Still going strong on the Superstar pod at Killington 

It is with great pleasure that we announce the start of our 2013-2014 restaurant season with the re-opening of the restaurant at the Birch Ridge Inn this evening at 6:00 PM. After a good winter, and a brief hiatus period, the restaurant is back in action once again with Chef Stephen Byrne in kitchen to serve both Killington locals and guests visiting the area.

We have successfully completed a number of projects at the inn during the hiatus. The audio system in the restaurant has been upgrade, as well as a little painting. Common areas of the building, including the stairwell to the upper floor guest rooms has been refurbished. A project to improve the efficiency of the inns heating system is being installed as I type this. And, of course, we have done quite a bit of landscaping around the Covered Carriageway entrance to the inn, including new gardens and fresh sod.

Tonight starts the 15th season for our restaurant at Birch Ridge. We hope you enjoy visiting with us as much as we enjoy having you as our guests.

Wherever you may be this weekend, keep it in the fairway, and don't forget your sun screen!

The Bagel striking an approach shot on the 9th hole on Green Mountain National 

So much to say... so little time to say it...

While you are contemplating the title to todays blog, Mary and I are back at work at the inn after a brief respite to chase the little white ball down some manicured fairways. Earlier this month, (while there was still a little snow on the ground at Killington... the heresy), we snuck away to Williamsburg Virginia for a weeks respite. Why Williamsburg you ask? The simple answer was they had leaves on the trees, some history to ponder, decent restaurants, multiple golf courses, and it is approximately 12 hours driving time from Killington. That 12 hours is significant, because it is at the limits of our tolerance for being together for an extended period of time in a car. The trip actually took 11 hours down and 13 hours back. I will write more about it in future blogs.

Back in Killington, we had the pleasure of enjoying the company of many early summer guests over the Memorial Day Weekend. Mother Nature presented them with every possible combination of weather. Bike riders in the Killington Stage Race found themselves hypothermic. Long Trail Trekers found themselves knee deep in snow when they crossed the top of Pico. The good news is that the temperatures, while in the low 30's, did not get below freezing. The day after we returned to Killington, Mary had started planting her gardens so they would be ready to receive summer guests. Fortunately, we did not have a frost... but it was close.

Painting projects around the inn have begun. One wall in the restaurant has been repainted. The other walls will be taken care of in the middle of June, when Mary gets new fabric for the sound panels. The restaurant is just one of several areas inside the inn that we will refresh this summer.

Outside, in addition to Mary's gardens, we have also ripped up the turf in front of the carriage way. We have had an ongoing project for the last couple of years to improve the entrance to the inn. In the aftermath of hurricane Irene 18 months ago we did some pavement work and built some rock walls. The aprons to the carriageway needed beautification. We have thought bark mulch, but we really want grass. We proved that not much will grow from seed last year, so this year we are trying sod. The area is all dug out waiting for the sod to be delivered this Friday.

But even then, it's not all work and no play in Killington. We have been out several times on Green Mountain National. We even dragged the Bagel out with us earlier this week to enjoy the course. Green Mountain is in beautiful shape. I look forward to many more rounds there this summer.

Now about the title... no we have not had a chance to catch the new Star Trek flick. In due time... but we did spend a lot of time (for us) driving up and down the East Coast on Route 95 and it's derivatives. If somebody had not figured out how to vulcanize rubber many years ago, and make reliable tires for cars, our driving vacation would not have been possible. I am not sure what caused that kernel of truth to pop out of my brain to wind up on this page....but then again...

With the ski season at Killington officially over, it is time to chase the little white ball in earnest. Don't forget your sun screen!

Still going strong on the Superstar pod at Killington 

The snow report on Killington.com is reporting a seasonal snow fall of 208 inches; well below the historical 250 inch average the resort had received in the days before the global warming kerfuffle. Yet here we are on May 5th with Killington still open for skiing and riding on multiple trails. It is a living testament to the Killington Resort's combination of snow making and business conviction. "First to open... last to close". It is a phrase that Killington owned for years...and a phrase they rightly own once again.

