ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 13, 1996 TAG: 9610140003
SECTION: TRAVEL PAGE: 8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WALTER ROESSING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
FOR a few seconds we marveled at the panorama of the snow-blanketed Green Mountains of Vermont, with our eyes focused on a view that spans five states and Canada. It was a cold, crisp midweek morning and we were standing atop 4,241-foot Killington Peak, the highest lift-serviced mountain in New England.
Then, as the sun's rays began to filter through the overcast sky, my companion urged me to follow him down a woodland trail called Four Mile. Like two giant eagles, we spread our wings and pushed off into paradise.
It was the day's first run so we warmed up by carving slow, wide turns through the evergreen forest. Finally, feeling free and exhilarated, I hollered "let's go" and, like school kids, we turned our skis loose.
With no one else in sight, we accelerated our fast, nonstop run along Four Mile, which is one of Killington's legendary intermediate trails.
As we cascaded down 3,000 vertical feet, we crossed a small bridge, ducked through two tunnels, followed a mountain ridge and blasted across some roads before skidding to a stop at the mountain's Skyeship Gondola. Although it was a glorious opening run, we were ready for a relaxing ride aboard the world's first heated, eight-passenger, high-speed lift.
Indeed, when it comes to some of the best, biggest and most bombastic ski experiences the East has to offer, an obvious choice is the mighty resort of Killington. I emphasize mighty because Killington boasts:
The East's largest, most diverse ski/snowboard playground, with 75 miles and 1,000 acres of terrain spread across six interconnected mountains. That acreage is served by 24 lifts, five of them new, and manicured by 21 grooming vehicles.
The world's most extensive snowmaking system, which covers 44 miles of trails with manmade flakes. That system augments 250 inches of annual natural snowfall.
The East's longest season (eight months), biggest vertical drop (3,150 feet) and largest variety of lodging, restaurants and nightspots.
More importantly, Killington excels in terrain for every skill level: beginner, novice, intermediate, advanced and expert. But if you've never been to Killington, the complexity of the resort's five base areas can be confusing.
To eliminate that problem, take the free, two-hour Meet the Mountains Tour. This introductory tour is offered at 9:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. on Mondays and at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The tours, which leave from Snowshed Lodge, not only will familiarize you with the overall resort but the guides will entertain you with historical tidbits and insiders' tips.
Ready to answer questions, too, is a knowledgeable staff of 25 Information Services personnel plus 80 alpine skiing and snowboard ambassadors. Killington aims to please.
Now, let's take a gander at what the resort offers intermediates because 70 percent of the nation's skiers and shredders fall into this category.
Though not the equal of Four Mile, which is the longest intermediate trail east of Colorado, some of the best cruising runs spin off from Skye Peak and Snowdon Mountain like Needle's Eye. Strong-legged advanced intermediates should make a beeline for such trails as Skye Lark, Superstar and Highline.
Also spoiled rotten at this Vermont blockbuster are novices and rank beginners.
Forty miles of trails have been developed just for novices, with Snowshed providing the gentlest terrain. That slope for beginning skiers and riders is served by three chairlifts, a ski school surface lift and six trails. All of Killington's interconnected mountains are blessed with numerous novice runs, too.
In a dramatic change for the 1996-97 season, Killington has transformed Ram's Head into a self-contained mountain for families and children with three new lifts, day lodge, an expanded nursery, snowplay park and more snowmaking. (Also new are the Needle's Eye detachable quad and Northbrook fixed-grip quad.)
Believe it or not, novices who can make scores of linked turns without tiring can negotiate Juggernaut, which meanders back and forth across Killington's multimountain complex for 10.2 miles - the nation's longest alpine ski trail. The run, with a gentle gradient and 3,100-foot vertical drop, starts atop Killington Peak and winds through three towns before concluding its wandering path at the base of Sunrise Mountain.
Killington also has a challenging variety of terrain for advanced and expert bookers.
With 45 black-diamond and 10 double black-diamond trails, the resort claims the largest expert complex east of the Rockies. Worthy of special note is Outer Limits, hailed as New England's steepest mogul slope with an average gradient of 41.3 percent and a 1,200-foot vertical plummet in just a half mile.
The top-to-bottom steepness is so relentless that many top mogul competitors train here. Even the less-skilled bump bashers enjoy tackling Outer Limits because this show-off trail is steep, wide, long and highly visible.
It's fun to ride the Bear Mountain Quad because it provides a closeup view of all the thrills and spills on Outer Limits.
Other precipitous plummets await on Bear Claw, Cascade, Devil's Fiddle, Downdraft, East Fall, Wild Fire and Double Dipper; the latter offers a half-mile-long plummet with the final third reaching a perpendicular gradient of 54 percent.
Strategically spread across the resort are six day lodges, which offer seven cafeterias; two restaurants; five retail, ski rental and repair shops; a snowboard shop and five lounges.
At the Snowshed Resort Center, a state-licensed day-care facility, called The Friendly Penguin, provides a nurturing environment for youngsters ages 6 weeks to 6 years. Other Snowshed programs: First Tracks for ages 2-3 and Ministars for ages 4-5, both combine indoor supervised activities with a gradual intro to skiing.
Awaiting vacationers, too, is a wide variety of other on-slope programs. For example:
Beckoning to shredders is a halfpipe on Snowdon Mountain, where Pipe Jams are held on Sundays, and a 1,300-foot-long snow board park on Bear Mountain.
A large ski/snowboard school offers classes for all ages and skill levels. Actor Macaulay Culkin of "Home Alone" fame was introduced to snowboarding here.
There are special clinics for women, teens, snowboarders, racers and mogul bashers.
Other outdoor activities in the Killington area include sleigh rides, sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and ice skating.
Once the ski day is done, vacationers have a choice of 116 lodging properties.
Some 4,500 units are situated in condo suites and hotel rooms at the base of the ski mountains. Two of the best slopeside options: Sunrise condos, with great access to the Skyeship and Bear and Sunrise mountains, and High Ridge condos and town homes.
Lined-up along Killington Road are the upscale trio of Vermont Inn, Summit Lodge and The Woods at Killington Resort and Spa, plus lower-priced accommodations at the Inn of the Six Mountains, Red Rob Inn, Killington Village Inn and Chalet Killington.
Killington is the East's liveliest resort because its apres ski fun offers a choice of 109 restaurants, six health and fitness centers, 53 night spots and 25 clubs with live entertainment such as dance bands, folk singers and comedians.
For families on a budget, pizza is a Killington tradition -- whether you prefer it thick, thin, plain, herb-crusted, topped with the works, wood-fired or grilled. Specializing in this treat are: Madhatters, Mrs. Brady, Powderhounds, Outback, Mahogany Ridge and Zorba's.
Inexpensive with wonderful food is Pepper's; reasonably priced menus prevail, too, at Charity's, The Grist Mill and Wobbly Barn. Definitely more expensive are such delights as Hemingway's, Cortina, Jason's, The Summit and Vermont Inn.
With so many ways to have fun, it's easy to understand why Skiing Magazine has rated Killington one of the world's top 10 ski destinations.
LENGTH: Long : 144 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. BOB PERRY. Killington, Vt., (above, left) boastsby CNBpowder-white, wide-open slopes and the world's first heated
high-speed lift. 2. If a chairlift doesn't suit your style, tubes
(above) are another mode of transportation for traveling downhill.
Graphic: Map by staff. color.