Killington

Ski Areas

"Megamountain," "Beast of the East," and plain "huge" are apt descriptions of Killington. The American Skiing Company operates Killington and its neighbor, Pico, and over the past several years has improved lifts and snowmaking capabilities. Thanks to its extensive snowmaking system, the resort typically opens in October, and the lifts often run into May. Après-ski activities are plentiful and have been rated the best in the East by national ski magazines. With a single call to Killington's hotline or a visit to its Web site, skiers can plan an entire vacation: choose accommodations, book air or railroad transportation, and arrange for rental equipment and ski lessons. Killington ticket holders can also ski at Pico: a shuttle connects the two areas.

The Killington-Pico complex has a host of activities, including an alpine slide, a golf course, two waterslides, a skateboard park, and a swimming pool. The resort rents mountain bikes and advises hikers. The K-1 Express Gondola takes you up the mountain to Vermont's second-highest summit.

In terms of downhill skiing, it would probably take several weeks to test all 200 trails on the seven mountains of the Killington complex, even though all except Pico interconnect. About 70% of the 1,182 acres of skiing terrain can be covered with machine-made snow. Transporting skiers to the peaks of this complex are 32 lifts, including 2 gondolas, 12 quads (including 6 high-speed express quads), 6 triples, and a Magic Carpet. The K-1 Express Gondola goes to the area's highest elevation, 4,241-foot Killington Peak. The Skyeship Gondola starts on U.S. 4, far below Killington's main base lodge, and savvy skiers park here to avoid the more crowded access road. After picking up more passengers at a mid-station, the Skyeship tops out on Skye Peak. Although Killington has a vertical drop of 3,050 feet, only gentle trails—Juggernaut and Great Eastern—go from top to bottom. The skiing includes everything from Outer Limits, the East's steepest and longest mogul trail, to 6½-mi Great Eastern. In the Fusion Zones, underbrush and low branches have been cleared to provide tree skiing. Killington's Superpipe is one of the best rated in the East. Instruction programs are available for youngsters ages 3-8; those 6-12 can join an all-day program. 4763 Killington Rd., Killington, VT, 05751. 802/422-6200; 802/422-6200 snow conditions; 800/621-6867 lodging. www.killington.com.

Pico. When weekend hordes hit Killington, the locals head to Pico. One of Killington's "seven peaks," Pico is physically separated from its parent resort. The 52 trails range from elevator-shaft steep to challenging intermediate trails near the summit, with easier terrain near the bottom of the mountain's 2,000-foot vertical. The learning slope is separated from the upper mountain, so hotshots won't bomb through it. The lower express quad can get crowded, but the upper one rarely has a line. 4763 Killington Rd., Killington, VT, 05751. 802/422-6200 or 866/667-7426. www.picomountain.com.

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