Ski's in the car and ready to go. 

it's still twig season. But....IT'S ALSO SKI SEASON!!!!!!

Snow makers have been busy at work making snow on the upper elevations of Killington peak. So much so, that the resort will "Officially Open" on Friday October 25th for the 2013-2014 ski season. Friday's opening, at 9:00 AM, will be for season pass holders only.

The general public is invited to enjoy skiing and riding at Killington starting on Saturday October 26th at 8:00 AM.

Skiing and riding will be limited to the upper terrain on Killington Peak in the North Ridge area. Skiers will be uploaded using the K1 Gondola. Hiking up the "Stairway to Heaven" at the top of the North Ridge chair will be required to get back to the K1 Gondola will be required to download from the top of the mountain.

The resort was going to "drop the ropes" early this afternoon in a flash opening for locals. Our assistant was heading out after completing her morning shift to take her first rides of the season. I plan on trying to be on the mountain tomorrow morning (assuming I can find all of my kit scattered around the inn).

With luck.. this will be the start of a long and "glorious" ski season.

Let it Snow!

Snow making operations have begun on Killington Peak 

Sometimes winter seasons have false starts, so maintaining a modicum of composure is always a wise move. But I am excited about the near term arrival of the ski season. If I am ready... that's another story..

Start with the obvious.... the season's pass to Killington... Been there... done that... picked it up last week. That's of the list.

Around the inn...

Winter marketing programs in good shape. Transitioned our main website birchridge.com and mobile m.birchridge.com to winter.

Loaded all the winter season data into birchridge.com's Ski Package Calculator. Birch Ridge's proprietary ski package calculator will compute the cost of any ski package at the Birch Ridge Inn, taking advantage of all of the Killington Resorts' various ski ticket discount programs. It is a great place to start to plan your Killington winter ski vacation at the Birch Ridge Inn.

Birch Ridge Inn wifi network redesign completed. Waiting for last fall foliage guests to depart the inn this weekend before implementing. Our guests wifi demands have increased every year (and since I came out of the computer networking business, it is a fun personal project to keep my skills sharp.)

Improvements finished to Audio system in restaurant and Audio/Video system in the Great Room. Another fun project completed.

Wine show season underway. Attended a distributors fall show this week. Another one planned for next week. Making selections to add to the Inn's wine list for winter. How can you not have fun sampling wine all afternoon...

Outside yardwork... let's not talk about that one... still needs work.

Ski equipment... Clothing, boots, ski's, etc to be brought out of storage imminently.

Golf clubs... still in the car...

Killington Peak with the first signs of snow making visible

With the winter season just around the corner, there is still plenty of twig season work to finish.. Now if ski season begins before the twig season work is completed... so it goes..

Let it snow!

The last leaves of fall clinging to the trees near the Carriageway at the Birch Ridge Inn 

The party's over.. Let the new party begin!

Twig season , the denouement of summer, has arrived at Killington. Like Mud Season in the spring, when thoughts in Killington turn towards summer warmth and chasing little white balls down verdant fairways, Twig Season brings with it high hopes for the quick arrival of cold weather followed by copious amounts of snow. It all serves to tweak the souls of those of us who enjoy throwing ourselves down mountainsides in the cold New England winters.

Twig season is a time of reflection and preparation. We were fortunate this year to be able to play plenty of golf. We had a summer full of nice guests staying at the inn. We have a great team of employees to help us conduct the business of the inn in a professional manner. We have continued to work to improve the inn to better serve our guests going into the winter season.

Birch Ridge Inn entering "Twig Season"

Winter will be coming to Killington very soon. Daily I am asked "when will the ski season begin?"... or "When will it snow?" The answer is always with a measured amount of a wishful thinking "Tomorrow!" And it will be here soon enough.

"Twig Season" heralds a time of change. As the leaves of Killington hit the forest floor, we all know that soon a blanket of white will follow.

....And it will be glorious!

Let it snow!

