Four glistening, snow-covered trails stretch invitingly in front of you as you ease down from the ski-lift: two black double-diamond (the most difficult) and two green (the easiest). At 4,241 feet, you know you have plenty of skiing ahead of you before it’s time to encounter the lift line again. And the view on all sides urges you to pause and enjoy: undulating  mountain ridges fall away in all directions, covered with conifers, each with its mantle of gleaming snow.

 The Rockies it’s not, but Killington ski resort, comprising six mountains and over 160 trails, provides an attractive and varied ski destination that can satisfy most skiers’ needs, from beginner to advanced. Its literature claims that it offers “the greatest diversity of skiing in the East,” and a glance at its map, with a crisscross of levels and almost two dozen

lift and gondola lines would seem to bear

out this claim.

 Killington peak, which boasts the largest vertical drop in New England, can be reached from any of the main bases, Bear Mountain, Snowshed, Ramshead or the main K-1 lodge. Each has parking, rentals (adults only at Bear Mountain), shops, restaurants and food. However, my favorite is the fifth base, Skyeship. I’m not a frequent skier, and this place pampers me. 

Skyeship is located around the corner from the main resort on Route 100, so you don’t have to struggle with the traffic on the main Killington Road. It tends to be less crowded, although sometimes the rentals are closed mid-week. In any case, your best bet for rentals is to continue on to the corner of Routes 100 and 4 and go to the First Stop Ski Shop. Fees are more reasonable than at any of the base lodges. 

The second thing I like about Skyeship is its cozy gondola. Out of the wind, you enjoy breathtaking views as you ride up two stages. You can’t reach the peak directly using this route — if you want to head for the top, you can ski down to one of the other bases. But this route takes you most of the way up, and there are a number of ways to give yourself a leisurely ride down. Best of all for the infrequent skier, when you reach the end of the gondola ride, you step out gracefully and remove your skis from the outside rack, saving your first ski legs for your first trail, which is relatively level. Again, you have a choice of difficulty, from black (difficult) to blue (medium) to green (easy), for your trip down the mountain. 

One reason to head for the peak is the food court there, which is a beautiful spot to lunch. The food is the usual, but the vistas are spectacular and the busy lift scene provides an amusing foreground. All of the lodges offer food; indeed, K-1 gives you a choice of table service (rather than the typical airport-style help-yourself and pay) ranging from deli sandwiches and pizza to Chinese and sushi.  

For après-ski, however, Killington Road has it all. There are numerous spots for exercise, entertainment and dining. I like to stretch my muscles at the Mountain Green Health Club, which takes walk-ins. While it is nothing fancy, the club with its indoor pool is a serviceable place to loosen up.  

Afterwards, my favorite place is the Wobbly Barn , which features Happy Hour food and live music, often with a lively and impudent patter, from 5 to 8 p.m. The space is amusingly decorated, with a large sign, “No Moshing on the Dance Floor,” and the crowd tends to be cheerful and responsive. The Barn is particularly known for its Mardi Gras celebration, held this year on Feb. 24, where people wear costumes and masks they fashion themselves at  the mask-making event in the afternoon. Highlighting the evening this year will be the Mardi Gras Parade, King Cake Ceremony and foot-stomping Louisiana-style Zydeco by Mango Jam.

 If you need a fancier meal, there are many to choose from, including  Olivia’s at the Grey Bonnet Inn (www.greybonnetinn.com) , with candle-lit American cuisine specializing in duck and veal dishes; the Mountain Top Inn, with beautiful views and an award-willing wine cellar; or Zola’s Grille, blending Northern Italian, French bistro and Mediterranean styles.

 Be sure to check the web site for some of the upcoming events, such as the Salomon Oasis, the Collegiate Snowfest and the night rail jams for skiers and snowboarders.

 Happy traveling! 

Photos: The trail map shows the variety in the resort’s trails. Views from the summit and trails are spectacular. At the Wobbly Barn, live entertainment happens nightly.