If it’s Summer

This Must be Killington!

by Greg Crawford

It’s understandable that some people tend to associate Killington Resort with skiing, snowboarding, and other forms of winter recreation; it is, after all, the largest and most popular ski resort in the East. You could say, Killington IS winter. Ah, but that’s not all there is to Killington, not by a long shot!

You could also say, Killington IS summer! Man, there is nowhere else you can go that offers a wider variety of vacation packages and individual activities for your summer enjoyment. It’s hard to know where to begin, but let’s start with golf.

The venerable game of golf exerts an almost supernatural hold on some people. They get so obsessive they’ll play while it’s raining, they’ll play while it’s snowing; heck, some would play in the middle of the night if you gave ‘em glow-in-the-dark balls! One very dear friend comes to mind, but he shall remain nameless. He might not assign me any more stories!

The 18-hole, par 72 course at Killington Golf Resort was completed in 1983 and designed by the world-renowned Geoffrey Cornish. The 6,186-yard course has its challenges; it is a heavily wooded mountain course, after all. But the risk of having you ball eaten by a bear is balanced by generous landing areas on most holes, and not too many hazards between the tees and holes. There is one water hazard across which it is possible to skip a ball like a flat rock. I know; I’ve done it! We will not discuss my score. Even single-minded golf fanatics should be advised that it is impossible to complete 18 holes without pausing at least once or twice to take in the awesome beauty of the mountain vistas surrounding Killington Golf Resort.

While you’re waiting to tee off, you can avail yourself of the full practice facility that includes a 14-station driving range, a 12,000 square-foot putting green and a practice bunker.

The Clubhouse Grille serves excellent food, and you can even order lunch “to go” from a phone between the 7th green and the 8th tee. There’s a snack bar at the first tee that is also easily accessed by players between the 9th and 10th. The pro shop is very well stocked with a broad range of top-of-the-line equipment, accessories, and apparel.

If you’re looking to improve your game, and who isn’t, you might want to sign up for the 3-day midweek Killington Mountain Golf School. This excellent program includes lodging, instruction, videotaping, greens fees, cart rental, driving range, and lunch. Call 1-800-621 MTNS for more information.

Another very popular Killington vacation is the Killington Mountain Bike Package. The 2-day/2-night package includes lodging and a mountain biking pass if you bring your own bike. If you choose to rent one, you get to choose from 2 full-suspension Kona bikes in a variety of frame sizes: the Dawg, or my personal favorite, the Stinky. The K-1 Gondola takes you to the top of 4,241-foot Killington Peak, where, on a clear day, you can see forever. Well, at least as far as Canada. Legend has it that you can see 5 states from up there. Let’s see; there’s Vermont, of course. Then there’s New Hampshire to the east, New York to the west, and Massachusetts to the south. OK, that’s four… what’s the fifth one? Connecticut? No, must be Maine. But you have to stand on your tippy-toes and squint. I don’t know; every time I’ve been up there, all I could see is mountains in every direction. Couldn’t see my house. Whatever. Bring a camera just the same; the view is fantastic.

There are more than 40 miles of well-marked trails and terrain to suit mountain bikers of every skill level, from leisurely dirt roads for beginners to hairy downhill trails for seasoned riders who think the jury is still out on the theory of gravity.

Those who are new to the sport can enhance their enjoyment by signing up for trail riding lessons. Riding a mountain bike over rough terrain requires skills one doesn’t acquire on a suburban sidewalk. These bikes don’t have training wheels, either. A guided tour is also available. If you don’t know the trails, or are directionally challenged, it’s way more fun to have someone knowledgeable guide your ride to the coolest spots than to pedal all over the place trying to find them yourself. Then next time you can guide someone!

