Snowshed Pond surrounded by color. 

Columbus day weekend is here. The ultimate weekend for "Leaf Peepers" across New England. And the Green Mountains of Vermont are ready!

Lower elevations around Killington are presenting some beautiful fall scenes. Forests at the 2000 foot level, like those around the inn and at Snow Shed Pond in todays picture, are displaying the full range of fall hues. The green leaves that remained on the trees after last weekends rain storm have all burst forth in a panoply of color.

Guests taking the K1 Gondola this morning were delighted with the contrast between the fresh blue sky, the high mountain pine forest of Killington peak, and the colorful Killington Basin valley. While twig season is at our doorstep, we have a few more days to enjoy Mother Nature's fall show.

For Columbus Day weekend, it looks like an ocean storm will be traversing New England well to our south. The noon time forecast today for Killington for the weekend was calling for high clouds on Saturday with temperatures in the 50"s. Sunday should see bright sunshine and perhaps a touch warmer. Monday the weather forecasters are calling for more of the same. Although I have not surrendered my shorts yet in favor of blue jeans, if you are visiting Vermont this weekend, bring some layers to deal with the changing temperatures.

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

Pico Mountain enrobed in fall color. 

There are few things in the town of Killington which bring unbridled excitement in many of it's citizens. While I was out and about town (in my shorts no less.. Have to get the body conditioned for cold!), I was stopped several times and asked if I had heard the news... The first couple of times I played dumb. But on the third try, I had to succumb and repeat what I had heard. According to a friend of a friend who was hiking on Killington peak early this morning, precipitation from the sky was falling in a solid state. Yes Virginia, rumor has it that Killington Peak saw it's first hint of snow this morning.

After a busy fall season, with Columbus Day Weekend at hand, most in town are looking forward. Many are planning breaks to warmer climes for a few days or weeks. But everyone is planning to be on the mountain playing in the snow it relatively short order. It won't be this weekend, or even next week. But the calendar is firmly in October. And the resort has been very good about opening for (limited) skiing and riding the last week of October the last several years. Mother Nature will need to lend a hand; and usually she has been accommodating. Watch this space for further details.

Today is quite cool and blustery. Temperatures are barely scraping 50 with a strong gusty breeze. Fall colors along Route 4 towards Rutland are limited to the lower elevations; the upper elevations have been scrubbed clean by recent rains and wind. Twig season is not yet at hand, but by the end of next week the fall colors will basically be done around Killington.

"Leef Peeping" over the Columbus Day Weekend should be fairly robust, with solid color showing on the Route 7 corridor west of Killington. For those who are not looking at the foliage, the Killington Ski Club will be holding their annual Columbus Day Ski Swap Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you are in the market, you will find some great deals on used and new ski equipment.

If ski gear is not your thing, the Chaffee Art Center is holding their 53rd annual Art in the Park celebration in downtown Rutland on Saturday and Sunday. This years festival of everything art in the Green Mountains will see over 80 vendors showcasing their unique handcrafted art. It is one of the signature fall events on the Rutland calendar.

If you are coming to Vermont this weekend, the weather looks like it will warm up slightly. But is is fall after all, so bring some warmer clothes and plan on layers.

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

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.