Pico trip report: 4/3 - 4/5/2015 Happy Skeaster

This weekend was short of really amazing. With Spring skiing on Friday to full on Winter on Saturday and fresh snow for Sunday. Needless to say, our season was great at Pico and we will really miss skiing there since the mountain closed with 100% of their terrain open.    It was a sad day to see it close and the kids and us parents were somewhat emotional about their closing for the season. So many fun memories here and I can safely say we love Pico. Nothing like Killington even though owned by the same parent company.  

Some pics from the weekend - Friday was full on Spring with temps in the 50's... Upper Pike was creamy.



Upper Giant Killer had some bare spots but, not terrible. By Saturday, things firmed up and the new snow covered most of the bare spots.



Poma Woods was like skiing through butter.  Sandro got his skis stuck in some snow, and so did Nevada. We had to stay on the tracked out terrain as our skis - though medium fat, sank in.



Saturday 4/4/15

Overnight the temps dropped by more than 30 degrees- what was soft and soupy at the base, was a sheet of ice and thankfully it snowed 3 inches so, we had a bit more than "Dust on Crust".



Alicia and I demoed some Volkl skis - we are big fans of their skis but, sadly I was more than dissapointed by the Mantra ski I was on. Perhaps it was to long (177cm and I am 5'8").  I could not wait to get the skis off. Alicia was on the Kenja - she said it was an OK ski too.



The summit Saturday was full on Winter - such a different day!



As the day progressed the sun came out. Sandro was enjoying some Spring sun.



The clouds and snow passed for a few - the sky became dramatic. Alicia and I were just blown by the beauty.



By Sunday 4/5/2015- Some fresh snow - 3 inches fell at the top with stashes as deep as 4 to 6.



The kids were excited to head into Birch Glades and find some nice powdery snow.



The day changed from sunny to full on winter again.  Nevada wearing her bunny ears at the summit SKEaster.



Alicia and I at the summit, taking it all in - on our last run here for the season. A somewhat emotional moment for us. The kids were tired and were waiting by the lodge, chilling by the fire pit. We knew we only had a few turns left and we wanted to make those turns be as long as possible.



Alicia on Forty Niner - taking it easy on the way down. No sense in rushing your last run.



Nobody but, us, the snow, the sky, the trees. It was such a peaceful moment. Going to miss skiing here.



Nevada and Sandro waited for us by the fire pit - there were having fun playing in the snow.  They of course were happy to see us but, sad to know that they wouldn't be skiing at Pico anymore this season.



Packing up, with no more season locker; we had to bring our skis back with us to our season house which also sadly ends soon too.



See you next season Pico. Thank you for allowing us to be part of the family there and for all the wonderful memories we created. A season I hope never to forget.



What opens must eventually close.....

Now these are some good pics!!!

I heard that Pico has now become Hike-O, and it looks like there's plenty of Snow for a few more weeks.

Yes.. You can get an uphill pass and hike up. We might end up doing that but, that might be tough on my 6 year old. We will see.

Oh, and thanks for the compliment. I forgot to mention that.

We will be at Jay this weekend. Maybe we will see some of you..  We do our annual trip there for our son's birthday the last 4 years.

Nice report and photos.

Cool that you had such a great season Ray.  Your trip reports are always a treat.

Skiray wrote

We knew we only had a few turns left and we wanted to make those turns be as long as possible.

Know this feeling well.

Nice one Ray.

Why does Pico close so early? Last year I was at Killington, and Pico was covered in snow,mbut had apparently been closed for two weeks. Seems like they should stay open longer.

Ethan Snow wrote

Why does Pico close so early? Last year I was at Killington, and Pico was covered in snow,mbut had apparently been closed for two weeks. Seems like they should stay open longer.

We have asked that question and the answer is to consolidate their resources to one mountain.  Pico is such a better skiing mountain to be honest too.  The season pass is hard to beat too for the price.

Ethan Snow wrote

Why does Pico close so early?

My guess: they'd rather not operate at a loss.