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Killington, VT and Gore, NY - A Northeast Adventure 2/7-8/15

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2015 10:58 am
by RMacSki
Much more to come...

https://vimeo.com/119025351

Here's the full update:

After my shenanigans at Sundown earlier in the week and completion of work obligations, I drove up to Killington, VT on Friday afternoon to ski all day Saturday. Killington is truly an awesome mountain. The base is definitely similar to any Colorado resort, but the mountain itself has a cool vibe and the terrain feels endless.

Connecticut is not all that bad looking
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On the way up, I opted for highways through little towns rather than the interstate. Nothing but time to kill.
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Drove past Okemo
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Very scenic
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This gondola up to Killington seemed to be in the middle of nowhere
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Checked into a cheap little place not far from the base, picked up my skis. Found a restaurant, made a local friend at the bar who gave me some tips on parking/runs.

I skiied the Faction Prodigy 2015 ski of the year. I loved it. 98mm underfoot. It was this or the Rossi Sin 7. I still want to try that ski.
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Dinner specials on a dry pasta noodle
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Saturday morning I was up and at em early, ready to make first chair. Unfortunately it took me 45 minutes to get my Mazda rental up the snow covered hotel access hill. Here is the chair I did eventually end up on.
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Selfie for good measure
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I lived in the trees Saturday
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REALLY enjoyed that mountain. Drank some local beers. Skiied some fun lines. Bought a sticker. Not likely I'll ever plan a trip to the northeast solely for skiing, but if I were, I'd go back to Killington.


When all was said and done Saturday, I packed up the Mazda and set navigation for Gore Mountain, NY. Arrived at my Super 8 around 8pm Saturday night. The day caught up to me, I ordered a pizza and fell asleep by 10:30. Awoke to ANOTHER 4 or 5 inches in this town called Warrensburg. Plow guy told me if I was heading to Gore to wait about 30 minutes as there was a bad wreck on the road in. My confidence in getting the Mazda up there plummeted, but I hit the road anyway.

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I was stoked that it had snowed so much, and was still snowing as I left. However, as I climbed in elevation, I noticed the snow turning wet. And eventually it turned to freezing rain up the mountain. Very odd weather system, since all the weather folk were calling for 8 to 12 inches over the course of Sunday/Monday.

I didn't take many pictures at Gore, because after 1 or two runs this is what I looked like.... ice:
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The freezing rain nearly ruined my day. Until a local got on the chair with me. This gentleman was 47, and had been skiing at Gore since he was 10 years old. Obviously he knew every tree run, cut through, secret stash there was to be skiied. And he also knew that staying in the trees meant staying out of the rain. He showed me around the mountain all day, and all day he kicked my ass skiing. This guy was good. A million times in better shape than me. Truly made my day. Gore is a tough mountain to navigate. The trail map does not do it justice. It is HUGE. Ton's of skiiable acreage. There were multiple times I thought this guy had lead me into another state through some trees, but every time we popped out by the lift he said we were headed to.

Here are the only real pictures I took of Gore. The one of the lift is one of the older lifts in America or something like that.

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I had a great time touring the northeast. Although I was solo, it was a heck of an experience, and some of the best snow I've ever skiied.

Re: Killington, VT and Gore, NY - A Northeast Adventure 2/7-

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 2:27 am
by davidski
that looks great -- and your tree skiing looks pretty good too, that was tight and steepish at points

Re: Killington, VT and Gore, NY - A Northeast Adventure 2/7-

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:44 pm
by RMacSki
davidski wrote:that looks great -- and your tree skiing looks pretty good too, that was tight and steepish at points
Thanks davidski. It was pretty steep. Which makes me realize how often I avoid the fall line in the trees. It's my ability/lack of confidince that causes those "across fall line" turns. I hugged one tree pretty good on this run, but who needs to see that right?

Re: Killington, VT and Gore, NY - A Northeast Adventure 2/7-

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:35 am
by Droogie
If I end up staying in Columbus, I'll make my way to Gore. It is the first very large place when driving. I think it is about 9 hours.

Re: Killington, VT and Gore, NY - A Northeast Adventure 2/7-

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 1:07 pm
by ROYMERCER
That brought back memories for me. My wife and I went to Killington in the late 80's and thought the same thing when we seen the skyeship gondola being on the side of the road . Great report, loved the highway pics.

Re: Killington, VT and Gore, NY - A Northeast Adventure 2/7-

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 2:52 pm
by Timski
Excellent report, very nice pics, cool video! Killington, aka "the beast" is huge. The original Killington gondola went all the way from the road on route 4 to the lodge at the top after several turns, even went downhill at one point to make that trip. Was a very long ride. Gore looks & sounds great as well! Thanks for reporting.

Re: Killington, VT and Gore, NY - A Northeast Adventure 2/7-

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:46 am
by RMacSki
I got bored and threw together the rest of the footy.

https://vimeo.com/121106183

Re: Killington, VT and Gore, NY - A Northeast Adventure 2/7-

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:12 am
by teledave
1:40 Not in the nuts, not in the nuts, not in the nuts.

Re: Killington, VT and Gore, NY - A Northeast Adventure 2/7-

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 7:08 pm
by RMacSki
teledave wrote:1:40 Not in the nuts, not in the nuts, not in the nuts.
haha yeap. reached the point of no return there. went for the tree grab stop.

I actually got pretty close to racking myself in another clip, but no one needs to see that