Upper Thundering Brook : a photograph by Susan R. Wacker-Donle 

You can definitely tell that the seasons are changing in Killington. Each day this week we have started out with a low fog/overcast on the mountain peaks of the area. While it has generally burnt off by mid day, each day it is taking longer and longer to go away -- a sure sign that the atmosphere above Killington is starting to get colder as fall advances towards winter. This type of weather is the hallmark of twig season. When the leaves have fallen from the trees, but snow has not yet covered the ground, we usually have many days with high overcast at Killington. Once things cool down a little more, of course, the atmosphere can no longer support a high fog. The moisture will start precipitating out as light snow. And all will be right with the world in Killington again.

But we have a few more weeks to enjoy the fall colors around Killington. The trees around the inn are continuing to develop deeper color. All across the Killington Basin everything is now engaged in the seasonal shift. Peak color in the area is but days away, as it usually is this time of year. Get out and enjoy it while you can.

Tomorrow evening, Thursday October 2nd (it's October already???) the Birch Ridge Inn will be featuring another "Meet the Artist" night presented by the Killington Arts Guild. The featured artist will be Susan Wacker-Donle, a photographer and graphic designer. She will be presenting her strategies and techniques for shooting waterfalls and moving waters. Susan has worked as a professional Art Director in New York City and Boston for the past 25 years having held creative positions at Elizabeth Arden, L'Oreal, and Proctor and Gamble Gillette. Her gorgeous photography has been published in "Fragrances of the World" by Michael Edwards, exhibited in local shows, and prints are sold locally.

"Meet the Artist" night will occur from 6 to 8PM in the Great Room Lounge of the Birch Ridge Inn. It is free and open to the public with light hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. For more information, or for dinner reservations following Susan's presentation on Thursday, call the Birch Ridge Inn at 802-422-4293.

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

Killington Peak with high cloud cover. 

Once again this morning saw the mountains surrounding Killington covered in a thick fog like overcast. But Mother Nature has a way of dealing with this situation. Since I took the pictures earlier this morning that I have posted on todays blog, the sun has worked it's magic and evaporated the low hanging fog. In it's place we now have a azure blue sky interspersed with fair weather clouds. Combined with temperatures in the mid 60's, it has turned into a very nice day to travel about Vermont's Green Mountains.

The base of Killington is now completely enrobed in a redish orange coat. While Killington Peak always stays green due to high mountain pine trees, the base with it's collection of deciduous trees always puts on a good show of fall colors. The Gondola ride up to the top of Killington Peak is showing stunning colors as it traverses through the low forest. On the upper parts of the trip, the Killington Basin, Roaring Brook Valley, and the surrounding lesser peaks of the Green Mountains are all in view with the lifting of morning fog.

Mary and I have a little secret we tell our guests who plan on riding the Killington Gondola in the fall. If they plan on seeing fall colors, when they get to the K1 Base Lodge look up. If they can see the peak (ie: it is not covered by clouds), then the ride to the peak should be quite beautiful. If the peak is cloud covered, then they have to make a decision. If the plan was to experience the Gondola ride and perhaps catch lunch at the restaurant at the peak, then go of it. Otherwise, come back at another time to take in the scenery.

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

Looking across the Roaring Brook towards the inn with Killington in the background. 

A thick overcast is covering the Green Mountains around Killington today, muting foliage colors in the process. Warm temperatures are still in place for today with temperatures projected to get cooler through the rest of the week. It should be a good week for fall foliage viewing through out the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Colors in Killington are continuing to develop. Colors in many trees have started their descent from the very tree tops to the full tree proper. Most maple trees are fully engaged in the process of turning red. Birch trees in front of the inn have finally started to turn yellow as well. Green tints throughout the forest have started to give way as we head towards peak color in the Killington Basin area in the next week or so.

Guests visiting the Woodstock area have reported vibrant colors around the Woodstock Green and on Mount Tom. Guests are also reporting nice color along Route 100 North along the way to visit the Ben and Jerry's factory in Waterbury Vermont.

Guests visiting to the south of Killington along Route 100 South are also reporting nice color. Color has developed nicely in Weston by the Vermont Country Store. Guests also reported nice color in Ludlow during a zip line ride at Okemo.

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

Beaver Pond, Route 4, Mendon ablaze with color. 

