Killington is also known as K-Mart, Little Jersey, and a plethora of other nicknames describing the weekly influx of guests from New York and New Jersey. Constant jeering shouts can be heard from locals, mocking people who have all the latest gear but no clue how to use it. Out of control visitors causing near collisions is a common scene on any winter weekend.

Killington gets a bad rap, though—it’s actually an awesome mountain. The key to having fun is to stay in the trees. The majority of skiers and riders on the mountain stick to the trails and parks. And during the week, the whole mountain turns into a ghost town, allowing for amazing cruising on 144 trails accessed by 22 lifts.

Glades can be found everywhere and have great coverage with the help of 250 annual inches of snow. Many glades aren’t marked and require a bit of work to get to. Find a local who might be willing to show you around. You will quickly realize there’s a parallel universe hiding alongside the majority of marked trails.

If you are looking to score some pow a few days after a storm, check out the top of Ramshead. A quick 10-minute hike will bring you to the top of the old double chairlift; from here you have four different runs to choose from. Although they’re short, it’s well worth it.

Recently, Killington has been using the nickname “The Beast” to promote the resort This is fitting, since the huge mountain has six peaks and 752 acres of terrain. If you do get to ride midweek during a powder day, you’d be lucky to ride even half of what the mountain has to offer.

After a long day of riding, it’s time to kick back. With tons of great bars like the Look Out, Casey’s Caboose, the Pickle Barrel and Wobbly Barn, happy hour can turn into late night really quick.