"Noah's Bark" by Barbara McKenna 

The Birch Ridge Inn is please to host, in conjunction with the Killington Arts Guild, "Meet the Artist" night with with Vermont Craftswoman Barbara McKenna this coming Thursday, October 17, 2013 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

Barbara's lifelong passion for creating distinctive art using a variety of materials in both 2-D and 3-D forms is evident in her work. Barbara will present examples of her unique style including crafted wool hooked rugs. Not just rugs in the traditional sense, their artistry also can be displayed as beautiful wall hangings handcrafted by this talented Vermont artist.

The public is invited to attend this demonstration/presentation in the Great Room of the Birch Ridge Inn from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Following the demonstration, persons wishing to join the artist for dinner at 8:00 in the InnÕs restaurant can make reservations by calling the Birch Ridge Inn at 422-4293.

The Fall Foliage season at Killington is rapidly changing to "Twig Season". We hope that you have enjoyed the fall colors as thoughts in the local community start to look to the sky for falling snow instead of falling leaves.

The top of the Covered Carriage-way framed in brilliant fall color. 

Yesterday was interesting. Damp and dreary most of the day with a hellacious 15 minutes of driving rain and fierce winds. If the storm that struck yesterday were to repeat in a couple of days, the fall season at Killington would be over and we would be firmly ensconced in "Twig Season". But as it stands from our neighborhood walk about this morning, while some trees did shed their leaves, the area around Killington is still alive with fall colors.

Higher elevations on Killington Peak lost color in yesterdays storm. The top of the mountain is a muted green, accented by bright green stripes... the product of alpine pine trees combined with ski slopes. With a crystal blue ski this morning, the scene on the mountain provided a sharp contrast with the fall colors still blazing at lower elevations.

The foliage colors in the Killington Basin area, at approximately 2000 feet in elevation, are still quite brilliant. While many of the birch trees have lost their yellow leaves, the maple trees are making up for the color loss with bright reds and flaming orange hues. Poplar trees not stripped by the wind are still showing green. Oak trees are showing their traditional burnt orange.

The local weather forecast for the region is calling for nice weather over the next 5 to 7 days. With minimal wind and no rain, fall colors should be fixed in place through the upcoming Columbus Day Weekend period, assuring Vermont visitors a nice fall getaway.

Wherever you may be, we hope that you can enjoy the colors of fall.

Colors in the forest behind the Birch Ridge Inn. 

While it may be overcast outside, it is anything but dreary.

The indirect sunlight filtered through the high clouds is casting a warm glow across the landscape. Full color has sprouted around the mountains of Killington. Against the palette of a light gray sky, the colors of fall have just exploded across the landscape.

The immediate Killington Basin area is definitely at or near peak color. Reports from guests traveling around the area indicate the the upper mountainsides to the north have started to loose their color due to dropping leaves. Route 4 from the east and Woodstock still has a way to go before reaching peak. Given that this area is at least 1000 feet lower in altitude than the Killington Basin area, it makes perfect sense. It looks like it is going to be a stunningly beautiful weekend at Killington.

From the west along Route 4 from New York, color has started to change but is also several days behind Killington. Western facing slopes experience several more hours of sunshine this time of year, allowing the leaves on the trees to stay more active. Color in this area will probably come to the fore over the next week.

Wherever you may be this weekend, we hope that you can enjoy the colors of fall.

Top of Carriage-way bathed in color. 

Fall colors in the Killington Basin area are dazzling.

The cool nights and the moderately warm days have popped the colors around the area. Each day the colors are becoming more and more brilliant as the foliage marches towards "Peak Color".

Beauty is, of course, in the eye of the beholder. It is always a very subjective matter to determine exactly when the color will be at it's peak. But, at least in Killington, the peak is approaching.

Most of the trees in the forest surrounding Killington are fully engaged in the process of having their leaves loose their chlorophyll(the chemical that makes them look green). While many still sport a green hue, many are also brilliantly showing their full fall regalia.

The next week in Killington will be the prettiest of the year; except, of course, if you like a knarly blizzard dumping snow on the mountain peaks. But winter blizzards will come soon enough...

Enjoy the fall colors where ever you may be.