Written by Kimberley Rupe

The first snowfall of the year in Rutland County can feel magical.

While our friends at the Killington Resort have been making snow for the past few weeks for their ski and snowboard season, the first true snowfall seems to always make everyone pause for a moment and take in the changing seasons, glistening fresh snow, and breaking out your snow gear. We saw our first snowfall of the year just after Thanksgiving which delayed travel plans for some but not to worry, it was only temporary. Rutland Snowfall 2021

Here are three reasons why we love the first snowfall in Rutland County:

The Best Photos
When we say that Vermont is a year-round opportunity for scenic photography, we aren’t kidding. Many people love to take in the scenery during the fall when our leaves are popping with color, but when the snow falls perfectly on our Green Mountains, the view is just as spectacular. This year, we were fortunate enough that our first snowfall fell perfectly on our tree limbs that set the stage for the most picturesque winter photos with just the right amount of sparkle.

A Whole New Long List of Activities
We aren’t just a state for year-round scenic photography. We are also a state with year-round activities and as soon as the snow hits the ground, we are breaking out our winter gear for those favorite activities that you can only do with snow covered grounds.

Here are just a few of our best winter activities from some of our locals:

  • Sledding: grab your downhill sleds, put on your snowsuit, and slide down your favorite hill. Walking back up isn’t always our favorite part, but at least it gives us some great exercise – unless you have a friend with a snowmobile to bring you back up.
  • Build a Snowman: with the right snow that packs together perfectly, you will see people of all ages grabbing a few supplies from the kitchen (you can’t forget a carrot for the nose and a few raisons for the smile and eyes) and building a giant snowman in the front yard for all the neighbors to see. If you have enough snow, you can bet that there will kids hiding behind forts built of snow as well.
  • Go for a hike in the woods: with fresh snow on the ground, it can be the perfect time to take a hike in the woods to see the animal tracks imprinted in the snow. Don’t forget your guide so that you can identify the critters from their footprint!

Holiday LightsHoliday Cheer
It should come as no surprise that fresh snow on the ground gets us all even more excited for the upcoming holiday season. The twinkly lights we see during the holiday season seem to shine even brighter with snow on the ground and in the branches of the trees. Even if we get an early snowfall, you will quickly start seeing the holiday lights coming out with the smell of cookies baking in the oven or a candle burning with the aroma of balsam trees.

 

With the first snowfall, you shouldn’t be surprised that you will also see the hard-working individuals plowing our roads at all hours of the day and night, a dash of locals heading to their mechanics to get their winter tires put on who thought they had a few more weeks, and snowmobile tracks in the front lawns of people who couldn’t fight the urge any longer but knew they needed to wait for a few more inches before venturing to the public trails. But most of all, you will be sure to see a whole lot of kiddos bundled up with big smiles on their faces having a snowball fight or building a snowman.

 

If you haven’t been to Rutland County for the first snowfall, you may want to add it to your bucket list. It is a magical time with the first sign of a winter filled with skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice skating, hot chocolate, red noses, and so much more.

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