On June 30, 2016

Upper mountain operations

By Ariel Kent

It’s about a month early but the special day has arrived. It’s the day when the K-1 opens for summer lift service and mountain operations shift from just weekends to seven days a week. It happened on June 18 this year. It’s pretty amazing to see the mountain putting in such an effort to expand summer activities at a resort better known for its winters. It give us “brown powder” junkies a little extra time to shred.

Many of us are chomping at the bit to see Ramshead open but for now we can enjoy what the upper mountain has to offer. Me being me, I had to get another first chair of the season and lined up this past Saturday, June 18, at K-1 10 minutes before opening. This time I wasn’t greeted with the long line of people like I had met at Snowshed–this time it was just me.

I enjoy the K-1 for many reasons, the first and foremost being that it’s not quite as busy as the main hub at Snowshed. Those of us that ski or ride Killington in the winter are no strangers to being crammed into the cabins, sometimes gear in tow. In the summer it’s common to have the gondola all to yourself and with the lift running slightly slower than in the winter, I will typically take a power nap and enjoy the peace and quiet of the mountain.

The upper mountain is great fun and a great place to tune up your biking skills. For years now Killington has hosted the Eastern States Cup race series, a race that offers downhill and enduro racers a chance to compete on some classic New England terrain. There’s a reason this race sells out every year. It’s because racers want to go head to head and prove what they’re made of on some of the toughest terrain in the East. I myself will be competing in this year’s enduro race and am excited to see if I have what it takes to be a racer.

The race will be held July 2-3, so if you’re in the area, come up and see the competitor’s race–it’s bound to get interesting. For those thinking to head up to the upper mountain for the first time, remember to take your time and go easy–the upper mountain isn’t always the best place for every rider. Most importantly, enjoy yourselves and hopefully you’ll enjoy mountain biking as much as I do.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

VARA recognizes athletes, coaches and educators / Rutland native Chuck Hughes honored

October 30, 2024
By Karen D. Lorentz The Vermont Alpine Racing Association (VARA) honored a group of student athletes, dedicated coaches, educators, and volunteers at the 2024 Awards Gala on Oct. 26 at the K-1 Lodge in Killington. A special highlight was the induction of Rutland native Chuck Hughes into the VARA Hall of Fame. Julie Woodworth, VARA…

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports seeks winter volunteer-instructors

October 17, 2024
Instructor training begins in November for skiing, snowboarding and winter sports KILLINGTON — Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, the largest year-round disabled sports nonprofit organization in Vermont to offer daily, year-round sports and recreation for people with disabilities, is looking for energetic winter volunteer-instructors who have a dedicated passion for sports and who want to…

Tips to maintaining your bike

September 27, 2024
Staff report So, you bought a mountain bike. Well done! You’ve now got a few epic rides under your belt. Excellent. But now you wonder how to best protect your investment and keep it rolling like new.  While there are many expert bike mechanics around locally that can help, here are a few basic things…

Agency of Trans awards $7.19m in bicycle and pedestrian grants

September 27, 2024
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) announced Sept. 12 the awards of approximately $7.19 million in grants to municipalities for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvement projects. The combination of construction projects and planning grants will benefit cities and towns statewide with improved transportation connectivity and safety, tangible economic benefits, and additional transportation options for commuters,…