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!

Mary hard at work finishing decorating the inn's Christmas Tree. 

Mary has been hard at work all week decorating the inn's Christmas Tree.

Standing 12 feet in the Great Room at the inn, the Christmas tree has over 1500 lights and hundreds of ornaments. This years motif is the "White Tree". The majority of the ornaments on the tree are crystal complimented by some silver accents to reflect light throughout the tree.

While we have been busy getting the inn ready for the holidays, there has been a mild warm up at Killington. Overnight, the several inches of snow that were around the inn have given way to grass. But never fear, the mountain is well covered with snow for people to enjoy. Temperatures this morning are dropping with light snow forecasted to return this evening.

The Christmas Tree will be officially revealed this weekend. If you are up in Killington stop bye for a libation or two..

Let it snow!

Birch Ridge Inn 2013 Christmas Tree taking center stage in the Great Room. 

Some people call today Cyber Monday. At the Birch Ridge Inn we call it Christmas Tree Monday. Each year, on the Monday after Thanksgiving, we put the inns Christmas tree into the Great Room. It stands bare overnight waiting for Mary to start the process of decorating it on Tuesday.

This year, we had a little twist. Due to the logistics of the tree farmer we worked with this year, we had to go and harvest the tree on a Saturday. For the last week, the tree has been waiting patiently, under a strong tarp, in the yard to finish its journey into the Inn.

As we re-formulated this years festivities, we began the day with a group ski at Killington. At 9:00 AM we all met at the K1 base lodge for several hours of skiing, prior to our traditional Chinese lunch at Sushi Yoshi. Skiing today was really nice; the result of the resort continuing to make snow over the Thanksgiving holidays combined with several inches of new snow provided by Mother Nature overnight. The run of the day was probably Chute under the Snowdon Quad. When we skied on it, the low clouds had given way to a mottled blue sky. When combined with zero other skier or rider traffic, and soft snow on an edge receptive base, it was just the perfect trail to let the skis get some early season open trail run time.

After lunch, we reassembled the group back at the inn to raise the Christmas Tree. After some minor adjustments with a chain saw, we hauled the tree into the inn and raised it in a little over an hour. Not bad for a 13 1/2 foot free standing tree.

Over the week Mary will be decorating the tree, and I will be processing some of the hours of video shot to document the festivities. Watch this space all week for postings on the progress of the 2013 Birch Ridge Inn Christmas Tree.

Let it snow!

Beautiful Thanksgiving Weekend at Killington 

The winter season at Killington is now "Official". Although we have been skiing and riding at Killington for over a month, the commercial element of the ski season kicks into high gear over Thanksgiving weekend. While Black Friday fills the shopping malls down south, snow aficionados know that if they want to get in some early season runs, that Killington over Thanksgiving weekend is the place to do it.

The mountain is in its full regalia this weekend. Skiing and Riding are taking place all across the Killington Basin area with lifts turning on Rams Head, Snowdon, Killington Peak, Skye Peak and Snowshed. Cold temperatures have allowed the resort to continuously make snow across the resort. The net is that every day the resort is opening more terrain for people to enjoy.

Snowmaking taking place across the Killington Resort

At the inn, we have just about recovered from yesterdays family and friends dinner, turning our attention to the many inn guests who are staying with us over the weekend. We are also gearing up for our traditional "Christmas Tree Monday" which takes place each year on the Monday following Thanksgiving. By the end of next week, the inn will be fully decorated for the Christmas Holidays. Which reminds me.. today is Black Friday.. need to plan my Christmas shopping.. Have you been naughty or nice?

Let it snow!

Veritable rogueÕs gallery this morning on Killington. From left - Howie, Dale, Mary and Chad 

This morning we woke up to a delightful surprise.. About 2 inches of new snow had fallen overnight. Since we were planning to go skiing for a few runs this morning, it was an added bonus.

For a pre-Thanksgiving ski day, the resort is in very good shape. Excellent cover is in place on the trails off Killington Peak, Snowdon and Skylark. Snow making operations were taking place on Snowshed in the Learn to Ski area and on Rams Head. The resort is clearly gearing up for the upcoming holiday weekend, building base everywhere.

