It was just before noon on a recent warm clear Saturday Spring day when, from the front porch of the October Country Inn, you heard the start cannon go off.  Shortly thereafter the first wave of splashing rafters could be seen through the trees making their erratic way down the nearby Ottauquechee River.  The 39th annual Bridgewater Raft Race had begun.

The race is always held on a Saturday at the end of April or beginning of May.  The three mile course down the Ottauquechee River, paralleling Route 4, starts from just west of the Long Trail Brewery, and ends at the Bridgewater Mill.  It is open to anyone with a self-propelled, home-made raft, and a $5.00 entry fee.  The entry fee, and revenue from T-shirt sales go to support the local Bridgewater volunteer Fast Squad.  Prizes are rewarded for first, second, and third place finishers, as well as for best raft name, most original raft, most challenging raft, and any other fun category somebody comes up with.

In 1974 two local hippies decided to honor the Phantom Duck of the Rivers, and began what has become the annual Bridgewater Raft Race tradition.  Rules are minimal.  Rafts (including any oars)  must be home-made and self-propelled.  The Ottauquechee Rive is usually shallow at this time of year, but the water is cold.   Helmets and life jackets are recommended.  Interested in doing something unusual, and having some wet Springtime fun in the bargain,  check out the Bridgewater Raft Race website for details.

The area in Vermont’s Green Mountains near the October Country Inn is a web of scenic roads, highways, and byways.  One such lesser known network is the VAST trails system.  The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) trails is a magical snow highway that suddenly appears every winter. It goes through back country and snow-covered mountains, secluded valleys and friendly villages. It delivers eye-stopping vistas for its travelers, and conveniently stops right at the October Country Inn’s door.

The October Country Inn’s location alongside the VAST trail network.

Since 1967, Vermont has been opening the doors to Winter’s wonders with a remarkable trail system that now totals over 5,000 miles.  These trails provide a wonderful opportunity to snowshoe, cross-country ski, or snowmobile through the woods.  If snowmobiling is your passion, or an activity you might want to explore either by renting a snowmobile or signing up with a local company for a guided tour, the VAST trail network provides almost limitless opportunity for fun.  If your visiting and just want to explore the back-country on snowshoes or cross-country ski’s, the VAST trails provide this opportunity without the worry of getting lost in the woods.

The VAST trails are just another way to enjoy Vermont Winters during the day, and still be close to a relaxing evening while kicking back next to the October Country Inn’s hearth-side woodfire’s warn glow.

In our continuing examination of the many varieties and types of winter activities Vermont has to offer, we would be remiss without mentioning the obvious–skiing or riding.  If you may be inclined to think that skiing or riding is beyond your capacity, either physically, or economically, you may be suffering from a misconception, and cheating yourself out of having a great winter-time activity.  In relatively recent years, there has been a revolution in ski and snowboard technology, as well as in teaching methods, that greatly reduces the time it takes and difficulty of learning either or both of these activities well enough to safely have a good time.  Since Killington Ski Resort is home mountain to the October Country Inn, and the learn to ski or ride program they offer is the best in the area, as well as an extremely good deal, this is the place to go.

The Discovery Center at Killington’s Snowshed Lodge. Home of the Learn to Ski or Ridge program.

Generally speaking, it takes about three lessons to get to the point where you can navigate a beginner trail on your own with an acceptable level of confidence and control.  Of course, there is no substitute for experience in order to develop the muscle memory that will eventually make this activity completely natural and second nature, but having three lessons under your belt should go a long way toward getting you on the right track so that added practice is not just reinforcing bad habits.  For this reason, the Killington Learn to Ski or Ride program is set up to provide for three lessons, as well as future incentives for the continuing practice that will cement your new found skills in place.

The way that Killington packages their Learn to Ski or Ride program, you pay $199.00 and get the first two group lessons (class size maximum of 5), lift tickets, and equipment rental. When you have completed the first two lessons, you get a third lesson, lift ticket, and equipment rental for free.  After you have completed the third lesson, you get a free lift ticket for your fourth visit, and finally, you are issued a Killington Learner’s Permit that entitles you to 50% off the retail prices for lift tickets, lessons, or equipment rental through the end of the 2013/2014 season.  Wow!  Think about it.  This is an incredible opportunity to learn to ski or ride.  Of course, you may become addicted to the sport.  Killington would be happy to count you as a continuing customer, and we hope you’ll make the October Country Inn your home away from home.

