Pico Mountain

We have been taking a 4 day trip to Killington every year for the last 15-20 years.  This year, we decided to ski on Saturday, which is usually our travel day.  We had no desire to fight the crowds at Killington on Saturday, so we headed to Pico.

Parking and access were a breeze.  The base lodge is not huge, but has a warm feel.  Everything runs down to the same base, so families with kids do not need to worry about getting separated.  There are 50 trails available, and all were open for skiing.  The worst lift line we waited on was about 7 minutes ... not bad for a Saturday in prime season.

There are 2 express quads in the available lifts.  The Golden Express Quad takes skiers/riders up from the base, but the Summit Express Quad takes skiers to the peak and is the better lift to stay on for shorter lines.  There are plenty of trails to sample from this chair.  Summit Glades is a personal favorite, but there is a nice variety for Intermediate, Advanced and Expert skiers alike.  For the biggest challenge at Pico, try Upper Giant Killer.  All the runs off the Summit Express Chair are nice and long, so you don't miss much (other than crowds) by staying on this chair.

If you are a fan of off-piste terrain, or are looking for a place big enough that you can ski for several days without hitting the same run twice, this is not your mountain.  If you like older style resorts, need a family-friendly mountain, and a surprising variety of fun runs, give Pico a try.  We plan to make this a regular stop on Saturday of our annual Killington trip.  I had not been to Pico for at least 15 years, but am very glad to "rediscover" it.  Next time, I will try to bring my 6 year old daughter as well, since I would have no problem feeling confident that she would enjoy it and we would not be overwhelmed managing the trip.  Like the title of this review says, Pico is worth a visit!

My daughter and I went to Pico last year and originally were going to ski Killington but chose Pico instead because it seemed less crowded. Getting through the ticket counter was quick and even though it was vacation week the lift lines were speedy. Tip: Take the lift 1/2 way up then take the summit lift and ski the top half of the mountain for the day. Lines are even quicker up there and there is a great variety of trails to ski.

The lodge is fairly simple (but warm) so although not considered a "resort" it is a perfect family alternative to the "bigger" resorts.

There is also a cross country center close by and although the trails were extensive, my wife commented that "no matter where you skied you could hear traffic" which, if you are looking for a "woodsy" experience, you might want to look elsewhere.

We'll be heading up to Central VT this year (Feb 2011) so Sugarbush, Stowe, Mad River Glen and Smugglers Notch are all possibilities for the 3 days we'll be up there. I'll add our reviews when we return!

Pico is located right around the corner from Killington right off of Route 4 (it’s about 2 miles from Killington.)  Hopefully one day they connect Killington and Pico.  There have been rumors about the connection for years.  The same company owns both mountains.  Pico is a nice mountain.  It’s kind of mellow and less crowded than Killington, especially on the weekends.  Where Killington will attract older adolescents and adults, Pico is more of a family resort.  I think that’s their niche.  There’s always a hefty amount of younger kids at this resort.  I guess it’s small enough (in comparison to Killington) for parents to either drop-off or let the kids loose on the mountain. All trails lead back to the same lodge.  Peace of mind for parents.  Kids 5 and under ski free with a paying adult.  It's also cheaper in general (tickets under $60 even on weekends and cheaper even during the week) which is a plus for that part of Vermont.  It’s definitely an on-piste type of resort.  They have a few glades but that’s not the main appeal of this place.   If you can do a Sunday/Monday trip, I’d recommend you ski Pico on Sunday and Killington on Monday.  Parking is a lot easier at Pico!  Their lift system is good (several high speed chairs) which keeps people moving on the mountain.  It’s very convenient (10 miles or so) to Rutland’s hotels, motels, and restaurants.  If I recall Pico is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  I’d double check that though…