Vermont Travel Notes

St. Johnsbury Athenaeum

The New York Times Travel section last week published an article about athenaeums around the eastern US, mainly New England. "Where Greek Ideals Meet New England Charm" includes a mention of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, a combined library and art gallery located in downtown St. Johnsbury. It's an outstanding facility where you can easily lose track of time.

The town of St. Johnsbury is a wonderful place to visit and great entrance to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Other attractions in the area include the
Fairbanks Museum, Old Stone House Museum, and Stephen Huneck Dog Mountain.

More information about these attractions and others are listed on the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce website.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor (except the photo above) Grunberg Haus

Budweiser Clydesdale horse photo from Mount Snow

Mount Snow is the only northeast ski area that will be hosting the Budweiser Clydesdale horses this year.

They will be available for viewing at a Friday night pizza party, a Saturday afternoon parade, and in one of the parking lots after the parade.

Mount Snow Ski Resort is located in southern Vermont near Wilmington VT, between Brattleboro and Bennington.

More information is available at the Mount Snow Events Calendar.

(c) 2008 [except the photograph] Jeff Connor

One of the largest telemark ski events in the country takes place every year at Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston Vermont.

The North American Telemark Organization TeleFest takes place this coming weekend, March 8 and 9. About 1,000 telemark skiers will be taking part in races, clinics, equipment demonstrations, fun runs, and parties.

The cost is $54 per day or $104 for two day. and includes lift ticket, clinics, use of demo gear, contests, and Magic Hat dance party.

About a week later, March 17 - 21, the next door ski resort at Sugarbush will host the FIS Telemark World Cup Finals with the best telemark skiers in the world competing.

If you are not familiar with telemark skiing, you can read a good article about it on Wikipedia.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor (except the photo from NATO) Grunberg Haus Inn

That's the question I got from a wonderfully cheerful person somewhere south of the Mason Dixon line who had never seen snow and was calling in early March. He wanted to know if he had missed the snow this year or if there was still time left to travel to Vermont and see snow. I was happy to tell him that most years we get the greatest amount of snowfall in March compared to other months.

Most of the people I speak with are surprised to hear we get more snow in March. When they are seeing the beginning of Spring where they live, Vermont is building to a grand winter finale.

To see what I mean, take a look at Stowe Resort's five year weather history. Not only is March the snowiest (I guess that is a real word), but it's the end of the month when the largest amounts of snow are falling. The last week in March averages 32 inches at Stow, far more than any other week there.

Stowe's Snow Report shows 309 inches of snowfall so far this season, just short of the season average of 327 inches.

It's been a great year for skiing and other winter activities but don't feel that you have missed it if you have not been here yet. There is plenty of snow here for you to enjoy and more is on the way.

In fact, this is a good time of year to enjoy winter. The days are longer, temperatures are higher, and there aren't as many people skiing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing, etc. I wish more people were aware of how good it can be here in March. It would be great to see the ski areas and the Vermont's Department of Tourism getting the word out about March. I'm sure more people would come if they knew what it is like here this month.

For the more technically inclined, and maybe a few inexperienced skeptics, you can view a current snow depth map from the National Weather Service to see how much snow you can expect when you travel to Vermont or other New England states.

The areas in dark blue represent depths of 20 to 39 inches (50 cm to 100 cm), and the purple lines, which you can see run along the mountain ranges, represent 59 to 98 inches (150 to 250 cm). Those are current snow depths, not the amount that has fallen this season. The map is updated every day.

Plan a trip to Vermont and enjoy this great winter season we will continue having for the next month.



(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

The Inn at Baldwin Creek in Bristol Vermont has a restaurant called "Mary's" that is well known and highly regarded around here. It has won many awards and reviews including Yankee Magazine 2005 Editor's Choice Award and 2005 Restaurateurs of the Year award from the VT Lodging and Restaurant Assn.

Each month, the Inn holds a dinner presentation and the selection this month is artisan cheese. The featured speaker is Jeff Roberts of Montpelier, VT, author of the Atlas of American Artisan Cheese , co-founder of the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese at the University of Vermont, and a Slow Food USA director.

Jeff Robert's Friday March 14 presentation includes dinner at 6:30 pm with tastings of regionally-produced artisan cheeses and a talk based on his research, stories about artisan cheese makers, and links to broader changes in American agriculture.

