Killington area taking on a golden hue 

As the flaming red maple trees fade away, birch, oak and poplar trees around Killington are rising to the challenge and bathing the area in a golden glow.

Traffic exiting the Killington area this afternoon is heavy as Columbus Day visitors head home. Our guests were all ecstatic with the show Mother Nature put on this weekend. Great fall colors in the Green Mountains around Killington combined with warm, sunny, days had the guests all buzzing this morning as they prepared to head home or to their next destination.

Winter is, of course, just around the corner. But we still have a colorful week or 2 left at Killington before twig season sets in. Great for one final round (or 2) of golf for the season at Killington before the snow start's to fly. So it goes.

Crowds flocked for fall foliage ride on K1 to top of Killington Peak 

Visitors to Killington this weekend were greeted with some of the nicest fall foliage viewing weather in recent memory. After a mild frost in the middle of last week, Indian Summer has settled over the region. Temperatures at mid day today were in the high 60's with full sunshine under a near cloudless sky.

Fall foliage colors are still holding up nicely in the immediate Killington area. The Killington basin is past peak. Most of the maple trees which were ablaze with red last week are starting to shed their leaves. Native oak trees have started to put on their burnt orange coat. The poplar trees are still tending to be green with some yellow tones coming through.

Guests have reported that color up close on the hiking trails around Killington is still quite spectacular. Many of our guests have hiked on Killington Peak this weekend to take in the views of the surrounding countryside. They were rewarded with mild temperatures and a beautiful clear sky.

Over the next week, Mary and I will begin turning our attention to preparing for winter. Ski season is just around the corner...we hope!

Mary being fitted for new ski boots by Ray at Surefoot 

Cloud free skies and warm temperatures (can you say Indian Summer) are greeting travelers headed towards the Green Mountains and Killington today for the Columbus Day weekend.

Columbus Day weekend leaf peepers will be greeted with some of the nicest fall colors in years through out the mountains. Veteran Killington skiers and riders will find all of the local ski and board shops open for business with great deals on equipment for the coming season. The annual Killington Ski Club Ski Swap is on tap at the Snowshed Base Lodge this weekend. This is always a prime weekend to shop for ski equipment, and this year will be no exception.

Mary did her part in helping to keep the local economy going, and to get ready for skiing in a month. Yesterday I took her down to the local Surefoot store for a new pair of ski boots. (The pair Mary has been skiing are about 12 years old...they did not owe her anything...thats for sure...) Surefoot Proprietor Ray Rice outfitted Mary with new boots and custom foot beds. She is now good to go for her first runs of the season which will hopefully take place in 4 to 6 weeks.

It should be a nice weekend to visit Killington. If you get a chance to head this way, stop bye and say hello!

Are they leaf peepers? 

Bright sunshine is highlighting fall foliage in the Killington area today. Yesterdays unpredictable weather has given way to a beautiful fall day in the mountains.

Inn guests are reporting spectacular foliage on their hikes to Killington peak, and their rounds of golf at Green Mountain National and the Killington Resort golf courses. Guests have reported beautiful foliage showing along Route 100 north of Killington. Strong color is showing off Route 73 at the Brandon Gap between Routes 100 and 7. Further north, excellent color is also on display at the Middlebury Gap on Route 125, although the road surface has been reported to be in terrible shape due erosion caused by spring runoff and torrential summer rains.

Nice weather is predicted for the next few days. Per Mother Nature.... "the show must go on!"

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.