Where's Killington? While abundant color is on display on Lower Rams Head, Killington peak is hidden in dense clouds. 

In 10 years living full time at Killington, I can not remember a summer that was so dominated by rumors and innuendo concerning how the Killington and Pico Ski Resorts would be operated the following winter. Of course, when ever a group of residents get together, the conversation always drifts towards the resort; it so dominates life in Killington. But this year has been particularly brutal with the demise of the American Skiing Company and the purchase of the resort by SP Land and Powdr Corporation.

This past Columbus Day weekend, Mary and I had the good fortune to be visited by many of our regular winter restaurant guests who own second homes at Killington. (Columbus Day Weekend is the traditional weekend in Killington for second home owners to visit the area and prepare/open their houses for the winter.) To a person, everyone asked about what rumors we were hearing on the mountain. My response was always the same...For each and every rumor we have heard, there is invariably an equal and opposite rumor. The only way that we will really know how the Killington resort will be operated next winter, because the resort has new owners, will occur when the resort opens for the season. At that time, resort operations will be plainly visible for all to see, dispelling any rumors.

My pithy remarks generally stimulated more conversation (after all one of our businesses is a bar in our Great Room). I did point out that while I can not say how the new owners would run Killington, that I have been impressed with the new president, Chris Nyberg. Mary and I have run into Chris around town several dozen times over the summer and early fall. He has always been very direct and accessible in answering questions. He may not give an answer you would like to hear, but so it goes in the give and take of a resort community.

Very late Thursday evening, I received a note from Chris concerning a very hot topic in town, the operation of the Killington Skye Ship from Route 4, also know as Skye Ship Stage 1. A note from Chris's office was recently released telling people that the Stage 1 would only be operating basically on weekends and during holiday periods. Needless to say, with all of the Ski On, Ski Off properties serviced by Stage 1, this message was received about as well in Killington as a 6 inch rain storm on Christmas eve.

In the note I received, that was also sent to several others, Chris responded to feedback he got on the Skye Ship operating schedule, and other rumors circulating around town. He wrote the following:

With talk of snow flurries at Killington this weekend, the lifetime of current rumors about how the Killington and Pico Resorts will operate this winter should dramatically shorten. Nothing will kill or confirm rumors like several feet of snow on Killington Peak.

I, for one, am hopeful for the coming ski season. In some of my conversations with Mr. Nyberg, we have done a little dance about "knowing how to run a ski resort". I have chided him several times on the topic, some times in jest, and other times very seriously. I still don't "know" how Chris will "run the resort". (I have taken a show me approach.) But I am convinced from my interactions that Chris is very serious about delivering a quality product this coming season while working to inject the resort with new vitality in the long term. It will be an interesting winter.

Let it snow! (after most of the leaves fall off the trees of course....)

Two days in a row with pants on.
Cool weather has forced a hiatus from summer shorts. 

To quote Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (ne Marlon Brando) in the Vietnam movie "Apocalypse Now"....."The horror....."

For two days in a row I have found myself in the morning putting on long pants. My summer shorts are mournfully greeting me in my bureau drawer, waiting for a glimpse of Indian Summer. But alas, over the last couple of days it was not meant to be.

This morning when I left the owners quarters at around 11:30 AM, the temperature outside the inn was a crisp 54 degrees. The day is just gorgeous with crisp fall air and beautiful full sunshine. A great day for leaf peeping in the mountains.

But the temperature drop is just some gentle encouragement about seasons to come. Killington, after all, is a ski resort. And while 54 degrees may seem cool in early October, in a few weeks it will feel like a heat wave.

Let it s.... nah it's to early to say that.

Beautiful fall colors behind Hole 5 on the Killington Resort Golf Course 

The transition of guests is underway at Killington. Weekenders, second home owners, and guests from Philadelphia to Boston up for the long weekend are all in movement this morning heading back home. In their place, visitors from all over the world are descending on Central Vermont to watch the fall season play itself out.

Colors this weekend at Killington were at or near peak. Today has brought some light rain and fog, muting the scene. We will know for sure on the next sunny day if peak color is still to come at Killington, or has it passed.

Outside of Killington, our guests have reported bright colors along Route 100 north toward Stowe. On the other side of the Green Mountains, along Route 7 and the Champlain Valley, the colors are just starting to appear, according to guests driving in the area.

And with the Red Sox winning their playoff spot to advance to the American League Championship, and the Yankees still battling it out to secure a chance to play the Sox... what could be better!

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.