Pico Peak/Mountain

joshua_segal

Jan. 4, 2020 - Sat.

I went to Pico today for the first time since 1976. The main mountain seems similar and the west side too. As a name, Pico Peak had alliteration to it; Pico Mountain has no poetic value!

I couldn't figure where the old T-bar was with respect to the Little Pico Triple. Anybody know that factoid?

It rained most of the day, pretty hard at times, so I quit just before 1PM. I heard that Killington was crowded, despite the rain; but Pico was not.

KA and Summit Glade offered nice bumps. The main lift line, The Pike, was a wonderful cruiser that T2B drops close to 1900 vertical. I remember two serial doubles to get from the bottom to the top. They seem to have been replaced by 2-HSQ Yans dating from the late '80s.

I suspect I'll return there sooner than 44 years!

lotsoskiing

T-bar started to the left (east) of the chair. Footings still visible on the lower flats. Angled to meet the current chair line as it steepens, and it is steep...I can't imagine trying to ride it.

joshua_segal

lotsoskiing;c-39511 wroteT-bar started to the left (east) of the chair. Footings still visible on the lower flats. Angled to meet the current chair line as it steepens, and it is steep...I can't imagine trying to ride it.

I remember falling off back in the 60s when I was just a lower intermediate. It was almost like being on a chairlift. Track was icy and I slipped off it. No nearby trail. A long walk through the woods in knee deep snow to reach A-Slope.

sugarloaf

I miss the Giant Killer Poma, that's the steepest surface lift I've ever ridden. The Birch Glades Double was another favorite of mine that's now gone.

TomWhite

In the Black Mt. thread I speak of the friend who's boot broke. He road the Little Pico T bar in the 60's as well. It was a scary super steep ride. I've ridden the triple chair and look in amazement that a surface lift went up that face. I believe that was the first T bar in the US, installed in 1942. The historical post cards site, something Cow, shows the Ts off and single chairs on the cable during the summer.

slatham

I went to Pico twice last season for the first times in circa 25 years and loved it. I had heard about the T-bar, saw the footings, and still can’t believe it went up that face.

Plattekill had a pretty steep T-bar on north face. First time I skied there was in 2-3’ (yes FEET) of newly fallen Lake effect. Skied that side most of the day and was completely wiped out. I couldn’t figure out why I was so tired and sore until it dawned me - duh! You rode a straight up 1,000’ vertical T-bar all day! Well, and skied knee deep powder. They were good problems to have.....

sugarloaf

slatham;c-39529 wroteI went to Pico twice last season for the first times in circa 25 years and loved it. I had heard about the T-bar, saw the footings, and still can’t believe it went up that face.

Plattekill had a pretty steep T-bar on north face. First time I skied there was in 2-3’ (yes FEET) of newly fallen Lake effect. Skied that side most of the day and was completely wiped out. I couldn’t figure out why I was so tired and sore until it dawned me - duh! You rode a straight up 1,000’ vertical T-bar all day! Well, and skied knee deep powder. They were good problems to have.....

The first time I skied there was in March of 1996 in similar conditions. Knee to waist deep powder.

rickbolger

joshua_segal;d-2695 wroteJan. 4, 2020 - Sat.

As a name, Pico Peak had alliteration to it; Pico Mountain has no poetic value!

+1

what were they thinking

lotsoskiing

I remember skiing at Pico as a kid. Powder day, did laps on the old Birch Glades double and Giant Killer. Great fun. Sad both are gone.

xlr8r

Pico has been one favorites for many years now. When Pico is 100% open I prefer it to Killington. Lots of fun trails with all kinds of character, KA probably being my favorite. Its the prime example of a ski area that is over looked due to its location. If Pico were located in NH it would be one of the big dogs in the state.

I believe the actual mountain is named Pico Peak, but the ski area is named Pico Mountain. I also really like the name Pico, sounds simple and happy.

joshua_segal

xlr8r;c-39553 wrotePico has been one favorites for many years now. When Pico is 100% open I prefer it to Killington. Lots of fun trails with all kinds of character, KA probably being my favorite. Its the prime example of a ski area that is over looked due to its location. If Pico were located in NH it would be one of the big dogs in the state.

I believe the actual mountain is named Pico Peak, but the ski area is named Pico Mountain. I also really like the name Pico, sounds simple and happy.

Agree with "its location killing it".

With "Pico" meaning "one-trillionth", I feel that the pure name without the context of the skiing, minimizes this big mountain!

ski_it

SRC Wiki: "The peak's name may stem from the Abenaki for "the pass/opening" or indeed from the Spanish or Portuguese word for "peak", Pico. Seen from Sherburne Pass the summit resembles a cone. "Pico Peak" appears on the 1869 Beers Atlas of Rutland County, Walling's 1860 Map of the State of Vermont and Chace's 1854 Map of Rutland County (albeit reversed with Killington Peak)."

bmwskier

I first skied Vermont in 1984 as part of a Junior Ski Patrol Seminar at Pico. We skied West Mountain the night before and traveled down Route 4 and as soon as I saw Pico overshadowing Rutland from 4, it took my breath away. A beautiful white monolith standing shoulders above the other peaks, gleaming in the sun. It always seemed to be looking down on us as we made our way to the Bavarian Lodge at the base (long gone) and it's runs were gnarly, fast and fun. That's when I fell in love with Vermont.

My late brother was an Otter patroller there, both paid and volunteer for a couple of years. We rode the Birch chair, took a photo that's on chairlifts.org and ripped down the Pike on 220cm downhill skis. Have to go back there this season for sure.

There's also a pair of 205cm Dynamic VR17 skis below the base of the old poma on a straight line to the State Garage, but that's another story...

ciscokid

I love this pic!

Spruce

Great old shot! Was anyone at Pico this past holiday weekend? Was thinking of going but stayed closer to home at S6 (Sunday). Wondering how the crowds were.