Twig Season on Killington Peak

Twig Season on Killington Peak

"Twig Season" has arrived at Killington. Over the last several days, the temperatures have started to noticeably drop, the sky has started to turn a dull grey with clouds, and a cold wind has started to blow down the mountain. The leaves on trees in the immediate area are all down, except for a few poplars which are always the last to go. Snow, at least flurries, has been mentioned in the weather forecast for the last few days, although nothing of consequence has fallen from the sky as yet. Basically, "Twig Season" is here!

Just for a quick refresh on the seasons in Vermont. Of course there is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. But Vermont, being a special place, has 2 additional seasons. In the spring, when the snow melts but before the trees and other native plants wake from their winter sleep to suck up ground water, we have the proverbial "Mud Season". Anyone who has driven down a dirt road in the spring in Vermont can instantly recognize this astronomical phenomenon.

On the reverse, when the vibrant fall foliage decides to depart in the fall, but before the first snow fall blankets the area, the mountain country of Vermont descends into "Twig Season". In very simple terms, "Twig Season" is the dull, grey, cold, potentially foreboding period between the beautiful, colorful, sunny days of fall, and the pure, refreshing, white covered landscape created by the first snow storm of the winter season. Twig season usually lasts for 2 to 3 weeks. If you are a glass half empty type, it can be very depressing as it indicates a cold, long, hard winter is coming. On the other hand, if you enjoy being outside in the mountains in the winter, it is a season of optimism, where every snow storm to come dumps feet of champagne powder, where the crackle of a roaring fireplace provides good enough reason to hoist a glass of cheer. Winters coming, I can't wait to go skiing!

I will be taking a couple of days off from blogging this week as we switch from Fall Foliage to Winter. Today's fall foliage picture of the inn is this season's last, as most of the trees are now "twigs". Later in the week, we will be resuming coverage of Killington as it prepares for winter. And we will be bringing back regular pictures of the "Snow Stake" to chronicle the progress of winter in the Killington Region. Until then, hit the ball straight if you are still on the golf course, and tune your ski's and boards to get ready for winter...because it will be here sooner than you think!