Beautiful Color on Killington Peak under crisp blue skies. 

Finally, a break in the warm weather. Overnight, a cool front moved through the region from Canada dipping daytime temperatures into the low to mid 60's. For people who love the change in season, and cooler weather...today is your day!

On the mountain, the maple trees have responded to the cold air with bright red colors. It is always hard to say when peak color will occur. However, with the beautiful blue backdrop formed by crystal clear skies, today is as pretty a day as you will find during the fall at Killington.

Our guests who have taken the gondola ride to Killington peak report that they have been rewarded with virtually unlimited visibility, and brilliant fall colors through out the spine of the Green Mountains. Just a gorgeous fall day to be in the mountains in Vermont.

Base of Golden Express Quad at Pico.
(If you look close, you will see a reflection of Mary taking this picture on the glass door of the lift house in the right center of the frame.) 

Unseasonably warm temperatures in the low 80's are greeting Vermont's fall foliage visitors today. But that has not stopped Mother Nature from putting on a display of fall fireworks all along the Green Mountains.

In the Killington area, fall colors are at or nearing peak. Both the Killington and Pico peaks are ablaze with with color. The maple trees in the area are all a muted red. The oak trees have turned a burnt orange. The birch trees, usually bright yellow by now, are a little slow, still showing a mixed yellow and green color.

All in all it is shaping up to be a very nice Columbus Day Weekend in Killington.

Fall gardens alive with color 

A confluence of events is shaping up to make the upcoming Columbus Day weekend very colorful. Temperatures are predicted to be in the Mid 70's with plenty of sun. Fall Foliage color on the trees around Killington is nearing peak. And the lack of a killing frost in the area has many flower gardens still in full bloom with a mix of late summer and fall flowers.

Around the inn, Mary Dahlia's are still vibrant. You can see parts of the Dahlia gardens at the front of the inn in the Fall Foliage picture taken each day. In addition to the Dahlias, we also have a large collection of fall mums and asters spread through all of the gardens.

In addition to leaf peeping this weekend, don't forget all of the Columbus Day Ski Sales in all of the shops through out Killington. The Killington Ski Club will be holding their annual ski swap over the weekend up at the Show Shed Base Lodge. Many ski shops will also be present with great deals on surplus equipment left from last season. Of course, in addition to great deals on last years wares, all of the ski shop owners have been receiving new inventory over the last month to get their shops ready to open. Columbus Day weekend at Killington is usually "the" weekend to score great deals on equipment in preparation for the upcoming ski season.

Pico Peak in full fall regalia 

We often don't think to hard about Rutland Vermont, the closest "Big City" to Killington. Mary and I usually find ourselves in Rutland on errands 2 or 3 times a week. While most supplies are directly delivered to the inn, there are still some things that are better left to selecting by hand. Fruit for breakfast comes to mind.

After living full time in Vermont for over 10 years, the mountains in the area many times just form the background. They almost would become invisible, except for the fact that they are integral to the way of life for the people who live here.

There are 2 times of the year when the mountains really stand out. And both occur near the same time. The first, is right now, when fall colors change the mountain sides from a homogeneous green to a multi-colored canvas. The second, of course, is when the mountains are first graced with snow in the early winter. In both instances, the mountains stand bold and beautiful against the sky calling out to be looked at, and if you have the opportunity, to climb.

Today was one of those days when Pico called out to Mary on her way to Rutland. She usually does not carry a camera, but today she put it in her bag. What resulted is today's picture of Pico peak. Mary reports that Pico looks a few days short of peak color, with a good mix of orange, red, and green. It should probably be just right for a Columbus Day weekend hike.

Killington Peak painted by nature in red and orange 

Fall foliage season is always a busy time at the inn. But I took the opportunity this morning to drive up to the mountain to take in the fall colors. And the mountain is beautiful! Of course, in a few weeks we will describe beautiful as covered in snow... but the bright leaves of the fall are a great substitute.

The mountain is primarily colored this year in reds and oranges. The backside of Pico down to Rams Head was brilliant this morning, bathed in bright sunshine. The same color combination carried right across Snowdon Peak; the slope of which forms the foreground in todays picture. Temperatures are still a little warm, so Killington Peak in the background was slightly muted by some haze, but you could clearly see that the trees bordering the ski slopes were burning with more bright orange and red colors.

With the weather predicted to be warm through the week, with no precipitation or wind on the forecast, the colors should hold at least through the upcoming Columbus Day weekend.

Grow Killington
The Killington Economic Growth Initiative 

For Immediate Release --- KILLINGTON, Vt.
Members of the Killington Economic Growth Initiative are hosting a community benefit golf tournament at the Killington Golf Course on Sunday, October 14, 2007.

The Killington Economic Growth Initiative tournament is the perfect way to close out the golf season at the Killington Golf Course and raise money to create new energy in the town of Killington. Funds from the event will be used as "seed money" to get the community growth initiative off the ground. The Killington Economic Growth Initiative is a group of Killington townspeople and business owners who are exploring ways to create sustainable year-round economic development in the town of Killington.

The first goals of the organization are to be able to fund an events coordinator for the upcoming 50th Anniversary Celebration of Killington Resort, and to hire a business plan consultant to research long term goals for the town and the methods to reach them.

The golf tournament will begin at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start. The fee is $50 per person which includes greens fees, cart and a reception and awards celebration following the event. The format will be "Captain and Crew" with four person teams. Registration forms are available at www.growkillington.com.

Businesses and individuals are encouraged to play in the event and also to offer donations to the tournament and the general cause. Hole sponsorships are offered at $150. Local businesses are asked to donate food, gift certificates, prizes, etc. For donation and hole sponsorship information, contact Call Bill Bauer at Summit Lodge at (802) 422-3535 or Casey Crompton (802) 236-2179.

Special thanks are offered to Killington Resort for the donation of the golf facility for this event. Please join with them, and with the event organizers to kick off the beginning of new vitality in Killington.

Midway down Thundering Brook Falls 

The Killington area is filled with a lot of great places to just walk in the peacefulness of the forests of the Green Mountains. From several hour hikes up to Killington and Pico Peaks, or up to Dears Leap, to day long traverses along the Appalachian or Long Trails, the opportunity to get out and "away" from civilization is all around us.

A couple of days ago, Mary and I took a break from the inn and hiked around "Thundering Brook Falls". Thundering Brook Falls is ostensibly the tallest waterfall in Vermont. In the spring time, or during wet summers, the falls are aptly named. While this year has been a little dryer than most, water was still coming over the falls at a pretty good pace.

Mary and I started our hike down from the top of the falls. Most people start their climb from the bottom, where the Green Mountain Club has built a new wheelchair-accessible boardwalk. Nearly 1,000 feet long, it provides a nice view of the falls while crossing over the Ottauquechee River flood plain.

All in all, a very nice way to spend a couple of hours in Killington.