When your kids are all grown up, you can smile with satisfaction when they reminisce, “Remember that summer when we went to Killington? Man, that was fun!” A memorable family vacation is virtually guaranteed with the Killington Summer Adventures Package. There’s something to delight everyone. A perennial favorite is the Alpine Slide at Pico Mountain. It’s hard to imagine someone not knowing what the Alpine Slide is, but if you live a two-day yak ride from the middle of nowhere, I suppose it’s possible. The Alpine Slide is a serpentine half-round track that twists and turns down the mountainside. There are two Slides, one for kids and beginners and one for crazy people. You sit on this little wheeled sled and scream “YAHOO!” all the way down the mountain. A brake lever between your legs moderates your speed and stops you completely when you get to the end. Then you jump on the lift and go do it again. And again. And… well, you get the idea. It’s a thrilling ride that’ll get the adrenaline squirting out you ears! You know, they used to hang people for having that much fun.

Another challenge is the Climbing Wall. Color-coded hand and footholds designate the various climbing routes. The routes vary in degree of difficulty, and are rated numerically. For instance, a 5.10 would require that you are actually Spiderman by night. Climbers wear a special climbing harness by which they are belayed, or suspended, by a rope held by someone on the ground, so if they should lose their grip and fall off the wall, they’ll just dangle instead of bouncing.

A more leisurely pastime that everyone can enjoy is Mini Golf. Don’t kid yourself; the 19-hole course still requires some skill. The legendary Tiger Woods might find the Windmill to be a challenge, but even if you’re not blessed with Tiger’s eye-to-hand coordination, you’ll still have a grand time and laugh way too much.

The Pico Power Jump lets you leap tall buildings in a single bound! OK, you won’t be faster than a speeding bullet or more powerful than a locomotive, but you’ll have a super good time suspended between two giant bungee cords while you get airborne bouncing off a trampoline. You can do double flips, fourple somersaults and fly through the air with the greatest of ease.

Horseback riding at Pico Mountain Stables is fantastic fun. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear… Hiyo, Silver! Away! Sorry, no white stallions. But there’s nothing quite like the creak of saddle leather and the comforting rhythm of your noble mount as you ride the network of mountain trails. Western tack assures the secure comfort of even novice horsemen and women. There are also shorter pony rides for cowboys and cowgirls four years of age and up. Happy trails to you… sing it, Roy! Call 1-800-621-6867 for more information or reservations.

Some folks would prefer to just take a hike. The trail network around Killington’s seven mountains is vast. You could hike all day every day for a year and probably not see it all! But you gotta start somewhere, so lace up your hiking boots, grab your canteen, compass and camera, and get out there!

After herding Dad and the kids from one adventure to another, Mom might like to relax with a day at the Killington Grand Spa. All that fun can be exhausting, and nothing relieves tension and works out the kinks like a luxurious massage. Killington’s expert massage therapists can provide classic Swedish massage, Reiki, Deep-tissue, Warm stone, and acupressure massage. You can even make a reservation for craniosacral therapy. The massage experience can also be enhanced with aroma therapy.

Once your bones have been reduced to rubber, you can go for a Body Wrap and treatment. Seaweed, mud and green tea wraps, combined with a sugar scrub, exfoliate, rejuvenate, and revitalize you as never before. Skin treatments restore that youthful glow, and a manicure/pedicure completes a day of well-deserved pampering. Call 802-422-1050 for more information or to make a reservation.

If you’re going to be in Killington for an extended stay, the children might enjoy the Kid’s Quest Summer Day Camp at Pico. The Day Camp is operated by the Vermont Achievement Center, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization that has been serving children and families throughout Vermont since 1937.

There are also a multitude of other activities that take place in and around Killington all summer long. Now in its 27th season, the Killington Music Festival is the only resident professional classical music organization in central Vermont. Go to www.Killington.com for more information on summer activities. See you soon!

The Tweed River Music Festival

Sby Greg Crawford

Summer means different things to different people, but most everyone can agree that summer is a time for festivities, and what is more festive than a festival? Can’t argue with that logic. For a few years now, local singer and songwriter, Bow Thayer, has gathered friends from far and wide for impromptu musical get-togethers. Some, like Bow, are seasoned professionals, long accustomed to performing; some are gifted amateurs, and some play a mean radio and just like to listen.

