What's New at Killington for 1996/97 Following is Killington's press release describing changes and enhancements to the resort for the 1996/97 season. Skiers and riders will have find new experiences this season at Killington, the East's largest and most diverse four-season resort. It may be on the new Snow Play Park at Rams Head or on the widened Skye Peak trails. A surprise may be found hidden in the changes on crossover trails that will be left to be replanted. On a ride up the new Northbrook Quad Chair, skiers and riders may completely forget the traversing of seasons' past. The new trail redesign will help reshape the mountains of Killington, and along with new lifts and a state-of-the-art family center at the Rams Head base lodge, new experiences and adventures await around every corner for the 1996/97 season. "The Beast of the East is a whole new animal," said John Clifford, vice president-marketing for Killington. "Skiers and riders will find a whole new feel at Killington next season. It will be easier to navigate through the six mountains thanks to trail improvements and additional lifts. We are committed to reshaping the trail system to make it more convenient for our guests and that means taking a step back, looking at our existing trails, eliminating some and creating new trails and new lifts as better solutions." Trail System Design and Mountain Reshaping Traffic will flow easily around the mountain this season thanks to more vertical terrain and top to bottom skiing and riding. With the reshaping of the mountain, something that Killington is fortunate enough to be able to do, skiers and riders will now find top to bottom adventure on favorite trails like Needle's Eye and Vertigo and will not see a crossover trail appearing in the middle of the run. A new fixed grip quad chair will be installed to transfer skiers and riders from the base of Needle's Eye to the top of Snowshed. Guests will still be able to experience the terrain on Bear Mountain and Skye Peak, and not have to travel back on the traversing trail. Instead they can ride the new lift to the top of Snowshed. Trail favorites on Skye Peak like Cruise Control and Vertigo will also see enhancements which include widening the trails and adding snowmaking to Cruise Control. Two new trails will be cut on Bear Mountain to compliment the terrain of famous trails like Wildfire and Bear Claw. New Underpass for Killington Road from Snowshed Base Area to Rams Head Base Area A new underpass will be created under Killington Road, to provide easier, more convenient access for guests to walk from the Snowshed Base Area to the Rams Head Base Area. The underpass will provide a gateway for not only pedestrians, but for skiers and riders who wish to access either area. All New Family Mountain at Rams Head Including New Center, Trails, Lift and Snowmaking The new family mountain at Rams Head is a major step forward for Killington and will provide a self-contained mountain for families and their children. Trails will run top to bottom and meet at the new detachable quad lift where families will end up at the same point. A new unique 14,000 sq. ft. facility will provide a new home and services for families and their children, with convenient access to ski school, child care and rental equipment all in the same area. Here, parents can sign up their children easily for programs like Skiwee, obtain rental equipment for both their children and themselves and create a home base at Rams Head for the rest of the day. The nursery size will expand 34% to accommodate more younger children, and special facilities and changing areas will be installed for added convenience. No longer will there be shuffling between buildings to prepare for a day on the slopes, one stop will be all that's necessary before venturing out to the snow. The existing Rams Head Double Chairlift, originally installed in 1962, will be replaced by a new high-speed detachable quad lift to whisk skiers and riders to the more than 10 novice and intermediate trails on Rams Head Mountain. Detachable quads are know not only for their quick mode of transportation, but also for how they slow down for skiers and riders to easily get on and off the lift. This lift will be ideal for the novice and intermediate skiers. A new Snow Play Park will be created at the base of Rams Head, which will have a handle tow as well as a Magic Carpet, a new lift that works similar to standing on a conveyer walkway belt in an airport. Snow Play will be a gentle learning area for all ages, until skills are developed to move to the other Rams Head trails. Snowmaking will be added and upgraded on many Rams Head trails as well, creating reliable snow conditions all season long on favorite trails like Swirl and Header. New trails will also be cut, creating the continuing flow of top to bottom terrain on Rams Head. Other trails will be widened to make more manageable novice and intermediate terrain. © 1995, 1996 Electric Editions. All Rights Reserved.