The new snowstake at the Birch Ridge Inn awaiting snow.

The new snowstake at the Birch Ridge Inn awaiting snow.

After six seasons of service, the time has come to rebuild the snowstake at the Birch Ridge Inn.

The snowstake at the Birch Ridge Inn is a simple affair. A 2 by 4, 2 aluminum yard sticks, some sheet metal screws, a little high gloss white spray paint, and a black sharpie are all the components. Throw in a post hole in the ground in an area of the yard that is not impacted by humans, yet close enough so you can snap a picture with a camera and read the rulers, and you are done. Actually pretty simple.

Over time, however, Mother Nature takes it's toll. The wood mellows to a dark gray. The ruler marks fade into obscurity. Insects enjoy the tasty wood of the 2 by 4. Curious visitors push and pull it in the post hole as they stand with it for pictures.

The project to build the new snowstake was not overly complex. I actually started the task last weekend, fully intending to have it erected in the yard by mid week. Of course a minor ruckus caused by a lady named Sandy blew those plans away like so many leaves on the lawn. The new snowstake was all prepped and painted, sitting patiently in the shed beside the inn waiting for a pleasant day to be planted in it's post hole.

Today, obviously, was the day. Firmly in the grasp of "Twig Season", the Killington region today is covered in a dull gray overcast with temperatures in the chilly low 40's. With the potential for snow to arrive in the area any day now, it was the perfect day to spend some time outside planting the snowstake for the winter season.

Building the new snowstake for the Birch Ridge Inn Click image to stop rotation. Click again to resume rotation.

While I was preparing the new snowstake for the inn, the Killington Resort is busy making snow on the mountain. The resorts current plan is to re-open for skiing and riding on Great Northern and Rime on Monday, November 5th. This is all predicated on being able to make enough snow on the mountain to cover the trails properly. While the weather on the mountain has turned colder, the last few weeks up to and including Hurricane Sandy have been wet in Killington, causing the rivers in the area to flow swiftly (for this time of year), and the relative humidity to elevate. If you follow the science of snow making, you know that right behind warm temperatures, humidity is the enemy of the snow maker.

Snow making operations underway on the upper elevations of the Killington Resort.

Stay tuned as we follow the progress of the resort as it reopens for the 2012-2013 ski season.

It's time to "Think snow" at Killington.