Today was not a real serious ski day for us. We spent about an hour skiing off Killington Peak. We wanted to get some time on the mountain to check out terrain for our guests, and also to partake in some of the fresh air that permeated the environment in the Green Mountains. Conditions were primarily soft snow from 3 to 6 inches in depth over a firm base. I enjoyed it as it gave me some exercise, working the legs through the freshly fallen snow.

The whole resort is watching the forecast very carefully. Depending upon your favorite weather station, you can find forecasts ranging from a dump of snow to too much r@!n. If the storm track goes up the Hudson River and the western side of the Green Mountains, we will be getting wet. If the storm moves ever so slightly east, we will be getting dumped on. Either way, the cold air that is entrenched over the area will cause the storm to start as snow. And there also looks like there will be several inches as well on the back side as the storm clears the area sometime Thursday.

What ever your plans may be over the next several days, may your travels be swift and not bothered by the weather..

Let it snow!

Break bread with friends at the Birch Ridge Inn at Killington. 

After a quick break from the fall foliage season, the restaurant at the Birch Ridge Inn re-opens for the winter season this evening.

For the next 4 weekends, through December 14th, the restaurant will be serving dinner to inn guests and the general public on Friday and Saturday evenings starting at 6:00 PM. As usual, dinner will be served in both the dining room and the Great Room. Starting on Tuesday December 17th, the restaurant will move into it's Holiday schedule, serving dinner nightly thru January 3rd.

Chef Steve "Frizzie" Byrne is in the kitchen now with his crew preparing this weekends opening menu. If you would like reservations for this weekend, give us a call at the inn at 800-435-8566 or 802-422-4293. If you prefer, you can always make our reservation online at birchridge.com .

Let it snow!

Long shadow from the top of Bittersweet looking North towards Killington Basin. 

This time of year, the sun barely gets over the ridge line between Killington Peak and Skye Peak. With the sun low on the horizon, long shadows are cast by the trees at the edge of open ski trails. Their shadows are like giant hands, poised to grab any skier or rider who intersects their darkness.

But that darkness, holds the key.

The minimal sunshine falling around the mountain lowers the ambient temperature. Force thousands of gallons of water and air through miles of pipe. Create a pinhole in the plumbing at the tip of a fixture to generate an aerosol when you combine the two. Spray the mixture into the shadow assisted cool air....and Voila... you have snow where Mother Nature is expecting bare ground.

The Killington Resort has been very busy making snow. Lots of it. So much so that they are able to open 3 of the 6 mountains at the Killington Resort including Skye Peak, Killington Peak, and Snowdon. In addition, snow makers have been at work on Snowshed, and it looks like Upper Rams Head.

Killington Peak to Skye Peak from Snowdon

Today the resort was offering skiing and riding from 5 lifts including the K1 Gondola, Snowshed Quad, North Ridge Triple, Bunny Buster Poma, and Superstar Quad. Conditions were generally machine groomed packed powder. Light was definitely dim as the sky was covered in a high overcast and the sun, as previously mentioned was fairly low on the horizon.

Highline and Killington Peak from the Superstar Quad

Bittersweet and Skye Lark were nicely covered with a very nice surface. The Upper headwall on Superstar was also open. Most skiers and riders were able to make nice carving turns down the steep slope. Off of Killington Peak, the North Ridge Pod is continuing to function as the anchor set of trails. A terrain park is set up in Reason for those who want to enjoy some rails. Great Northern down to Snowdon and Bunny Buster was skiing well. Chute under the Snowdon Quad was open with some areas of thin cover.

Attendance at the resort today was higher than I expected, although I was able to park within 100 feet of the Snowdon quad and never waited in a lift line. Lots of people from down south up for the weekend to get some pre turkey day runs in before the holiday shopping season begins.

The forecast is calling for temperatures to warm up a bit, For those planning on skiing and riding this weekend, that is all good, as it will soften up the surfaces a little. Next week, it looks like the deep freeze returns, which means a restart of the snow making system and (hopefully) more terrain open for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Let it snow!