The Birch Ridge Inn 2013 Christmas Tree

The Birch Ridge Inn 2013 Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree Monday 2013 at the Birch Ridge Inn had a lot of twists and turns this year. It even extend out 2 days.

It started with some anxiety. The Christmas Tree farm in West Rutland that we had been using for years was no longer operating. So Mary scrambled during late October to scout out locations where we might find a proper tree for the inn, and our friends. She found one just south of Ludlow VT off of Route 100. But there was a catch..(there is always a catch isn't there)

We only had access to the tree farm for 1 afternoon.. Saturday November 17th.

So on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Mary, myself, and Peter Smith, the owner of the Forerunner Ski Shop, headed for a road trip to harvest 3 trees. We were among for 12 footers. But since we had never used this tree lot before, all bets were off.

By the end of the afternoon, after walking the property for over 2 hours, we had succeeded. After carefully wrapping the tree in a canvas tarp, we struck off back to Killington for what was, thankfully, and uneventful trip. However, on the way, we did formulate a new strategy for Christmas Tree Monday.. We would get the gang together, and go skiing at Killington instead of cutting down trees. The tradition of lunch at Sushi Yoshi would continue, as would the raising of the tree. It was oh so civilized.

This year the tree at Birch Ridge is the White Tree. It is decorated with crystal and silver ornaments, white lights, and ribbons. Unlike last years tree, there is no tinsel.. however a strand did sneak on the tree from last year somehow. It seems it was on the grass in the yard in front of the inn. The new tree picked it up some how as we were bringing it into the inn.

After some editing, I posted this years Christmas Tree video on Youtube. You can click on the player below to open up a window to play the video. It is quite long, at 4 minutes, as we covered 2 days.

Special thanks for helping us hunt down this years tree goes to Peter Smith. He was available at very short notice to trek south to cut down the tree. Also thanks also go out to Christmas Tree participants Ed, aka Froggie, and Howie for enjoying some skiing, some Chinese food, and for help raising the tree.

As for the skiing.. The Killington Resort is doing a great job blanketing the resort in a man-made blizzard. Snow making has been going full tilt to get the resort ready for the Christmas holidays. Expect Lower Superstar and Needles Eye/Cruise Control to open any day now.

Where ever you may be, aim your snow dance at Killington. Let it snow!