When I moved from southern California to Vermont in 2001, I wondered how I would adjust to the image I had of ferocious New England winters.  A local Vermonter told me to find a way to enjoy winter because there’s no place to hide from it.  That was good advice.  There’s plenty to do during the Winter, and I’ve grown to look forward to this season for the specialized variety of outdoor activities that are only available at this time.  One such activity is ice fishing.

It’s usually around mid-January that the ice on nearby Echo Lake forms a good, hard layer of clear, blue ice between 4 and 6 inches thick.  This is the minimum thickness range that would be considered safe for a person or small group to venture onto the ice, fishing equipment in hand, and settle in for a fun winter activity that allows plenty of time for socializing between parents and children, relatives and friends.  There’s always a good chance of bringing home fresh fish for dinner.

Seasoned Vermont ice anglers know that there are three general ice-fishing seasons: first ice, mid-winter, and last ice.  Many believe that first ice is the most productive, as fish are actively feeding, often still in shallow water.  But first ice can be dangerous if the surface ice is not yet fully frozen to a minimum 4 inch depth.  In mid-winter, weeds along the shore die and fish tend to move into deeper water.  As light diminishes and temperatures plummet, feeding tends to slow.  But if you can locate schools of crappies, perch, or walleye in pockets of deep water, vigorous jigging and the right lures can bring success.  Last ice brings new weed growth along the shorelines, as well as more warmth and light, so fish tend to move back toward shallower water.

To begin ice fishing, you need a couple of lightly-rigged jugging poles, a few jigs and lures, small bobbers, split shot, live bait such as minnows or waxworms, a bucket to transport gear and to sit on, an ice auger, and ice skimmer.  Build yourself a tip-up.  Designs vary, but the essential feature is a flag that tips up when a fish strikes.  The example shown at left has a vertical bar that anchors the device with a pivoting horizontal bar with the fishing line dropping into the hole from one end and a small flag at opposite end.  When a fish strikes, it pulls the end with the line attached down, and tips the flag up.

By early Ferbruary, serious ice anglers have staked out their spots with a wide variety of “shanties.” Some are heated and equipped with sound systems or satellite TV.

The only equipment about which anglers totally agree on is clothing and boots.  Be sure to dress in layers, including a wind-breaking layer.  You can always shed a layer or two if you’re too warm.  The single most important item in the ice fishing wardrobe is footwear.  Insulated rubber boots, or boots with separate, thick felt liners, are the best insurance against cold feet.  Boots should fit loose enough to accommodate extra socks and to allow maximum blood circulation.  Good headgear is particularly important when ice fishing.  Up to 80% of the heat lost on a cold day leaves the body from the head and neck.

The winter access area to Echo Lake is located about 8 miles from the October Country Inn on the west shore alongside Route 100.  The lake contains large and smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, bullhead, and pumpkinseed sunfish.  Recreational fishing in Vermont requires is regulated by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and requires a fishing license.  Check out their website for  details.

There’s no less expensive way than sledding to have an afternoon filled with fun.  All you need is some snow, a hill, and anything that slides.

At the October Country Inn, we keep a supply of simple plastic tub sleds in the shed for our guests to use.  The backyard provides the hill.

For more adventurous sledding, Mt. Tom, a local sledding hill just outside of Woodstock, will provide the thrills if you’re willing to put in the work.

Two late afternoon sledders trek up Mt. Tom

The Mt. Tom sledding hill is located just outside of Woodstock.  Started by Maurice Wood during the early 1950s, but later taken over by the Rockefeller family, the Mt. Tom ski area had two poma lifts, and seven ski trails.  It combined with the Suicide Six ski area in the 1960s, and for a dollar, you could get a combination lift ticket. The Mt. Tom ski area was closed in the 1980s to focus on Suicide Six.  Now, the former 500 vertical drop Mt. Tom ski hill is a favorite local sledding venue.

Just about anything that slides can be used as a sled, but the most common types are the disk type, toboggans, tubes, or runner sleds.  Of the runner sleds, the “Flexible Flyer” is the tried and true favorite.  Invented by Samuel Leeds Allen, the Flexible Flyer has been the most popular sled for over a hundred years.

