Christmas Trees being loaded into a friends pickup truck 

It was supposed to be Christmas Tree Monday but Mother Nature intervened. So it turned into Christmas Tree Tuesday!

Yesterday, Mary and I, with a group of friends, traveled to Danby Vermont to harvest Christmas Trees. All told, we fresh cut 5 trees at the Smokey House Center in Danby Vermont. 3 of the trees, including the one for the inn, stood almost 20 feet tall at the farm. The others were a demure 8 feet.

The Smokey House Center in Danby is an interesting organization. It is designed as a 5000 acre outdoor classroom to teach farming, forestry and ecological research to middle and high school students. Farm products are raised under the auspices of the Smokey House Youthwork Program... a hands-on, work based learning program for area teenagers. Year-round, Smokey House teaches farming and forestry activities. In the process, they grow vegetables, blueberries, and Christmas trees, make charcoal and maple syrup, raise livestock and market these products to the community.

The Christmas Tree we cut down for the inn trimmed out at just under 14 feet when we raised it in the Great Room at the inn. Mary will be working all this week to decorate it. This years decor will be traditional featuring multicolored lights and heirloom ornaments.

The Christmas Tree at the Birch Ridge Inn will be on display in the inn's Great Room through the early New Year.....let it snow!

Killington Peak waiting the approaching storm 

The first holiday weekend of the 08/09 ski season is winding down at Killington. And by all indications, it looks like the season is off to a good start.

Thanksgiving weekend is the most fickle of the holidays during the ski year. Many years the mountains are green. Some years skiers and riders are treated to a "ribbon" of a ski trail when Mother Nature challenges the industry. This year, however, the Killington Resort has had several weeks of great snow making weather, combined with a healthy dose of natural snow, resulting in excellent holiday ski conditions. And by several indications, the skiing public responded.

Killington is always a paradox at Thanksgiving. It is never "full" in the true sense of the word. The hard reality is that many skiers and riders in the Northeast have other obligations this weekend which prevent them from visiting their favorite resort. On the other hand, there are still many who look at Thanksgiving as their first opportunity to hit the slopes. The wild card in the mix is the about of skiable terrain that is open to support those skiers and riders who make the Thanksgiving pilgrimage to the mountains.

This year, the Killington Resort had about a third (plus or minus) of their skiable terrain open this weekend. Even with the K1 parking lot full, and the Ramshead, Vale and Snowshed parking lots 1/2 full, the amount of open terrain was able to spread skiers and riders out. The net of it all left our inn and restaurant guests very happy about the on mountain conditions. And when you run a business in a ski resort town, that's a wonderful thing!

As guests leave the area this afternoon, the mountain once again is waiting for an approaching storm. The National Weather Service indicates that we may be in for a nasty 36 hours with a combination of snow, sleet and freezing r@!n. To which I can only add... Let it snow!

Killington Vermont with snow flurries on the horizon 

Black Friday... it is an interesting moniker... Even though we have been skiing and riding for several weeks, most people still look at today as the start of the winter season. Of course you could be shopping!

We have a nice group of people at the inn this weekend. Some have escaped the shopping mania that seems to capture everyone's imagination this time of year. Others came to Killington for their first on mountain experience of the season. In both cases, the resort is ready, running 12 lifts today to accommodate skiers and riders of all levels.

Throw in some cool temperatures, a few snow flurries..and turkey sandwich for lunch...Not a bad Black Friday indeed. Let it snow!

Finishing up hanging lights outside the Birch Ridge Inn 

Yesterdays snow storm unfortunately ended as a cold NCP before clearing the area early this morning. Total snow accumulation at the snow stake, after compression and settling is 3 inches, bring the stake up to 6 1/4 inches. It's hard to fathom as the ground has been white for a few days, by 6 inches of snow on the ground is actually quite good going into the Thanksgivin Holiday

Today was a clean up day around the inn to get ready for Thanksgiving. In addition to cleaning up outside after the snow storm, I finished hanging the outside lights around the inn. We had a light service come to the inn a few weeks ago to hang lights on the outside of the big A Frames in front of the inn. Mary and I take care of all of the other exterior lighting (as we don't need a cherry picker to reach it!). Todays task was very simple....drape a small pine tree on the Killington Road with Christmas lights, and finish putting lights on the railing on the front porch. Temperatures were about freezing, so it was not a bad day to work outside....so it goes.

