On August 27, 2015

Behind the scenes at Pico

Linemen work throughout the summer on improvements to mountain operations. Pictured (l-r) Tim McGuire, John Darrah and Skip Poljacik.

Summer ops work continues

By Robin Alberti

When folks visit Pico and Killington resorts, whether it is in the summer or winter, they often run into mountain employees who welcome them with smiles and helpful information to make sure everyone has a positive experience.

But for all the resort employees that folks do see, there are many more hard-working men and women behind the scenes, the ones that keep us safe and make the resort run smoothly. These are the mountain ops team, maintenance workers, safety inspectors, and custodians. The grounds keepers, snow makers, and equipment operators. The dishwashers, mechanics, and computer specialists. They don’t often get to interact with guests, so they often go unnoticed — and unappreciated by visitors.

The Mountain Times caught up with three of these workers last week and learned a bit about the critical work they do to ensure the safety of all guests.

Pico Mountain Resort’s Skip Poljacik, John Darrah and Tim McGuire are part of the team that checks the lifts for safety. They check every single tower, all the bolts, bushings, wheels and cables, and inspect all of the chairs on each and every ski lift for structural integrity and safety. When needed, they head up to Killington to assist the crew up there, too. Summer and winter they are charged with fixing any issues that arise — one of the necessary behind-the-scenes job that help the mountain run smoothly.

They know how important their job is and take pride in the work they do. After all, their children, family members and friends ride these lifts, too!

John Darrah began working for the resort back in 1994. Skip Poljacik, the supervisor, has been at Pico and Killington for close to 30 years. The newest crewmember is Tim McGuire.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Get a GRIP

June 27, 2025
Hold on, don’t lose traction — get a GRIP! It’s time to ride! With over 250 trails within 45 minutes of Killington this trail guide will show you all there is to discover — and enhance your experience with tips on where to go, what to do and where to go to refuel. (We can’t…

How to take the best flicks of your tricks

June 27, 2025
To take the best photos of mountain bike tricks, focus on the technique, composition, and timing. Tips compiled from experts can help you capture dynamic shots, accurately capturing (and even slightly enhancing) the extreme nature of the feat. By combining these techniques, you can create stunning, action-packed images that truly capture the excitement and skill…

Tricks defined

June 27, 2025
Mountain biking is as much about skill and style as it is about speed and endurance. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to expand your trick repertoire, here are some of the most popular and accessible mountain bike tricks, along with brief explanations and tips for learning them. Intermediate tricks Tabletop: The rider tilts the bike…

Tips to maintaining your bike

June 27, 2025
 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…