Fall flowers taking over the gardens
around the Birch Ridge Inn.
Snow stake in the background ready for winter. 

Today is one of those days that make fall a special time in Vermont.

Temperatures are in the mid 50's with a high cloud cover. Cool for most visitors, but I worked up a little perspiration on our 2 mile walk through the mountains this morning. Fall colors at Killington are just glorious. Almost all of the trees, with the possible exception of the poplars, are now showing lots of color. Guests at the inn are just beaming when they come back from their daily jaunts through the countryside.

But, like all good things, it will soon come to an end. Snow flakes are starting to appear randomly around town. Inn guests who went up to the top of Killington Peak this morning reported cold and windy conditions complementing the stunning views of the mountains. And of course, our snow stake is standing vigilant in the back of the inn, ready to measure the snow that will surely come in the next few weeks.

Change can be a good thing. And as summer changes to fall changes to winter in Killington, Mother Nature puts on quite a show.

Crowd gathers in Great Room at Birch Ridge Inn to watch VP debate. 

With fall season in full swing, I would be remiss in writing about Killington if my only commentaries were about leaves on the trees. Peak foliage in the Killington Basin area is upon us. If you look at the fall foliage pictures of the inn, you will notice that there has been a marked color transition over the last week in the trees behind the inn. Some, in fact, have already shed their leaves.

But every 4 years, the fall season at Killington mixes with the presidential election cycle. And interesting things can happen.

I have been telling inn guests and friends for weeks that with the possible exception of joining the military, discussing politics in bars in New England is one of the most patriotic things people can do. It may seem a little shallow on the surface, but if you remember your United States history, you will understand that it was political discussions in bars in and around Boston which resulted in the American Revolution and the founding of the United States. To this day, that grand tradition continues.

So, it was with just a little curiosity, that around 5:00 PM last night we started to receive calls from friends in the area asking if our bar would be open. People wanted to get together and watch the Vice Presidential debates. Since we had planned on watching them already, our response was the more the merrier. I won't go into the particulars of how the crowd reacted to Biden and Palen (that is for conversation at the bar), but it is clear that people are genuinely interested in the outcome of the coming election and feel it is time to start talking again about the future of our great nation. Of course, the presidential debate next Tuesday will also be on the TV in the great room if you are so inclined.

Politics aside, the Killington Resort has a couple of events this weekend worth noting. The Killington Brewfest returns for it's 13th outing. The brewfest takes place Saturday afternoon at the Snowshed Lodge. Also at the resort this weekend, ABC's Good Morning America will be broadcasting live from Killington Peak on Sunday. The resort is offering free passage on the K1 Gondola to the peak on Sunday morning from 6:00 AM to 9:30 AM for anyone who would like to go to the peak and be part of the audience for the show. The GMA segment from Killington Peak will run from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. A continental breakfast will also be provided.

Not a bad line up for the weekend at Killington over all....colorful leaves, New England traditions, quaffing suds and a TV show...Be here if you can!

Fall Foliage colorfully silhouettes bridge across Snow Shed pond at Killington. 

Peak fall foliage colors are near at Killington. While it is impossible to say exactly when it will occur (it's one of those things you know when you see it!) there is no doubt that the base of the mountain is showing full color. Continued cloudy and cool weather over the next couple of days will push the few remaining green trees to begin the fall transition. It should be a very colorful first weekend in October at Killington.

Mary and her "Baby" on it's Swan Song for 2008. 

Against a brilliant backdrop of fall color, Mary took her "Baby" for one last spin this morning, before putting it away for the winter. If the changing colors on the leaves all around the inn were not reminder enough, the annual trek of Mary's 1973 Ford Mustang to it's winter garage is surely a sign that summer has come to a close.

Folliage colors in the higher elevations on the eastern slope of the Green Mountains (ie Killington and Route 100 North) are coming out more each day. Mary's Mustang is garaged for the winter north of Brandon VT on Route 7 on the western side of the mountains. Colors along Route 7 north of Rutland to just south of Middlebury VT were not nearly as developed as in the Killington area.

Based upon what we saw this morning, fall foliage colors in central Vermont appear to be developing this year along the traditional fashion. Visitors to the area should be able to find colorful fall foliage drives for 3 or 4 more weeks in central Vermont, prior to the onset of twig season in the region.

K1 Base Lodge at Killington decked out in fall color.
Click for larger image 

Killington dodged a bullet with Hurricane Kyle sliding off to our east over the gulf of Maine. While weather in the area is damp as tropical moisture has crept into the area, overall it has been respectable weekend. The heavy rains which were initially forecasted departed the area on Friday. In their place we have had occasional very light showers with some low clouds/fog as a companion.

The fall foliage colors around town are great. The lack of sunshine over the last few days has accelerated the color shift. Mary and I went for a "Fall Foliage Drive" today around town. The base of Killington is absolutely on fire with color, as you can see from the panorama I chose for today's picture. Unfortunately, the top of the mountain is covered in a dense low cloud, so it is hard to tell what the rest of the scene looks like. However, we have not had very much wind the last couple of days, so I would guess the leaves on the trees at higher elevations are still intact.

Bill with his group (Mike, Ann and Tom) at the KMS golf tournament on Friday (Click to enlarge.)

Since mid week, we have had a very nice group of people stay with us who participated in the Killington Mountain School Golf Tournament this past Friday. The Killington Mountain School is a high school program to train elite skiers and riders who may potentially choose competitive snow sports as their vocation. While many students attend KMS with their parents paying tuition, many students also receive financial assistance to help offset some of the costs. This year marked the 21st year that KMS has held a fund raising golf tournament. 34 groups teed off Friday morning in a driving rain storm to support the efforts of the mountain school. Our group was -1, which give the conditions, was pretty respectable, but as they say, out of the money...so it goes.

Howie walking to the white tees on the 16th hole at Green Mountain National 

I had the good fortune to play golf yesterday at Green Mountain National Golf Course with some good friends. I have not played in a couple of weeks...preparing the inn for fall foliage guests does take some time after all. So it was just nice to be able to get out and "chase the little white ball".

Fall colors in this part of the Green Mountains are now coming into their own. Everywhere on the golf course the trees in the surrounding mountains painted an every changing picture. The local maple trees are displaying a deep, crimson, red hue. When combined with the burnt orange tones that the oak trees are beginning to reveal, the whole area is erupting with a warm glow, helping to salve the cool temperatures we are starting to experience as fall descends upon Killington.

Golf at Green Mountain was just great. We have a few more weeks (about 5) left in the golf season at Killington. Hopefully I have several more rounds left this year before putting the clubs away for the season.

Mary on Sky Peak with Killington Peak in background. 

High clouds have settled in over Killington this afternoon, displacing the crisp blue sky's that the area has enjoyed the last few days. The cold temperatures of the last few nights have started to accentuate the fall colors. Several trees around the inn, which had been rather muted last week, are not popping bright red. It should be a great show to watch as it develops over the next 20 days or so.