Where ever you may be this holday weekend, enjoy....be happy...give thanks...and think snow!

Snowstake at the Birch Ridge Inn, Killington 

A classic early winter storm is sweeping over the Killington Region. The mountainous areas of Killington, including the Killington Road and the Birch Ridge Inn, are receiving heavy snow. Low lying areas in Rutland County are getting heavy NCP.

Snow started in Killington in the very early morning hours. As of 11:30 AM this morning, 4 inches of heavy snow had already fallen at the snow stake, adding to the 3 inches that were being recorded yesterday. Snow accumulation rates around the inn are approaching an inch an hour. As the inn is at approximately 1850 feet, I would guess that snow accumulations are slightly higher on the mountain with higher elevation. (Killington peak is at 4241 feet)

Temperatures at the inn are just at the freezing point. The snow that is falling is heavy with high moisture content, but it is all snow. There does not appear to be any NCP mixed into it around the inn. Assuming it stays snow in the mountain, it should set up the resort nicely for skiing and riding over the Thanksgiving holiday.......let it snow!

Snow making operations on Superstar seen from Snowdon Quad 

Killington is continuing to aggressively make snow to expand terrain as we enter Thanksgiving week.

Today on the mountain, conditions were generally soft packed powder. Most of the surface is man made, but Mother Nature has been cooperating with snow flurries overnight. On the mountain, it is hard to believe it is only November.

Rime, Reason, (Upper) East Fall, and Great Northern sustained moderate weekend crowds quite well. These trails were all groomed overnight. All are covered with considerable base depths of man made snow. Highline was groomed overnight as well. The surface was much firmer than the North Ridge area, but quite skiable.

I am torn on the run of the day between Skylark and Superstar. Skylark was groomed soft and sweet to the High Road cut off to Lower Bittersweet. Mary and I did this a couple of times. But each time up the Superstar chair, I was eying upper Superstar. Snow guns were pumping out snow, but there were a lot of obvious lines down the trail that you could see from the lift. When Mary called it a day, I gave it a try.

Snow guns have been operating for days on the Superstar Upper Headwall and along middle Superstar. Large whales had formed, as they trail has not been groomed out. The whales formed huge mounds in the middle of the trail. I had a great time skiing up and down them untill I got to the High Road cutoff. The last whale dropped off like a cliff. The good news is I saw it in time so I could make a couple of turns to get around it. Otherwise, it would have been some pretty big air, which would not have been pretty this early in the season. For people who like skiing in the snow, Superstar was it... For eveyone else, you could not beat Skylark today.

Killington is continuing to aggressively expand terrain. Ropes were dropped today on East Fall (yes.. the real East Fall not the renamed East Glade) Snowmaking was continuing all along it and on the run out back to the K1 Base Lodge. Snow making was also taking place on Upper and Middle Bittersweet. When we left around noon, Upper and Middle Bittersweet were not open to skiers and riders. But, I would guess it is only a matter of time.

In the mean time, all of town is abuzz about the coming storm. Weather forecasts in the area are all over the place, as it appears that the storm will be NCP (non-crystaline precipitation...we never mention the r word during ski season) in the Rutland area. The big unknown is the temperatures in the mountains. Local forecasts call for temps to be hanging right around freezing. We will know soon. The weather forecast for the rest of the week is calling for constant snow flurries and snow showers, after the main front passes Tuesday.

