place was empty for a Saturday this weekend - and very few at Pico.

Will be even less there next weekend, and the next.

Being open till June is great marketing - but probably not great business - and absolutely not great skiing.

People buying tickets don't ski in May.

Curious, have you skied to the end of May or into June with full coverage on Superstar, Skyelark and Bittersweet? Parking lots used to fill up pretty good along with the access road parking. Yeah, pass holders and partyers, but many spring passes were sold and daily lift tickets. May 1st and June 1st races attracted several ski clubs who took bus trips for the events. Maybe not your cup of tea, but many LOVE corn snow, nice weather and bumps.

I'll be there in May - and I've been there before - used to do the Triathalon.

But Doc - times are different - It's been a long time since the lots were full in May.

I don't think it's build Superstar and they will come in the spring. They sell way more tickets in November than May - so it's smart of them to put their money there.

2 years ago - we got the 3 foot storm in April - they opened all the lifts - and the K1 parking lot was not full. So what message does that send. It was one of the best spring ski weekends EVER - and nobody showed.

[BoozeTan]

perhaps nobody showed because the previous few years we were conditioned that Killington would be closed in mid april so ppl made other plans

Mike did a hell of a job with what he was handed early in the season with all the r*in events. He and his staffs communication with the public and especially here on kzone has been nothing but stellar. Every email I have sent to Mike this season was always answered within a day or two.
Believe me, I started riding at K and made it my home mountain because of the early starts and being able to get a sunburn on superstar in june...but I understand that sometimes nature doesnt cooperate and Killington can only do so much...if you are upset about this then go ski some other mtn in late may or june......oh whats that? There is no other mountain that would EVEN CONSIDER being open late may or june

[steamboat1]

Will they still be running Skyeship stage II during the week or weekend & if so for how long? Just curious because it wasn't mentioned in the operations report.

[Big Bob]

One of the key reasons Killington fills the lots on weekends late season is no one else is open!

Usually when the Skyship closes they run the Needles chair.

[daytripper]

This is easy to express syllogistically:
-----
Mike promised June, weather permitting

Mike hasn't made enough snow on SS to make it to June

Ergo, Mike failed to deliver what he promised.
------

Easy as pie. Moose explained why the budget thing is a red herring. Better to open
85% of terrain and blow SS to make a run for June than 100% and not make a credible run for June.

Let's not forget they had to blow a ton of snow up in the canyon to get it open for Feb vacation.

I know we appreciated it - when the only way down is Cascade and E Falls - everything gets completely skied out and very crowded.

Also appreciated they blew snow on Ovation repeatedly.

I'd rather have more trails during the season than ski till June -

And the numbers bear it out.

Place was empty for a Saturday this weekend - and very few at Pico.

Will be even less there next weekend, and the next.

Being open till June is great marketing - but probably not great business - and absolutely not great skiing.

People buying tickets don't ski in May.

Any nice sunny saturday in the spring will bring ticket buyers, and ABSOLUTELY not great skiing??? You must have never tried it.

[Terrapin Station]

This is easy to express syllogistically:
-----
Mike promised June, weather permitting

Mike hasn't made enough snow on SS to make it to June

Ergo, Mike failed to deliver what he promised.
------

Look at the difference in weather between this past Saturday and Sunday. The original prediction was 6-8" of snow on Sat night. Instead it was a mother of an ice storm. Even if it were possible to have blown more snow on Superstar with the temps expected this week, staying open until June would be difficult. Weather is the major x factor, an uncontrollable variable.

I think the Killington team did the best they could under the circumstances. Snowfall this season has been 189" so far, pretty poor and the second worst in 15 years besides 2011/12's 152". Certainly didn't help that most of what should have been snow in December came down as liquid snow.

[junior]

This is easy to express syllogistically:
-----
Mike promised June, weather permitting

Mike hasn't made enough snow on SS to make it to June

Ergo, Mike failed to deliver what he promised.
------

Easy as pie. Moose explained why the budget thing is a red herring. Better to open
85% of terrain and blow SS to make a run for June than 100% and not make a credible run for June.

Why are you calling Mike a liar? He never "promised" June. He mentioned June, but I never saw or heard him promise anything. Please show the rest of K-Zone where he promised June. If you can, then I will stand corrected. If you can't, then YOU are the liar, not Mike Solimano. He's done nothing short of a stellar job in bringing Killington back closer to the glory days.

Please show us (or me) where Mike promised June? (Or can you just admit that YOU are the liar?).

[jimmywilson69]

Welcome Back Junior...

I've seen you posting more and more in here.