It has been a couple of weeks since Mary and I have ventured out on the slopes. We have traded in our pursuit of fresh snow for the chance to chase after little white balls. But if today was any indication, there are still several thousand people across New England who still have the desire to schuss down the trails of Killington. Car after car with barbeque grills lit lined the Killington Road today around the K1 base lodge. Clearly..the Beast of the East is back.

The basin area of the Killington Resort. Superstar still going strong. Hiking required for Cascade.

Kudo's to the Killington Management Team for strongly delivering on their early season promise to provide reliable skiing and riding at the resort into May. Kudo's also to the management team at Powdr, the parent company of the Killington Resort, for hanging tough and supporting the decisions of the local resort managers to push the ski season envelop back to it's traditional denouement.

The resort plans to turn the Superstar Quad for the next few weeks on Friday, Saturday and Sundays so people who desire lift serviced skiing and riding can make their turns. I know more than a few locals who will be hiking in the mean time to get a few more days on the snow. The resort is publicly saying they want to make it into June before this ski season comes to an end. With a little luck, they should be able to pull that one off too.

Wether your on the snow, the golf course, or getting your boat ready on the water, don't forget your sun screen!

Carrying ladder after inspecting the roof 

Spring has descended in earnest upon Killington. With temperatures the last 2 days cracking the mid 50's, the snow has all but evaporated from around the inn, leaving soft, muddy, goo where ever you walk that is not covered in asphalt or concrete. Needless to say, the Snow Stake is now reset to zero. While another snow storm this time of year is not out of the question, having it stay around for any significant times at lower altitudes is problematic.

Today has been a solid work day around the inn. The chef is continuing the annual tear down the kitchen. Mary has started to get the bug to work in the gardens. She started to clear off some of the winter debris from some of them. I was on roof inspection and repair today. We have a rather large flat roof over part of the inn that always needs some maintenance to repair split seams, etc. So, with the warmth of today being pleasant but not unbearable, it seemed like a good day to be on the roof.

Skiing and Riding is continuing at Killington this weekend. The resort has scheduled, as conditions permit, the Superstar and Canyon Quads for the weekend, in addition to the K1 Gondola and the North Ridge Triple. Lifts will be running from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM to take advantage of day light savings time.

This weekend features the perennial spring favorite "Pond Skimming" at the base of Superstar with live reggae music kicking of at 2:00 PM on Saturday. And, of course, the Umbrella Bars at the base of Superstar will be open serving you favorite spring skiing libations.

Golf season is fast approaching. I hope you have your clubs out...

First golf swing of the 2013 season 

A 3:05 yesterday afternoon, at the behest of Mary, I took my first golf swing of the 2013 season in front of the Great Room at the inn. Golf season is approaching at Killington. Mary, as one would expect, was concerned that my left knee would give me trouble in it's knee brace during my golf swing. She wanted me to try it out. Never one to miss an opportunity to hit a few golf balls, I was only too happy to oblige. The start of golf season in Killington is imminent. Getting the body "swing ready" is "important".

Saturday night was the last day that the restaurant at the inn was open to the public for dinner service this season. (It will re-open on Friday June 21st for the 2013-2014 season.) To wind the season down, we had a "clean the fridge" staff party last night at the inn. Around 4PM yesterday, after hitting a few balls in the back of the inn, Mary and I moved into the Great Room to set it up for the party. We snapped on the TV to catch up on the Boston Marathon results. In Vermont, I may be a flat lander, but in Boston, I am a Bostonian, having been born in the Brighton neighborhood at St E's. Patriots Day and the Marathon are a tradition that a Bostonian takes with them through life. I wish we did not turn that TV on at 4:00. Make it go away.....

Instead of watching a baseball game on TV last night at the staff party (the group has some dyed in the wool Yankee's fanatics to balance out our beloved Red Sox) we decided that ski movies would fill the void in the wall occupied by the TV. Pandora was playing tunes across the internet. The beer tap was flowing just right. The wine accumulated in Bin X went down too easy. Make it go away.....

Around 8:00 last night, my son Jay called. To my horror, I found out he was too close. He was working doing rehab construction in a building on Newbury Street, one block from the finish line of the Marathon. He had finished up and was walking down Boylston Street. He had passed through the finish line area several minutes before and was near the Public Library, heading towards the Boston Common to pick up the MBTA when chaos struck. UGH.. Make it go away.....