X marks the Mt. Tom sled hill. Follow Route 12 north out of Woodstock. Park across the street.

However, due to the thin runners on this type of sled, it doesn’t perform as well as the other types of sleds in deep snow.  Once the snow is compacted however, runner sleds like the Flexible Flyer are much faster.

To reach the Mt. Tom sledding hill, take Route 12 north from the center of Woodstock.  Go past Billings Farm, and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park.  Mt. Tom is on your left.  Park in the lot across the street.

If sledding sounds like a fun thing to do, but you would really rather not slog uphill 20 minutes for every 30 second ride, local ski resorts offer lift server tubing parks for a nominal fee.  At Killington Ski Resort, they have a multi lane, lift serviced tubing park that is lighted to allow of night tubing.

A two inch carpet of fresh new snow fell this afternoon.  Winter has returned to the October Country Inn.  Out comes the Winter gear: base layer clothing, gloves and mittens, boots, goggles and snowshoes.  Soon I’m swooshing along an oft trodden trail through very familiar woods, but it doesn’t seem familiar.  It’s different. I’m amazed how different such a familiar walk becomes when the woods are covered in snow.  It’s like a completely different trail in a completely different place.  In some ways, it is.

Modern aluminum frame snowshoes.

Snowshoeing is growing in popularity as those who love the outdoors rediscover this ancient form of snow travel revived by modern materials and design.  Modern aluminum frame snowshoes are light and easy to walk with.  Built-in cleats provide positive traction and prevent slippage on ice.   Snowshoes are inexpensive as Winter sports equipment goes, and don’t require any special kind of shoes.

There are many close by snowshoe trail options.  The October Country Inn is located on the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) trail network.  This network of marked and mapped trails cover the state of Vermont, and connect with similar trail networks in adjoining states and Canada.  There is access to the Catamount trail near Pico ski resort.  The Catamount trail is a 300 mile cross-country ski and snowshoe trail that runs the length of Vermont.  The trail is marked with blue blazes as well as little signs displaying the Catamount logo and is easily followed.  Near Woodstock, trails to Mount Tom can be found at the back of Faulkner Park.  Trails to Mount Peg can be found at the trail-head behind the Woodstock Inn.

If snowshoeing is something you’d like to try, snowshoe rentals are available at most ski/snowboard rental shops.  Winter can be cold in Vermont, so dress in layers with insulated boots, gloves or mittens, hat, and goggles.  Walking poles or ski poles are helpful but not necessary.  Embrace Winter. Give snowshoeing a try.

Returning back down River Road in the Fall.

Sometimes, while staying at the October Country Inn, you might wake up early on a beautiful day and want to take a walk before breakfast.  Or, you just want to take a walk in the neighborhood without having do drive somewhere first.  When we get this urge, Edie and I walk down to River Road for a 3 mile stroll alongside the Ottauquechee River.

From the inn, head east on Upper Road for a short distance and take the spur trail off to the right.  It emerges on Route 4 across the street from the Bridgewater Corner Store at the

A Jack-in-the-pulpit alongside the trail.

intersection of Route 4 and Route 100A.  Follow Route 100A south.  Cross the Ottauquechee River bridge and turn left on River Road just past the Bridgewater Grange Hall.

Follow River Rd to the east for about a mile.  This flat gravel road becomes increasingly less maintained as it narrows into a quiet lane through the woods that closely follows the river.  This is a great place to see Orioles in the summer.  The road begins an uphill trend that brings you to a intersection with a snowmobile trail that turns off to the right.  Continue straight ahead, moving away from the river, into a clearing on a small hill.  This road becomes just a faint double-track path over this clearing and continues into mixed woods on the other side.

Turn left into the pine woods just as the road turns to the right.

Continue following this relatively flat primitive road for about .4 mile as it crosses several small creeks.  You will come to a small creek with a markedly short, steep hill that turns to the right at the top.  Just before this turn, on your left, you will see a faint but discernible trail that angles off toward the river in the general direction from which you came.  Follow this trail through a pine forest as you begin to make a loop back toward the river.

