KILLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Killington is preparing to shut down the last remaining ski lift still operating this season in the Northeast. Meanwhile, skiers and riders are still hitting the slopes as golfers and mountain bikers play nearby.
Killington has been open for more than 190 days this year. Shorts and t-shirts are part of the dress code for the few remaining ski days in New England. “The Beast,” which prides itself on being the longest ski season in the east, is once again living up to its name.
“Woke up at 4 a.m., sent it here at 4:30, got here at 8 o’clock. I was actually first chair here today, beat the locals, that was pretty exciting,” said Jamie Ruginski. It was a feat that had the Maine native doing flips. However, he rated the season overall as 6 or 7 out of 10 because of sparse snow snowfall in January and February, “Because of that, we made it great. Met a lot of people. We really huddled in and you still go the diehards here you know,” Ruginski said.
“You know, we got a ton of snow in March and even some in April. And that combined with building the base on Superstar for World Cup, which we are having again this year Thanksgiving Weekend is what made up here today,” said Kristel Killary with Killington Mountain.
Mountain officials will decide next week if they have one more weekend in them. In the meantime, the end-of-the-year party on the access road is going strong.
“Tailgating just like if you went to the Pats game,” said Larry Kaizzi of Bridgewater. Soon-to-be-summer skiing, he said, is the best. “The snow is nice and soft, plenty of bumps. We have a good time. We all get together this time of year. There is like 30 or 40 people.”
It’s one trail, with snow that’s melting fast, but bragging rights for those who are helping to close out the season for all of us. “I figured today was probably the best last great day of the year, so I had to get here first,” said Ruginski.
Golf and mountain biking will be open at Killington well into October. Just about the time the skiing will start back up again.