Superstar getting top to bottom snow making. 

Last night saw a lovely light blanket of snow fall across Killington; making today a beautiful day to ski!

Depending upon where you were in Killington last night, and your elevation, an inch or three of new snow fell across the landscape. With temperatures near the single digits, the snow was definitely prime powder. While enough of it fell to provide freshies on several early runs, it was not quite enough to declare a "Powder Day". But for November 30th, in an age of global warming, skiing today was quite nice!

We left the ski lodge well before 9 to get in line at the K1 gondola. Ruts from RI was up for his first day of the season on the mountain. We scored the 4th cabin of the day, all but assuring untracked powder for our first run off Killington Peak. At the peak, the sun was covered in a mottled sky. With the thermometer reading a crisp 9 degrees fahrenheit, as we started our first run we quickly realized that finding all of the zippers on the ski clothes that were opened at the end of last season was a priority. The icy pokes through what were supposed to be warm jackets was an interesting addition to the first run.

The first run was a lovely cruise down the top of Great Northern to Upper East Fall. 2 to 3 inches of light snow covered the trails kicking powder tails in every direction with each turn. Yet the man made surface underneath gave one a feeling of authority as turn after effortless turn carved into the freshly fallen snow. We quickly hopped onto the North Ridge Triple and enjoyed the same experience all over again with a run straight down Rime.

After several loops down Rime and Great Northern we headed off to the other side of the resort with a boost up the Superstar Quad. Superstar itself, while not open for skiing yet, was being blasted from top to bottom by snow guns. The resort was putting on an impressive display of the power of their snow making system with the number of snow guns operating on Superstar.

Skiing Killington on November 30, 2012 Click image to stop rotation. Click again to resume rotation.

From the top of Superstar, we traversed over to Bittersweet, While the fresh covering was well skied, the surface was generally soft and pliable. The constant light snow that Killington has received all week was really noticeable. Plus with the woods starting to turn white (not enough snow to poach yet so don't even think about it!) the resort just looks like winter, casting a nice feng shui across the ski slopes.

We did several loops from the Superstar Quad on Bittersweet from top to bottom, and Sky Lark from the top to Lower Bittersweet. Lower Sky Lark, while open, was covered in hard monster whales that looked like they were swallowing whole any skier of rider that tempted fate. We decided to save that for another day and struck out for the Snowdon Triple for a few more runs before calling it a day.

Overall, with the fresh snow, it was just a beautiful way to end the month of November on the slopes of Killington.

Let it snow!

Killington Resort showing a patina of snow from snow making and days of snow flurries.

Is this it? Has winter finally gained a toehold in Killington?

The Killington Resort has been blessed this week with favorable snow making conditions allowing them to plot a strategy to rapidly expand skiable terrain. Combined with a constant snow flurry that has been falling from the "K Cloud" atop Killington Peak; it sure looks like winter has finally established itself at the resort.

Neither Mary or I had a chance to get on the slopes this morning. Mary is busy decorating the inn's 16 foot Christmas tree in the Great Room... I had another session in the physical therapy room at Vermont Sports Medicine at Rams Head. But our Chef Frizzie did have the opportunity to take a few turns. He reported that conditions were continuing to improve all across the mountain as more snow accumulates across the resort. Frizzie will be back in the kitchen tomorrow. The inn's restaurant will be serving dinner on Friday and Saturday night this week with seating available both in the restaurant and at the bar in the Great Room.

Let it snow!

Killington Peak from the top of Snowdon 

A constant light snow fall, combined with round the clock snow making operations, has left Killington Resort in great shape for early season skiing and riding. While light conditions this morning were flat with a snow falling continuously, all of the trails we skied this morning were fairly soft and covered with several inches of freshly fallen fluff.

Today was not a crazy day on the mountain... just an early season tune up. We started in the Vail parking lot, skiing down to the Rams Head lift. Snow making was taking place all over Rams Head as the resort is clearly making a push to open more beginner terrain. From Rams Head we cruised down Caper to the Snowdon Quad. Caper had nice coverage. Fresh snow was to be found on every turn down the right side of the trail. While not a "powda day" by any stretch of the imagination, the nor-incher that has been blanketing Killington left several inches of nice snow to practice graceful turns while making the traverse to get to steeper terrain.

Boosting up the Snowdon Quad, Chute seemed nicely covered but eerily empty. We did not see a rope, but as I was trying out a knee brace for the first time on the slopes today, we decided to head to easier terrain. At the top of the quad we hung a left to make tracks down Bunny Buster to get to the K1 Gondola. Bunny Buster was well covered, however there were a few spots on Upper Bunny where the grooming machines tilled a little deep. It is early season, so this is to be expected, but it is just a reminder that one needs to pay attention out on the slopes and not get captivated by all of the beautiful snow falling down all around the mountains.

New exoskeleton for the left knee

On the K1 Gondola ride to Killington Peak the scope of the resorts snow making operations was on display. Just like at Rams Head, snow guns were pounding on Highline, clearly getting the trail covered to allow it to open soon. East Fall was well covered. From the gondola cabin, it looked quite skiable; but without the Canyon Quad spinning, the run out back to the K1 Base Lodge still needs some work. You can tell it will be soon!.