In his first successful science fiction novel, Childhood's End, published in 1953 (the year I was born), Arthur C. Clark spoke of benevolent overlords taking position around the earth in alien spaceships. He spoke of a world that was on the verge of annihilating itself in the cold war global nuclear competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. In their innocence, the people of earth in the 1950's needed alien overlords to prevent them from destroying everything.

And so we watch ski movies instead of the TV news. We watch ski movies instead of watching the horror in Boston played out over and over. Instead of seeing the missiles of North Korea constantly rolling down the street in some far off surreal parade. Instead of hearing about IED's in Afganistan, or the latest rants from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran.

In Vermont, we are somewhat insulated from the world around us; but we can't escape it. At best, we can only trick ourselves into making it go away, if only briefly.

Growing up in the Boston area, I have great faith that humanity will prevail. That the good wrought by the many will far out weigh the bad perpetrated by the few. ....it is not time for the Overlords!

Golf season is fast approaching. I hope you have your clubs out...

A sure sign of spring at Killington. 

Double Dipper from the Canyon Quad at Killington on a beautiful sunny spring day.

Freezing R@!n;
Driving Sleet;
Oh for the sunny days of spring.

Failing sump pump;
Bailing wet feet;
Oh for the sunny days of spring.

Ice crust outdoors;
Shuffle and penguin walk;
Oh for the sunny days of spring.

Ice Melt... Goodro;
Plumbing parts...Home Depot;
Oh for the sunny days of spring.

Ski, golf, outdoor fun;
My plan for the next day we see the spring sun!

The Birch Ridge Inn in Killington, covered in sleet and freezing r@!n on a nasty spring day.

In the immortal words of Christie McVie and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac:
"Don't stop thinking about tomorrow.... Don't stop. it'll soon be here!"

Have your sun screen ready for when spring returns!

100% sunshine brightens day on Killington 

After yesterdays retreat to winter, today was a refreshing breath of spring across the Killington Resort. Even though temperatures early this morning were still in the mid 20's, the lack of wind and 100% bright sunshine allowed us to venture out on the mountain with significantly fewer layers under our shells. And as the morning progressed, temperatures appropriately rose with the sun, given south facing slopes the ability to soften and corn up, just the way they should in the spring.

All of the usual runs were in great shape. With a huge amount of snow on the resort, cold temperatures, and light skier traffic, the ski season at Killington still has a long way to go. At the start, it was just one high speed cruiser after another doing laps off the Skye Burst quad.

As we moved across the resort, I started to sneak in a few easy bumps while Mary stayed on the groomers. Old Superstar had some potential. At 10:30 AM it was still surprisingly firm. I dove right into it, and had a pretty good line going till just before the cutoff to Superstar. I was going so fast, I think I got airborne on the last 4 bumps before making a hard braking maneuver to head to Superstar. The brace on my left leg let me know it was there, but so it goes...thats why I wear it!

Upper Royal Flush was a little softer than Old Superstar. The upper flush still has loads of snow all across it. Skier traffic has developed nice little bumps for your enjoyment. By 11 they were softening up ever so slightly. I am sure they will be great later in the day.

FIS across the top from the K1 Gondola had 5 of 6 monster bumps on it. They were quick work as we headed down to the North Ridge triple. West Glade, er Ridge Run, also had a nice bump set on it. As is usually the case, the bumps on the upper section were bigger with sharp troughs. The middle and lower sections, being not as steep, had nice regular features.

Without question, the run of the day was Highline at noon time. It was a total do-over. The morning sun had baked the surface into a delightful texture somewhere between creme brulee and vanilla soft service ice cream. Surprisingly little skier traffic had been on it by noon, allow us to do wide sweeping turns down Highline's face. This is what spring skiing should be (if there were a BBQ and a cold beer strategically placed just beneath the trail).

As I write this, I noticed that my nose is a little red, my cheeks have a glow, and there are the early vestiges of a goggle line forming on my face. Now where did that tube of sun screen go again???

Let it snow! (at least on the mountain for a few more weeks)... and don't forget your sun screen!