You can make a reservation by calling toll free 888-424-2432 or emailing info@innatbaldwincreek.com. The dinner and talk is $25 per person.

This presentation is part of The Inn at Baldwin Creek Annual Table Talk Dinner Series which are held the second Friday of every month. The inn's website has a list of the monthly presentation dinners as well as cooking classes.

Mary's Restaurant Chef/Owner Doug Mack has been there about 24 years. You can see him making fried zucchini flowers (!) on Vermont Public Television's Feast in the Making cooking program.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Photo courtesy of October Siberians

I read today that the famous Alaska Iditarod race is starting this Saturday and it lead me to thinking about all the sled dog activity here in Vermont. (Side note: many participants in the sport prefer the term "sled dog" rather than "dog sled" but you will see both terms used even by the people who run professional operations.)

In fact, if you would like to see a sled dog race and won't be in Alaska this week, there is a race you can watch at Burke Mountain Ski Resort in East Burke VT. There will be races both Saturday and Sunday.

A number of operations around Vermont offer sled dog rides and a couple of them offer skijoring too. Skijoring is done on skis and involves the dog(s) pulling the person via a harness attached to the dog. I've seen skijor racing a couple of times and it's impressive how fast they get going. You certainly don't want to fall down . . . I'm not sure the dogs would stop for a while - they're pretty enthusiastic.

The best one-stop source of information about sled dog rides in on the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association website. Atii is listed as one of the sled dog outfits but they are taking a year off from sled dog rides because they are rebuilding their group of dogs. Many of the current dogs have gotten too old to pull. However, Atii is still offering skijoring this year.

It's a unique adventure. Give it a try.

(c) 2008 [except the October Siberian photo] Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Peak Adventures is a Vermont company that puts on extreme races several times a year. Their snowshoe marathon is coming up next weekend on Saturday March 8 starting at 8:00 am in Pittsfield VT.

The course is a 6.5 mile loop with 7,200 feet of elevation change along ungroomed and snowmobile trails. See the topo map on the website for more detail. The marathon runs four loops, the half marathon runs two loops, and there is a one loop fun run for those who just want to give snowshoeing a try. There is a ten hour time limit for all racers.

For beginners: I can tell you from personal experience that running in snowshoes takes twice the exertion of road running so plan accordingly! It's not enough to be in good shape. You have to be in great shape.

You can register online at peakraces.com and click the link to runrace.net or register that morning at the General Store in Pittsfield from 5:30 to 7:30 am. Registration costs $75 and includes a beanie hat and the post race meal.

The post race celebration begins at 6:30 pm and includes lobster and shrimp dinner, "plenty" of Long Trail beer, the awards ceremony ($1200 for the marathon only to the top three men and women - $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place, and $100 for third place; plus unique finishers awards for everyone and a special award for top three male and top three female in the marathon and half marathon).

(c) 2008 [except the photo from Peak Adventures] Jeff Connor

Ben & Jerry's Homemade has a winter festival every year but this year is a little special because the company is celebrating its 30th birthday.

On Saturday, March 1, from 11:00 to 4:00, there will be free tours at the Waterbury VT manufacturing plant, plus games, snow sculpting, cake, music, food, snowshoeing, and other fun stuff - there may be a small fee for some of those.

When you are there, they will give you a small pin to put on your shirt or jacket. Show that pin to some of the many businesses in Waterbury to get a discount. Some restaurants, gift stores, an antique store, and even the local pharmacy are participating.

Who knows, maybe Ben and/or Jerry will show up. They both still live in the area and stop by from time to time even though they are retired from full time work now.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

I've written Vermont Travel Notes entries about Stephen Huneck's unique dog chapel in St. Johnsbury VT as well as his artwork and galleries around the state (the newest is in Stowe). His whimsical and sometimes touching artwork is very popular with dog owners all over the world. As a result, he has received publicity in a large number of places, the most recent being CNN and its website. The article is entitled "Doggy Disneyland draws animals, owners by the pack" and it's a good description of Stephen, his artwork, and his 175 acre farm with widely known dog chapel. It's quite a structure, requiring an expenditure of several hundred thousand dollars, and well worth a visit if you are a dog lover. From our inn, it is a little over a 45 minute drive to Dog Mountain..

