Mountain Profile
Meet the Mountain
Pico is one of Vermont's largest mountains. How big? It has more vertical drop than 80% of the downhill ski areas in New England. Those 1,967 feet are spread over 50 trails and 214 skiable acres, with lots of choices for all abilities.
One of Pico's most enjoyable attributes is that it is undeniably a big mountain, but with a small ski area's personal touch. There are mogul trails, glades and groomed steeps, but all the trails lead back to the same base area.
The Pike, Pico's longest trail, begins at the summit and terminates right outside the base lodge. From the summit, skiers and riders can try 49er or the winding and narrow black diamonds Summit Glades, Upper KA, and Sunset 71. If you’re up to it, take a shot at the mountain's steepest, most difficult trail, Giant Killer – it’s called that for a reason. Pico also has two tree skiing areas - Birch Woods and Doozie.
Racers often train on B-Slope, which descends in a wide arc from the top of Little Pico. Bumps usually form on the black diamond A-Slope, also on Little Pico Mountain.
First-time skiers and snowboarders can board an easy-to-use chairlift, new rope tow and two gentle learning trails at the Bonanza area. Cruisers can enjoy run after run on the groomed green circle and blue square trails off the Golden Express Quad. Powder hounds will delight in fresh tracks days after a snowstorm if they can find their way into the Birch or Summit Glades.
Pico Mountain offers the friendly intimacy of classic Vermont skiing with uncrowded slopes, long runs and diverse terrain, plus a central base village and lodge complete with a roaring fire in a stone fireplace. However, Pico offers big-time skiing and snowboarding with a 1,967-foot vertical and 50 trails, seven lifts (including two high-speed quads), timed racing arenas, a terrain park and 75% snowmaking coverage.
TRAIL BREAK DOWN
| Trails: | 50 | 100% |
| Easier: | 10 | 20% |
| More Difficult: | 24 | 48% |
| Most Difficult: | 16 | 32% |
MOUNTAIN FACTS
| Summit Elevation: | 3,967 |
| Base Elevation | 2,000 |
| Vertical Drop | 1,967 |
| Skiable Acres: | 214 |
| Miles of Trails: | 17 |
LIFTS:
| Name | Length (ft) | Riding Time (min) |
| Summit Express Quad | 6,160 | 6 |
| Golden Express Quad | 4,400 | 4 |
| Little Pico Triple | 2,090 | 5 |
| Knomes Knoll Triple | 1,643 | 4 |
| Outpost Double | 1,642 | 4 |
| Bonanza Rope Tow | 400 | 2 |
| Bonanza Double | 530 | 2 |
SNOWMAKING
Average annual natural snowfall: 250"
Snowmaking coverage: 75%
OPERATING HOURS AND SEASON:
Key lifts open at 8 a.m. weekends/peak weeks and at 9 a.m. weekdays with other lifts opening at varying times. All lifts close at 4 p.m. Pico is scheduled to open for the 2009-2010 season in mid-December, and is scheduled to close for skiing and riding on March 28, 2010.
For the 2009-2010 season, Pico Mountain will operate Thursday through Monday, with the exception of Dec. 28 - Jan. 1; and Feb. 15-19, 2010, when the resort will operate seven days a week.
RACING AT PICO
Pico Mountain boasts a decades-old history as the training ground of some of America's finest racers including Suzy Chaffee, Andrea Mead-Lawrence and Megan and Kristy Brown. Whether you're coming to Pico with a large group of friends, a ski club or an entire ski council, Pico stands ready to provide a premier racing experience on three uniquely individual and challenging race trails, all wired with precision electronic timing equipment.