Given the amount of snow the Resort has made, and the number of trails they have covered, no matter what happens in the next 36 hours, Killington will go into the Thanksgiving Holidays with more terrain open in a long time. To put it in perspective, today was my 6th day on ski's in November. Since we moved to Killington full time 12 years ago, I don't think I have ever skied 6 days in any previous November. And the snow guns are still making snow as I write this.......let it snow!

Highline at Killington open today! 

If you like skiing or riding, it's time!

Very cold overnight temperatures, and consistent daytime temperatures in the 20's have allowed the Killington Resort to turn on their snowmaking system full bore this week. The resort is set to go into the weekend before the Thanksgiving holiday period with more open terrain than they have historically opened in years. All without a significant early season snow storm.

Snowmaking operations are simultaneously continuing on Killington Peak, Snowdon Peak, Rams Head, and on Sky Peak. Today the resort opened new terrain including Highline, Upper Bunny Buster, and Lower Chute. The Snowdon Quad was operating, as well as the Poma on Bunny Buster. This weekend will see Rams Head and the Superstar quads added to the list, bringing the lift count to 6 (not including Magic Carpets on Rams Head). In a break from last years policy, the resort has announced that for this coming weekend that they will "have terrain open for all ability levels"... not just for advanced intermediates and experts.

If you like skiing or riding, it's time!

Bumps on Mousetrap. (Click to enlarge.)

Today's conditions ranged from soft packed powder or soft bumps to snow gun whales. Rime, Reason, and Upper East Fall in the North Ridge area have softened up considerably since Wednesday. Clearly the Killington groomers have been out working that area. And it clearly shows.

For my first run of the day, I did Highline. When I got to the mountain at 9:00, I noticed a couple of ski patrollers coming down it. When I got to the peak, I immediately headed there. Obviously a few other souls had figured it out before me, but it was nice just the same. Highline was covered in large mounds of snow left over from snow making. It had not been groomed out. The majority of the snow was soft with minimal crust, a testament to the cold temperatures on the mountain the last few days. Overall, it was a nice early work out in deep snow. I wish my legs were in better shape, but it is early season after all.

After Highline, I did a dozen or so loops through the North Ridge area, followed by a run down Mousetrap. When I got to the bottom or Mousetrap, I had been expecting to call it a day (I still work afterall). But I noticed the rope was down on Lower Chute and the Snowdon Quad was running. Lower Chute was groomed very nicely. It was an easy cruise down to the lift.

Snow making at Rams Head on Caper. (Click to enlarge.)

Riding up the Snowdon Quad, the full impact of Killington's snowmaking system was visible. To my left, the sun was shining over Sky Peak. Snow Guns were pouring out snow on Skye Lark from top to bottom, and Lower Bittersweet. To my right, the roar of snow guns was clearly audible making snow on Rams Head down Caper. Behind me, snow guns were making snow on Lower Great Northern (previously called Vail) for the return loop to the Rams Head quad. And all around Snowdon, snow guns were making snow at strategic locations.

When you live at a ski resort, the beginning of the ski season can be "interesting". Sometimes Mother Nature gives you a hit with an early season dump. Other times, the fickle fates of Fall in New England prolongs indian summer, resulting in very little mountain terrain to play on. But today, riding up Snowdon (a normally boring ride on a slow quad), it was exciting to see the Killington Resort taking full advantage of the largest snowmaking system in the industry. If the weather stays favorable, Killington is going to get really interesting in the next few weeks.

(Click to enlarge.)

Yesterday I did not have an opportunity to go skiing or post a blog. Mary and I went of on a search for a Christmas tree for the inn for this season. The Monday after Thanksgiving is traditionally "Christmas Tree Monday" at the inn. I head off with a bunch of friends into the woods somewhere and cut the Inn's tree for the Christmas Season. Mary and I found and tagged this years tree on a farm in Danby Vermont, about 40 miles from Killington. So, unless we get a multi-foot snow storm (the tree is about 3/4's of a mile from the road), we should be all set to make this years Christmas Tree Monday a success......let it snow!