From Killington Peak we skied down into North Ridge. Rime, Reason, Upper East Fall, and Upper Double Dipper were all in great shape. We did multiple laps on the North Ridge Triple, picking up the pace and pushing the knee a little harder each time. I found that my leg muscles seemed like they were in Mid-March condition (thank you Brie at Vermont Sports Medicine!), allowing me to push off pretty hard on each turn if the mood fit. While the first few laps with the knee brace took a little getting used to, overall it seemed to be doing a good job in keeping the knee joint pain free. Of course, this is just the early season. It will be interesting to see how it reacts in mid winter when cruising through some bumps on the back side of the resort.

Overall, it was a really nice morning on the slopes. It's good to be skiing again!

Where ever you may be, keep doing your snow dances aimed at Killington. Let it snow!

The Birch Ridge 2012 Christmas Tree - Naked 

Over the river and through the woods to... wait.. that's the wrong verse.

Over the river and through the woods we did go yesterday on our hunt for the 2012 Birch Ridge Inn Christmas tree. Armed with chain saws, and a friends pick up truck, our intrepid band of Christmas Tree hunters left the inn in the early morning hours, about the crack o' 10, to drive to a retired tree farm in West Rutland to harvest this years tree. All told, including the tree for the inn, we got 4 trees for ourselves and several friends.

The Christmas tree is now standing in the inn's Great Room, getting acclimated to it's new home before decorating it for the season. It currently towers 16 feet from the floor to its top, although the tree will probably be trimmed down a little before it gets decorated. The decorating process will begin this evening and last at least through the end of the week. If you are in Killington, feel free to drop in and see it's progress.

Around town we are continuing to have light snow flurries, keeping the ground white. Keep up the good work with your snow dances.

Let it snow!

Is this the 2012 Christmas Tree? 

It's beginning to look a lot like.... Winter!

In a late Thanksgiving Weekend gift to skiers and riders alike, Mother Nature blanketed Killington last night with a couple of inches of bright, white, snow. Where skiing the last few days were on white ribbons laid down by Killington's snowmaking team through a bare forest, todays matinee featured greatly improved vistas of snow capped mountain peaks. Winter is on the way (we all hope!).

Today is the last day of regular deer hunting in Vermont. But Mary has been out hunting for different big game to bag and bring back to the inn. Tomorrow is "Christmas Tree Monday" at the inn, so in our spare time the last few days we have been out "hunting" some of our favorite tree haunts looking for the perfect Christmas tree to grace the inn this season. We have a few candidates which will undergo closer examination. But for today, it is a day of preparation before the big hunt tomorrow.

Christmas Tree Monday is a tradition Mary and I started 15 years ago when we opened the Birch Ridge Inn. Each year we trim a 12 to 16 foot Christmas Tree in our Great Room for inn guests to enjoy. While many in the retail sector call the Monday after Thanksgiving "Cyber Monday", we have always dedicated that day to finding and raising the inn's Christmas Tree to prepare for the upcoming holiday season.

All week long we will be decorating the tree in the Inn's Great Room as we get ready for the holidays.

Where ever you may be, thank you for starting your snow dances and thinking of Killington. Keep up the good work.

Let it snow!

Back on the slopes of Killington. 

We have a lot to give thanks for this season.

We have been in business now for 15 years serving guests to Killington. So far it has been a great run!

Both sets of parents, straddling 90 years on this earth, are still with us both physically and mentally. We know from conversations with many of our friends, that we are truly blessed to have our moms and dads still with us.

We have our health. Yes... we are gracefully maturing, fighting it evey step of the way. Sometimes there is a stray ache and pain in the morning. But we know some great sports medicine people in Killington to keep us in good shape. And yesterday we were able to get back out on the slopes of Killington for an afternoon of skiing for the first time this season. Life is good!

We have brothers and sisters and a son and daughter and nieces and nephews that are all healthy and safe. With hurricane's Irene and Sandy these last couple of years, there were some close calls, but as a family we are all doing well.

We have a great group of friends who help us, support us, play with us, act as confidants; without whom life would be a lot crazier than it is.

We have Killington's best group of people working for us, day in and day out, at the inn. Like both of us, they all enjoy the call of the Green Mountains of Vermont; choosing to make a life here versus somewhere else on this great earth.

We have a great group of regular guests. Over 15 years we have been fortunate to make a lot of acquaintances and turn many of them into true friendships.

Yes... we have a lot to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving.

Where ever you may be, we hope that you are enjoying your family and friends and also can give thanks for what life has brought you.

Bill Vines and Mary Furlong, Innkeepers, Birch Ridge Inn at Killington.

Let it snow!

Killington Resort making snow for Thanksgiving. Red arrows point to snow making in progress on Sunday afternoon.

The Killington Resort is making an all out push to be able to present skiers and riders with a range of options for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The resort has been making snow continuously, as conditions permit, to refresh existing terrain and expand into new areas of the resort. Sunday saw snow making continuing on both Killington and Skye Peak, with terrain expansion underway on Caper at Rams Head and Snowshed. Since I took the picture, much more snow has been made on Snowshed. Huge whales of snow are being reported, waiting for Killington's grooming fleet to move the snow evenly across the trails.

Temperatures during the day the next few days may limit some snow making operations at lower elevations. But evening temperatures appear to indicate that the resort should be able to continue to make snow on many trails, providing a reliable top to bottom ski experience for Thanksgiving weekend guests.

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