You will descend a short but steep pitch as you arrive back at the river.  At this point, after crossing a creek, the path turns away from the river and goes uphill for a short distance before merging back with River Road.  Turn right and retrace your route back to Route 100A and back to the inn.

Heading back toward the river thru the pine woods.

An abbreviated, 2 mile version of this walk would be to skip the 1 mile loop section that starts at the intersection with the snowmobile trail, and just walk to that point and return.

However, quiet-time-in-the-woods is a precious thing.  It may be difficult to acquire if you live in an urban-ish setting.  It may be a good part of why you’re in Vermont to begin with.  In other words, don’t miss the loop part of this walk, Especially in the late summer and fall.

It’s also a great candidate for a snowshoe trek during the Winter.

Fall splendor alongside Pomfret Road.

Fall is here, and the colorful foliage that Vermont is known for is close to full bloom at the October Country Inn.  Everybody wants to be here during the “peak,” when the colors are the brightest.  But “peak” is a moving target.  Generally, “peak” foliage colors move from north to south, and from higher elevations to lower elevations.  Given this movement, the best strategy for viewing fall colors is to drive around.

Pomfret and Cloudland roads loop.

Another reason to drive around is that you will often find that stands of vibrant colored foliage occur in pockets–you’ll drive around a corner and be stunned with a burst of color that will take your breath away.

There are many little known back-road routes in this area to choose from.  Just wander around, don’t be afraid to take dirt roads, most are in great shape and will reward the adventurous sightseer with an endless series of postcard quality views.

One such route just outside of Woodstock, is to take Pomfret Road to the top of Galaxy Hill and Cloudland Road back down.   Begin this 15 mile route at the Billings Farm on Route 12 just north of Woodstock.

Vermont hill farm alongside Cloudland Road.

Driving north out of Woodstock on Route 12, go past the Billings Farm where it intersects with River Road.  Less than a mile further, leave Route 12 by taking the “Y” to the right onto Pomfret Road.  About 2 miles further, Look for the Teago Store.  Follow Pomfret Road by turning right at the Teago Store and  wind up the hill for a couple of miles.  Just before the top, next to an apple orchard, take Galaxy Hill Road to the right.  This short dirt road passes some impressive real estate before intersecting with Cloudland Road.  Take Cloudland Road to the right and begin down this dirt road.  The Appalachian Trail crosses near the top.  Keep on Cloudland Road until it intersects with River Road.  Turn right at River Road and arrive back at Billings Farm and Route 12.

There are many such routes in the area.  This will give you a flavor of what to expect.  Be adventurous.

Location of the vista trail in relation to surrounding terrain.

Guests at the October Country Inn often ask where they can rent a kayak or canoe, or just hang out at a nearby lake.  We recommend the Plymouth State Park on Echo Lake.  It’s close by, it has a large grassy area with shade trees, picnic tables, and a sandy lakefront beach.  Boat rentals are available, and the lake is great for swimming or wading.  Also, there’s a vista trail from the park that climbs to a great view of Echo Lake.

The Echo Lake vista trail’s round-trip distance is about 1.5 miles, and the trail climbs about 1,500 feet to an elevation of about 2,000 feet.  The trail is well marked with blue blazes, in both directions, which make it a good candidate for winter snowshoeing as well as summer/fall hiking.

An upper section of the vista trail

The trail-head can be found on the mountain side of the park where the paved portion of Scout Camp Road turns to dirt.  The trail starts by following the remnants of an old road under the canopy of a mixed hardwood forest of birch and beech that serviced the nearby Tyson-Pollard Cemetery.  After about .1 of a mile, a vista trail sign marker signals a turn to the left off the old road.  This blue blaze marked trail begins to ascend and goes through red oaks and red spruce as it ascends to higher elevations.

This trail combines again with the old cemetery road and passes through the upper end of the old Tyson-Pollard Cemetery.  At this point the trail narrows and starts to climb in earnest.  The upper section of the trail is rutted, rocky, and quite steep in sections.  If taken slowly, however, it’s not that strenuous.  Fortunately, it is not very long.

View of Echo Lake with fall colors starting to show.

In short order you will emerge into a small clearing that provides a great view of Echo Lake with some of Okemo Mountain’s ski trails visible in the distance.  The view during fall colors is  even more dramatic.  Once you get back to the lake, go for a well earned dip to cool off.