Birch Ridge Inn, Killington VT, draped in snow to greet the New Year 

Happy New Year from Killington and Hello 2008!

Mary and I, and the staff of the Birch Ridge Inn, wish you all a very happy new year. We have had the pleasure of thousands of people accepting our invitation to visit our inn/home in Killington over 2007. We thank you for your ongoing support, and look forward to seeing many of you in the coming year when you visit Vermont's Green Mountains, and Killington.

I have not had a chance to do any postings over the last couple of days. The need for a couple of hours sleep interspersed with duties at the inn over the New Years holiday saw my time available to write drop down to zero (along with the time I had available to get out and go skiing). Since my last commentary, we had one 8 inch snow storm (all powder... and I missed it). Inn guests who enjoy skiing on fresh snow were raving. Of course, their legs were also screaming at them, as I am sure mine will be later this week when I get a chance to visit the mountain again.

This afternoon, Killington is once again experiencing a very heavy snow storm. The snow gods must be looking down on us and smiling, because tomorrow will definitely be a powder day. Happy New Year!

Let it snow!

Skiers and riders on Superstar Friday 12/28 

The last couple of days at Killington have seen every kind of weather imaginable, other than a tropical heat wave. We have had sun (right now as I write this), snow, sleet, ice, freezing r@*n...you name it, it has fallen from the sky. The good news is that on balance, snow surface conditions are holding up as the mix has had little impact on total accumulations on the ground. We started the holiday week with 12 inches of snow on the ground at the inn. Today we sit at 13 and 1/2 inches.

Let it snow!

Heavy snow falling at the Birch Ridge Inn at Killington 

Large numbers of guests arrived in Killington last evening for their winter holiday break. This morning, many of them ventured out on the mountain to enjoy the best skiing and riding conditions Killington has seen during a Christmas week in several years.

Experienced Killington visitors are reporting light to moderate crowds. With nearly 100% of available terrain open, skiers and riders are able to spread out all across the 7 mountains at Killington and Pico. New visitors to Killington are reporting heavier crowds, as they are tending to cluster in the Snowshed, Rams Head and K1 gondola areas.

Heavy snow began falling at Killington just before Noon. Skiers and Riders were reporting firm surfaces early this morning which got progressively softer as the new snow mixed into the groomed surface. Many of our guests left the mountain around 2 PM as the visibility in blowing and drifting snow turned poor. Heavy snow is currently falling at the inn. About 3 inches of new accumulation is expected overnight.

Let it snow!

"Christmas Floral Arrangement", a gift from friends 

Christmas comes but once a year,
bringing children hope, and adults good cheer.
Whether a brand new toy or a lump of coal;
Christmas was meant to save our souls;
by the birth of a baby so tender and pure;
with a star in the sky so all would be sure.

Now the day for unwrapping gifts is done;
there's ski hills to play on in the bright winter sun;
with holiday vacationers from now to the New Year!

Let it snow!

"Christmas Creatures" 

Where ever you may be today, Mary and I, and our staff at the Birch Ridge Inn in Killington, wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Let it snow!

Killington Peak on Christmas Eve 

The nasty storm which came through the area yesterday with high winds and r@*n showers of varying intensity is clearing the area today. Temperatures overnight dropped from the mid 40's to the upper 20's. The drop appeared to be slow enough that much of the accumulated water in the snow pack had an opportunity to drain. Snowbanks around the inn, while "crisp" on the outside, are still too soft to stand on without sinking to your knees.

On the mountain, we were told by the Killington resort that their groomers were dispatched early this morning to prepare the mountain to greet holiday visitors. Light snow is currently falling across the area. (Negligible accumulations are expected.) Snow making operations are currently visible on the upper sections of the mountain including Rime and Skye Lark. With nice weather forecasted for Killington for the next several days, Holiday visitors should find the resort in great shape for their holiday ski trips.

Let it snow!

Pushing knee deep snow off the roof at the Birch Ridge Inn at Killington 

I look at the snow stake at the inn almost every day. It is an interesting marker of the amount of natural snow on the ground around the inn. For the last week, we have had well over a foot on the ground. Now a foot seems like a small number, until you have to go out and work in it as I did yesterday afternoon.

With the forecast calling for r@*n showers today, I thought it would be wise to remove some of the snow from some of the inn's roofs. I have all of the tools including a 24 foot snow rake for the steep sections, and a wide pusher shovel for the flat sections. I did not think anything of it, after all, there was only 18 inches of snow on the ground. As you can see from the picture, that 18 inches translated into knee deep snow on the flat roof. In the back of the inn, I was wading around in waist deep snow drifts in places. There is a lot of snow on the ground in Killington. Even with some showers today, Killington is going to have a very white Christmas.

Let it snow!