Good music always draws a crowd, and last year’s party was so popular that Bow, and friends Rob and Lindsay McFadden, Amy Perez, and bass player Jeremy Curtis, decided to make it official. What was once just an impromptu musical get-together has now been christened (cue trumpet fanfare) The First Annual Tweed River Music Festival! The Festival is being held on the spacious grounds of the former Annabelle’s Restaurant at the intersection of VT Routes 100 and 107 in Stockbridge, VT. Look for the psychedelic school bus; you can’t miss it!

Bow recently observed that one of the most rewarding things about putting this event together was the remarkable sense of community, and the amazing generosity, both in spirit and deed, that has been demonstrated by the town of Stockbridge and all the people who have contributed their time and talent, with little or no recompense, to help make the Festival a reality. The Tweed River Music Festival is operating on a frog-hair budget, so Bow and company send mega-thanks out to all who have helped so much. You know who you are!

The prime mover and shaker behind the Tweed River Music Festival is Bow Thayer, who wasn’t born in Vermont, but he got here as fast as could, some 12 years ago. Bow is a man of diverse talents. Bow has been playing guitar since he was but a wee lad of 13. Like all musicians, Bow doesn’t much care for labels, but if you have to hang a name on his style of music, it would be “greasy soulful mountain music.”

Bow’s band grew out of a collection of sidemen working with Bob Dylan. Levon is famous for his “Rambles,” a social/musical phenomenon not unlike the impromptu musical get-togethers that evolved into the Tweed River Music Festival.

Though folks will probably be arriving and setting up camp well before the music begins, the Tweed River Music Festival starts with the first of the weekend’s performances at 8 PM on Friday, July 3rd. On Saturday, the music will commence around noon and continue until midnight. The Tweed River Music Festival will conclude at 5 PM on Sunday, July 5th.

Admission is $20 per person, but children under 12 are admitted free. If you’re planning to camp out for the weekend, admission is $40. No dogs are permitted. There are convenience stores and markets nearby where campers can purchase essentials, and there will be Port-o-potties on-site. No electrical hookups or running water are available, so come prepared to rough it.

If you want to reserve tickets online, go to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/68174 Some tickets will be on sale at the gate, but there is a limit on attendance, and especially on camping tickets, since there are only so many campsites available, so it is strongly recommended that you buy your tickets online. As was mentioned earlier, the first performance in at 8 o’clock Friday night. It’s a party! All the bands appearing over the course of the weekend are friends of Bow’s; people he has performed with over the years.

BOW THAYER and PERFECT TRAIN WRECK. A 5-piece band, four of whom were the last ones standing after too many 3-hour drives to Vermont. The Festival’s headliners, they will perform on Saturday night, but will probably make an appearance Friday night, too. Plus, of course, everyone will be sittin’ in with everyone else.

THE WHEELS. Jabe Beyer is a Boston boy who has spent a lot of time in that most musical of cities, Nashville, Tennessee. His new band features the talents of a fellow singer-songwriter he met in the land of guitar-shaped swimming pools, Sean Locke. Jabe played with Bow in the Benders.

ANTLER. A Boston band that echoes its Texas roots. One astute reviewer said the band “sounds like good beer tastes; smooth and flavorful with just a little bite.”

THE KIND BUDS of Stockbridge, Vermont play such a heavy schedule it’s a wonder they find time for bathroom breaks, let alone sleep.

DELANGE is another local band that may have taken the name of a 19th century organist and teacher from Stockbridge.

THE CUSH is Burette and Gabrielle Douglas, who cite such diverse influences as birdsong, wind, mountains and, um… comic books.

STICKY traveled all the way from San Diego, California to play for y’all. Cool.

KRIS DELMHORST sings the kind of songs you would expect from a woman who has subsistence farmed, cooked on a Maine schooner, and hitched around Ireland with a fiddle and a very distinctive voice.

JEFFERY FOUCAULT is a singer/songwriter of the Folk Troubadour tradition who is lucky enough to be married to Kris Delmhorst.

TIM GEARAN from Somerville, Mass. plays the Blues like he was molded from the mud of the Mississippi Delta.

CASSAVETTE is another B-town band with a Texas heritage. “Roots Music” is the label de rigueur for music critics these days, but these guys defy pigeonholing. The Boston Phoenix anointed them “Best local band” of 2006.