With temperatures peaking in the upper 70's today across the Green Mountains, it was a perfect day for "Leaf Peeping"

Fall colors are in abundance around the Killington region and getting better every day. While significant green tones exist through out the forest, most trees are now actively engaged in the process of preparing for the coming winter. The vibrancy of the colors is building each day as the chlorophyll of summer, so critical for photosynthesis in trees, fades away.

I drove down to Rutland today for some quick shopping. Rutland is about 14 miles west of Killington on Route 4. Along Route 4, the colors are fantastic. Todays picture, from Beaver Pond in Mendon less than a mile from the border with Killington, stands testament to the color changes that are taking place all around us in the mountains.

Weather this week in Killington looks like it will be quite nice, with nary a frost called for throughout the week. With gardens in bloom all over the region, and fall foliage colors in full display, it is a breathtakingly beautiful time to visit Killington. (Unless your are a total ski fanatic and the only time Killington is beautiful is when it is covered in feet of snow.)

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

Colors becoming vibrant in the tree canopy around the Birch Ridge Inn. 

Summer like temperatures with a bright clear blue sky have overtaken the Killington region. "Leaf Peepers" are enjoying beautiful vista"s across the Green Mountains while staying comfortably warm throughout the process.

Temperatures at the inn this morning were warm enough for Mary to revisit her summer shorts prior to going on our neighborhood walk. Several times a week we take a walk of about 2 miles, looping around side streets in the Roaring Brook valley of the Killington Basin area. Foliage color along the walk is becoming more pronounced each day as the fall season progresses.

Color on Killington Peak looked well developed during our walk. Closer examination reveals that most of the color is still residing in the upper leaf canopy of the forest, with significant green foliage still present at lower levels of the trees. A good example of this is a look at an oblique angle at the inn. Color development is pretty clear on the upper reaches of most trees surrounding the inn. However, closer to the ground, most of the leaves on the trees have just started to make the transition. Bottom line, if you are not able to travel to Vermont to see the colors this weekend, we still have several weeks where good color should be on display.

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

Killington Peak draped in a mantle of fall colors. 

The high overcast and cool temperatures of yesterday have given way to blue skies dotted with fair weather clouds with a touch of heat. Temperatures today in Killington are climbing into the low 70's with even warmer temperatures predicted for this coming weekend.

My morning jaunt today took me over to the East Mountain side of the Basin area of Killington. With morning sun coming from slightly behind me and to the left as I looked at Killington, the colors of the mountain side were brilliantly illuminated. The lower mountain area was a solid canopy of color with the rusts and red predominating. The colors in the foreground were offset by the high mountain pines setting a green hue to the top of Killington Peak. All of this was brilliantly capped by a bright blue sky filled with puffy white clouds.

The weekend at Killington and the surrounding area promises more of the same. With the gondola operating, this weekend will present plenty of opportunities for people to reach the top of Killington Peak to take in the scenic vistas.

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

The view around Kent Pond looking back towards Pico Mountain 

An ocean storm exiting New England well to the south of Killington has kicked up some high cloud cover over the region today; muting the sunshine in the process. But, if anything, it provides a slight enhancement to the "leaf peepers" touring the Green Mountains.

I took a short drive around town this morning to take in some of the fall color. Instead of heading up to the resort, I traveled towards "Thundering Brook" to get a different perspective.

Color around Kent Pond is developing nicely. While much of the foliage around the lake is still green, there are swatches of red from glowing maples that highlight the views. In addition, birch and poplar trees in the forest around the pond are showing some yellow in their tips. It is just enough to give a little shine to the foliage canopy on panoramic views, but not enough so that you would really notice much if you were standing near an individual tree. Oak trees are also starting to rust slightly, giving the overall tableau a burnt orange palette.

Temperatures in the area are similar to yesterday, with highs in the lower to mid 60's. It does feel slightly cooler, as the sun is muted behind high clouds. But overall it is a very pleasant day to travel around Vermont for those taking in early season foliage.

Color progression is visibly occurring each day. The tall trees which tower over the back of the inn are starting to show bolder colors interspersed with the normal forest green shades of mid summer. Barring any unfortunate weather events, I will stick with my earlier prediction that peak foliage colors in Killington will occur between October 5th and 8th. But again, that is a highly localized guess, with peak color in the immediate area to the east and west of Killington occurring later in the month.

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