Another great place to visit in the St. Johnsbury area is the Fairbanks Museum. I also recommend a drive north to Lake Willoughby and then over to the area around the town of Island Pond to do some moose spotting.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

AirTran has the newest fleet of Boeing 717's in the US

On May 21, AirTran will begin nonstop flight service three times a day between Burlington, VT (BTV) and the Thurgood Marshall Airport, Baltimore/Washington (BWI). The airline will be using Boeing 717-200 planes which seat 117 passengers, 12 in business class and 105 in coach.

There are 14 AirTran destinations available from BWI, plus service to about another 50 cities you can view on the AirTran website Destinations and Route Map pages. Boston is one of those cities and is a popular airport for visitors to Vermont and other parts of New England.

AirTran is kicking off its Burlington service with a low introductory fare of $59. It must be booked by March 17, 2008, for travel through June 11, 2008. Fares listed are one way, available daily and are valid in either direction. There are some other charges such as $3.50 segment fee, $10 Sept 11 fee, and $18 airport passenger facility fee so be sure to read the fine print. You can book online or call 1-800-AIR-TRAN (1-800-247-8726) (extra $7.50 fee for phone calls too).

Currently, the Burlington airport has service to and from Atlanta, Cleveland (CLE), Cincinnati (CVG), Chicago (ORD), Detroit (DTW), Newark (EWR), New York (JFK), New York (LGA), Orlando (MCO), Philadelphia (PHL), Washington DC (DCA), Washington DC (IAD). To see details on these flights, go to the Burlington airport website

Winter tip: if you are flying here, we recommend renting a four wheel drive car. One of our recent guests requested one but it was not available when he arrived so he got a front wheel drive substitute . . . which he greatly regretted when we got a lot of snow during his visit. Be sure to insist on no substitutions for your four wheel drive car. None of the rental car companies have winter tires for some unfathomable reason but four wheel drive will help you get around much more safely. Remember, you are coming to the mountains of northern New England: we get a LOT of snow.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Jay Peak's Mardis Gras is taking place this week with ski races, Louisiana style dinners, and music performances. I guess this is as far north from New Orleans as you can get in the USA to celebrate Maris Gras.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor

Most of the weather forecasts I've seen for north central Vermont call for about six to ten inches of snow Tuesday and Wednesday. However, Josh Fox at The Single Chair Weather Blog is forecasting 13 to 18 inches. The upper elevations, such as the Mad River Glen ski area he is forecasting, get more snow than standard forecasts because of their altitudes. That seems like quite a disparity between 10 inches and 18 inches but it is not unusual for the upper elevations to get twice as much snow as the standard forecasts call for.

The headline in Fox's blog entry yesterday says: "Here we go !!! Big mid-week dump is now in the making !!"

I enjoy reading Josh's blog because he writes in a very friendly and well constructed conversational style. The entries are often detailed but when I find the writing has gone into more detail than I have time for, I just move on to something else.

And he is not perfect. But when he does have a cold streak (pun intended), he owns up to it and often explains how it happened. It gives the non-meteorologist interesting insight into how weather forecasting is done.

Roger Hill is a popular Vermont meteorologist located here in Waterbury. His web site is Weathering Heights (pun intended). He is not saying much about accumulation yet. His web site has lots of colorful weather maps if you enjoy getting into the details of weather.

Another popular weather forecasting service is put out by the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury VT. It is called Eye on the Sky and is produced by Chris Bouchard. His forecasts are the ones used by Vermont Public Radio.

Eye on the Sky is calling for one to three inches of snow Tuesday east of the Green Mountain and two to five inches west. The snow could mix with rain at times over the far southern valleys. On Tuesday night, Chris expects an additional three to seven inches.

Whatever the snow accumulation ends up being, this latest storm should make for good skiing, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, etc. We have deep base almost everywhere except I noticed snowshoeing at the lowest elevation in the Mad River Valley yesterday that the snow is only a few inches deep there. Most upper elevations such as our inn have a couple of feet of snow on the ground and the ski areas have much more.

For weather forecasts in other parts of Vermont, you can use the weather do-hickey in the right hand column of this blog. Just enter the zip code of the place you would like to visit or use one of the samples I supplied.

As a side note, I noticed on the Eye On the Sky website that on this day in 1936, three inches of BROWN snow fell in Vermont. It was most likely due to dust storms in the Great Plains. So I guess that was a "dusting" of snow (pun intended).

There's snow time like the right time to stop writing before I pun again.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn