Claiming a 4-8” base of frozen granular, Killington once again became the first ski resort to open in North America. On Thursday, October 2, Killington opened the Snowdon Quad Chair and the Glades Triple Chair to service the Rime Trail, covering 1/3 of a mile.

Lift tickets, sold at a flat rate of $10, allowed anxious skiers to take in a few carves, although those carves were interrupted by thin spots and bare spots that required walking. Killington closed for the weekend as temperatures rose, and will resume snowmaking operations once temperatures permit.

As reported earlier by DCSki, Killington tries very hard each year to open first. Last year, Killington opened on October 4; this year, they beat that record by opening on October 2. But this move is largely a marketing stint. Killington tries to lay down as much snow as possible on one trail to claim an early opening date, but inevitably is forced to close after a day or two. The “real” season debuts in late October or early November, although conditions are rarely ideal until December at the earliest.