Moving firewood into the Birch Ridge Inn. 

In a sure sign that the seasons are rapidly changing, I hauled the first load of firewood into the inn to feed the fireplace in the Great Room. While it is still a bit too warm to light the fireplace yet, we migh be able to sneak in a fire or 2 over the weekend when temperatures are expected to dip lower.

Today has turned into another nice day in Vermont. Light showers in the early morning hours have given way to partly cloudy skys with puffy fair weather clouds. Temperatures are comfortable in the mid to high 50's. I am still in my shorts, but guests are starting to reach for their sweaters and light jackets.

Peak fall color has started it's normal northeast to southwest shift. Color in the Killington area is recovering, but it is nearing the end. Color on the eastern side of the Green Mountains is also nearing an end, as the forest canopy began it's march from leaves to twigs several weeks ago.

On the western side of the Green's, in the Lake Champlain Valley and the Route 7 corridor, fall colors are coming into their own. Beautiful colors are being reported along the Route 7 corridor from the Lake Champlain Byway near Burlington all the way to the southern end of the state in Bennington. This is a very natural process, as the western slopes of the Green Mountains receive much more sunshine that the eastern slopes. Hence the tree canopy lasts longer.

of course, it is like Mother Nature timed everything just right to align with the Columbus Day Weekend.

Where ever you may be .. keep it in the fairway...And take in some of the fall foliage beauty of Vermont.

Color surrounds the carriageway at the Birch Ridge Inn. 

If you are an aficionado of 60's TV you will understand this line... "Missed it by that much".

The weather forecasters were just a little off today on their forecast. What was supposed to be a rainy wet day turned into a pleasant mostly sunny day in the Green Mountains around Killington. To be sure, when the day started it was wet and windy. So wet in fact that when I arose this morning around 8 to get ready for a 9:30 am tee time, I called the course and cancelled. The 8 am weather forecast that I was watching as I ate my breakfast said that the weather we were having at that time was to last most of the day. By 9:30 am, my scheduled and now cancelled tee time, the rain had subsided and the sun was shining. Never mind some play time... Mary had plenty of things for me to do around the inn. So it goes.....

Foliage around Killington had gotten muted in the last few days. The rain storms that have visited the area, combined with some overnight winds, have taken the early changing leaves off of many of the trees. The remaining leaves on the trees are the ones that have not yet vigorously started to change. The result is that the forests around Killington appear to have a significant amount of lush green in them. This, of course, is only a head fake for a couple of days before the remaining leaves take on their full fall regalia.

Guests meanwhile are enjoying the fall scene in Vermont. They are travelling all about the state taking in the fall colors, visiting Ben and Jerry's, stopping at many local wineries and cheese makers (Crowley Cheese in Mount Holly is a favorite.) It is just a nice time to be in Vermont and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer.

Where ever you may be .. keep it in the fairway...And take in some of the fall foliage beauty of Vermont.

Nice color showing on the lower elevations of Killington. 

Another stunning day in the Green Mountains.

The first touch of an arctic chill has passed over the region the last couple of days. While it is no where near as frigid as temperatures we experience in the winter, the cold air is enough to push "Leaf Peepers" into fleeces to stay warm. I am sure that sweatshirts with the VT and Killington logo's are big sellers today in local souvenir shops.

While the cold air might be helping drive some discretionary retail sales, it also cleansed the atmosphere of residual moisture, leaving the Green Mountains capped in a brilliant blue sky.

Temperatures today are hovering in the low to mid 50's. A cold front is due to move in from the west tomorrow, bringing showers along with it. Once it clears the area on Wednesday morning, temperatures are due to drop again the the upper 40's and low 50's during the day for the remainder of the week.

When you come to Vermont later this week to take in the fall colors, pack with layers for cool temperatures. The colorful fall foliage will warm your spirits to a point.. but then again we can also point you to a couple of nice shops if you want (I mean need) to purchase another layer to keep you warm.

Where ever you may be .. keep it in the fairway...And take in some of the fall foliage beauty of Vermont.

View from the 5th green at the Killington Resort Golf Course 

Yesterday was the day of a Broadway show tune...

The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There'll be sun!

Today we have the result.

While the rains of yesterday did knock down many of the leaves that were in their color change transition, it has freed up the remaining leaves on the trees to begin their state change from summer to fall. Colors throughout the area today are quite brilliant. While twigs are showing on some of the trees, there are still plenty of red, yellow, orange, and green hues in the forest canopy to set a beautiful tableau for those fortunate enough to be travelling through Vermont's Green Mountains.

Guests staying with us last night were reporting nice color along Route 4 to the east towards Woodstock, and along Route 100 south to Ludlow. Route 103 from Ludlow to Route 7 in Wallingford coming back through Rutland is also developing nice color. The western slopes of the Green Mountains are several days behind the eastern slopes in color development, as is normally the case each year.

Overall, color through the Green Mountains will provide plenty of beautiful vista's for "Leaf Peepers" through the next several weeks, and over next weekend's Columbus Day holiday. And then, at least for those of us in Killington, our thoughts will start to turn towards winter snow.

