The mountain is open and the skiing, albeit with limited terrain, has been widely praised. Killington has been investing very significant amounts of money and resources into improving its infrastructure and the overall customer experience, and now under the leadership of its extremely capable new president, Mike Solimano, (check out his new blog) its vision for the future is ambitious and comprehensive. I can say this with real confidence, having seen quite a number of resort management teams over the years. Anticipation of the completion of the new peak lodge, now under construction, will certainly grow through the coming year.

As I wish ourselves and our wonderful guests a snowy, schuss-filled winter, I also send our very best wishes to those who suffered loss in the wake of Hurricane Sandy-our prayers are with you.

Manfred has long been a “serious” athlete, having been a successful soccer player and ski racer in his youth, later a soccer and ski racing coach and tennis instructor, and more recently in addition to his continued passion for skiing, a dedicated cyclist. But the recent trend toward extreme sports is to some degree a different creature and the Killington region lends itself perfectly to the genre. A few weeks ago Killington hosted for the second year the Spartan Race, a grueling test of physical ability and endurance not suited for the faint of heart (or body). Several thousand athletes and their entourages descended upon Killington, among them our son-in-law Stephane and his friend Des.

Des and Stephane after tackling The Spartan Beast Race.

Seeing this event up close and personal through their blood, sweat and tears put a whole new spin on this type of challenge, with its miles of uphill trekking, often carrying heavy sacks of sand, rope climbing, mudslithering, pond swimming and much more. As a spectator watching the final sprint, or crawl, through a wall of burning logs, I was amazed at the spirit of these men and women and their perseverance   and dedication. The consensus was strong-as in skiing, Killington presents the ultimate mountain for fun and physical activity whatever the season.

And even more recently our long time guests and friends, Doug and Steve, and their younger colleague Jessica along with their family and friends arrived for their annual participation in the Ascutney  50 Mile  Run.

Jessica, Doug and Steve run 50-miles in the VT50.

Now Doug and Steve first came to our inn almost 30 years ago, so no offense guys, but let’s just say they are “mature” athletes. My hat goes off to them, however, as they completed the race and could still walk the next day! Young Jessica actually looked downright perky after the finish line. For both of these events the bonus was enjoying the good company of both family and friends. The big challenge now for me is to continue to convince Manfred that he has enough physical activity in his repertoire already (and has had enough orthopedic repair) without giving in to the temptation of new extremes!

The Snowed Inn Wine Festival Package provides a 10 percent lodging discount to all festival goers plus 10 percent off of the Killington Wine Festival Estate Tasting, Grand Tasting and Patron Tickets.

The weekend begins Friday night at 6 p.m. at the Killington Grand Hotel with the Estate Wine Tasting, featuring a sampling of estate and reserve wine selections from the world’s leading wine makers. Participants will have a chance to meet vintners and wine representatives while enjoying light hors d’oeuvres and wines.

Beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, guests will participate in the signature event of the weekend, the Grand Tasting, which takes place in outside under a large tent at the base ofKillingtonPeak. Five hundred wines from 40 wineries will be available for sampling, plus live music and food pairings includingVermontspecialty products like cheese and chocolate, round out the event.

Green Mountain National Golf Course will play host to the Wine and Nine Golf Tournament, beginning at 3 p.m. Specially selected “Golf Friendly” wines, nine holes of golf, a light dinner and awards are all included in the event. Separate tickets are available for $50 and reservations are required.

For more details about the event, visit www.discoverkillington.com.  For the special lodging package and reservations, visit www.snowedinn.com or call 800.311.5406.

Family-owned and operated by Manfred and Jeanne Karlhuber, the Snowed Inn is a classic AAA 3-Diamond rated lodging property with 20 different rooms, all with private bath and wireless Internet access. From standard rooms with one, two or three beds, to deluxe rooms with fireplace and/or Jacuzzi tub and even some with a living rooms and kitchen/dining area, staying at the Snowed Inn is intimate yet provides the modern conveniences and amenities just steps away from the front door. A year-round outdoor spa with hot tub is nestled in the woods off the back deck, or guests can sit and share stories of their day in the common living room area.

Our son, Tom, who is well into his 30s, had a best friend in pre-school and elementary school named Bryon. They enjoyed all those activities that little boys love, with Lego and Star Wars ranking high on their list of favorites. When Tom was 10 years old we moved far away to Killington Vermont, and Bryon became a favorite memory of the past. About 10 years later in the summer, Tom and his then girlfriend, now wife, Cate, walked into First Stop Ski and Bike Shop here in Killington, and he stopped in his tracks when someone said, “Tommy?.” Sure enough, there stood Bryon and his then girlfriend, now wife, Jen. It turns out, Bryon had been living and working in Killington for a while, with no knowledge that Tom had actually moved to Killington those years before.

Twenty eight years ago, when we embarked on our innkeeping adventure, we welcomed a couple of guests to the inn, Doug and Steve, buddies from Virginia, and we quickly developed a rapport. They have continued to be our valued guests and our friends all these years, and we have followed our respective families’ life journeys with all the accompanying twists and turns.

Fast forward to this week….. Bryon and his wife Jen, who live in New Jersey and now have six children of their own, (Tom and Cate have two) seized a rare opportunity to get away as a couple back to Killington and the Snowed Inn. Doug similarly saw a chance to escape from work for a few days to the comfort and familiarity of Killington and the Snowed Inn. These people, representing several generations, who hold such a special place in our hearts, hit it off instantly and spent much of the gloriously sunny day together yesterday on the snow-covered slopes of Killington Mountain. The apres-ski “party” back at the inn was a beautiful gathering of all of us, reminiscing, catching up on the status of parents, children and grandchildren, and generally embracing each others’ company. And yes, Legos were a prime topic of discussion! I felt the warmth of fellowship of such outstanding people, and gratitude for the joy in the circle of life.

Speaking of being grateful, especially with Thanksgiving on the horizon and Irene in our rearview mirror, we have to give thanks for the spectacular recovery efforts and preparations for the ski season that have been underway. Killington Resort has been working feverishly to repair the damaged section of the base lodge and is installing the innovative Umbrella Bar, putting a positive, fun spin on the damage inflicted by Irene. Snowmaking has been pretty consistent in spite of fluctuating temperatures, prompting Manfred to make his first turns of the season today, pronouncing the skiing quite good. I think all of us in our resort town are grateful that Killington Resort once again recognizes the value in being the first ski resort to open, and we all understand the value of that welcoming smile. Come on up-we are ready for your arrival!

For us for starters, Irene caused no loss of life or bodily harm, and our inn and our home were undamaged. Yes, business has suffered, but here’s the lemonade part—folks are informed about the quick rehabilitation of our roads and infrastructure, and they are coming toVermont. They have become much more aware of the tenacious aspect of the Vermonters’ character and are rewarding us with their presence, often because they want to help us back on our feet, knowing their experience will be vintage Vermont—beautiful views and warm hospitality. Yes, Irene dumped a lot of water on us, but it turns out that’s good for the quality of the foliage colors (more lemonade).

We are in turn more grateful than ever for the faith our guests have in us and in this beautiful state. Killington Resort is squeezing those lemons as well. First of all, Killington Base Lodge was NOT destroyed by Irene. Damage to one small section, yes; destruction, no. As a result, the damaged section has been removed and will be replaced by a brand new deck topped by two European custom built outdoor bars, fully heated, with adjustable walls and windows to adapt to the changing weather conditions, offering prime views ofKillingtonPeakand Superstar. What a great, brand new way to savor the après ski experience at the finest ski resort in the East! Lemonade, anyone?