Skiers: Looking for a great last minute idea for a fun St. Patrick's Day weekend?

I've got just the ticket for you!

Book yourself a cozy stay at the Inn at Long Trail, a wonderfully warm and comfortable place with incredible food and the best Irish pub this side of Dublin.

The inn sits right atop Sherburne Pass in in Killington, Vermont, which just so happens to be smack in the middle between the ski resorts of Killington and Pico Peak (both on the ASC passholder list, for now anyway).

The lovely and well-situated Inn at Long Trail atop Sherburne Pass, Killington VT.
Photo by Carey Kish

How 'bout that... great skiing at two convenient mountains, mega old-style comfy digs, outstanding gourmet meals, creaky floors and a stone fireplace, and McGrath's Irish Pub, with all Irish music, all the time.

Revels Glen belts out the Irish tunes (Alice? Alice? Who the ___ is Alice?) in McGrath's Irish Pub tucked inside the Inn at Long Trail.
Photo by Carey Kish

And on St. Patty's Day you and your friends can belly up the to bar and order up a fine Irish pint or two, a Guinness, Smithwick's or Harp. Mix it up and get a half and half (1/2 Guinness, 1/2 Harp). Better yet try a Vermont half: 1/2 Guinness, 1/2 Long Trail Ale.

Oooooh! Ahhhhh! Yum!

But for God's sake, don't come looking for a British beer, or a Bud or something screwy like that. You're guaranteed a snarl from behind the bar. And likely to get tossed out in the snow to boot.

Be advised, OK?!

Saturday, rise early and get yourself to Killington before the crowds. Shoot for 8AM latest. You'll want to park at K-1 or Snowshed for the best access to the mountain's trails and lifts.

Jump on the K-1 gondola for a sweet ride to Killington Peak at 4,000 feet. Head for the North Ridge Triple and catch some fine cruising before the throngs arrive. Rime, Reason, East Fall and Ridge Run--all good. Double 'em up just for yucks.

It's always great skiing first thing in the AM off the North Ridge Triple chair, Killington.
Photo by Carey Kish

Bump over to the Canyon Quad next for the demanding steeps on Double Dipper, Downdraft, Cascade. That'll get you working up a good sweat.

It's Superstar next, so put on a good show for the masses down at K-1 Lodge! And don't miss Ovation and Skye Lark.

Killington base from the Superstar trail. A Killington regular told us there were probably more than 20,000 skiers on the mountain on March 3rd.
Photo by Carey Kish

Skip lunch (it's over-rated and takes away from good skiing time) and take on the blues at Skye Peak, and the fun trails off the South Ridge Triple, by far the strangest lift line I've ever seen! Check it out and then tell me about it!

Da Maine skee group on the slopes of Killington a couple of weekends ago.
Photo courtesy Nancy Meier

Killington skiers in hot retro-colored outfits... must be friends of Pete!
Photo by Carey Kish

Bear Mountain will likely complete your pummeling for the day. Battle the Outer Limits, Wildfire and the the dicey Devil's Fiddle and your quads will say: "Beer me, please."

Listen and obey!

That's where McGrath's Irish Pub comes in... Guinness cures all, I tells ya. No doubt the place will be rocking for the big green holiday.

Handy tip: Order two beers at a time. The fine pouring of good Irish beer takes time, sometimes too much. You'll see.

After a killer dinner and mondo breakfast, pack up and drive a couple minutes across the way to Pico Peak.

Pico is like skiing used to be. Fortunately, here, it still is. Long, narrow, wooded, interesting trails make skiing here pure delight.

Grab the Golden Express chair and at the top, go left down to the Summit Express Quad. Settle in here because this is where the skiing is at, my friends.

Riding the upper lift in a snowstorm on Pico Peak.
Photo by Carey Kish

Cruise on Forty-Niner. Swoosh down KA, then sunset '71 and Pike. Runs through Birch Glades and then Birch Woods are a hoot.

And then, before you lose your nerve, tackle the Giant Killer, the long, ungroomed, bumpy, rocky, nasty, but oh so much fun trail on skier's left just down from the summit lift station.

Looking down the challenging steeps of Giant Killer, Pico Peak.
Photo by Carey Kish

Finish off with with more cruising and short steeps from the Little Pico Triple, Outpost Double and Knomes Knoll Triple.

Voila! A tremendous weekend of skiing and Irish hospitality!

Can't make it for St. Patty's, no problem. It's worth the trip anytime.

Have fun! And Erin Go Bragh!