The restaurant at the Birch Ridge Inn is open each night for the next 2 weeks for evening dinner service to celebrate fall. If you are in Killington stop bye.

Where ever you may be .. keep it in the fairway...And take in some of the fall foliage beauty of Vermont.

The 4th green at the Killington Resort Golf Course 

At least for today the early morning moisture has been scrubbed from the atmosphere. Residents and visitors at Killington this morning were greeted by the brilliant color combinations of fall foliage accented with a crystal blue sky.

Colors in the Killington Basin area are nearing peak. Colors to the east in Woodstock and the west in Rutland are coming along, but due to their lower elevations will not peak probably until later next week. Guests have reported brilliant colors to the north of Killington along Route 100 up to the Stowe area. Colors along Route 7 from Middlebury to Rutland are being reported as still developing, but are still quite beautiful in their own right.

This weekend is "Brewfest Weekend" at the Killington Resort. Over 100 craft brewers will be in attendance, sampling their golden nectars (and some dark porters/stouts as well). The tasting session scheduled for Saturday afternoon is reported as being sold out. Tickets are still available for the tasting session scheduled for tonight (Friday).

In addition to the festivities on the mountain, we have also been building a nice inventory of local Vermont brews to serve at the bar in the Great Room at the Birch Ridge Inn. Both Long Trail Limbo and Switchback Ale are on tap. In addition, we have been building a collection of locally brewed beers and hard ciders as part of our by the bottle offerings.

Where ever you may be .. keep it in the fairway...And take in some of the fall foliage beauty of Vermont.

The view from the 10th Tee at Green Mountain National Golf Course 

As it has done for the last several days, early morning today featured a heavy fog/overcast which cast a pall on the Green Mountains. At 9:00 when I teed off at Green Mountain National, the ceiling was barely a couple of hundred feet above the ground. With temperatures in the 50's and a light breeze, the dampness had caused me to surrender my bermuda shorts in favor of long pants and a wind jacket.

Through out the round, the cloud deck rose into the sky, finally breaking around Noon time into a patchwork of white puffy fair weather clouds. The fall colors along the golf course were spectacular, and as long as you kept your ball in play, there was not a lot of difficulty finding the balls through the fallen leaves. It's hard to tell when the last official round of the year will occur in Killington, as the weather this time of year can be unpredictable. But after posting an 87 for today to back up an 82 last week, I would be happy if we got in a few more rounds before the skis make an appearance.

Tonight is "Meet the Artist" night at the Birch Ridge Inn. The Killington Arts Guild will be featuring Susan Wacker-Donle, a photographer and graphic designer with a presentation on techniques for shooting waterfalls and moving waters, which we have in abundance in Vermont.

The presentation will begin around 6PM in the Great Room Lounge of the Birch Ridge Inn. It is free and open to the public with light hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. For more information, or for dinner reservations following Susan's presentation call the Birch Ridge Inn at 802-422-4293.

Where ever you may be .. keep it in the fairway...And take in some of the fall foliage beauty of Vermont.

Upper Thundering Brook : a photograph by Susan R. Wacker-Donle 

You can definitely tell that the seasons are changing in Killington. Each day this week we have started out with a low fog/overcast on the mountain peaks of the area. While it has generally burnt off by mid day, each day it is taking longer and longer to go away -- a sure sign that the atmosphere above Killington is starting to get colder as fall advances towards winter. This type of weather is the hallmark of twig season. When the leaves have fallen from the trees, but snow has not yet covered the ground, we usually have many days with high overcast at Killington. Once things cool down a little more, of course, the atmosphere can no longer support a high fog. The moisture will start precipitating out as light snow. And all will be right with the world in Killington again.

But we have a few more weeks to enjoy the fall colors around Killington. The trees around the inn are continuing to develop deeper color. All across the Killington Basin everything is now engaged in the seasonal shift. Peak color in the area is but days away, as it usually is this time of year. Get out and enjoy it while you can.

Tomorrow evening, Thursday October 2nd (it's October already???) the Birch Ridge Inn will be featuring another "Meet the Artist" night presented by the Killington Arts Guild. The featured artist will be Susan Wacker-Donle, a photographer and graphic designer. She will be presenting her strategies and techniques for shooting waterfalls and moving waters. Susan has worked as a professional Art Director in New York City and Boston for the past 25 years having held creative positions at Elizabeth Arden, L'Oreal, and Proctor and Gamble Gillette. Her gorgeous photography has been published in "Fragrances of the World" by Michael Edwards, exhibited in local shows, and prints are sold locally.

"Meet the Artist" night will occur from 6 to 8PM in the Great Room Lounge of the Birch Ridge Inn. It is free and open to the public with light hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. For more information, or for dinner reservations following Susan's presentation on Thursday, call the Birch Ridge Inn at 802-422-4293.

Where ever you may be .. keep it in the fairway...And take in some of the fall foliage beauty of Vermont.