WHAT DOES SPRING LOOK LIKE IN VERMONT?

In Vermont, April’s average temperatures are in the 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit range. Flowers begin to grow through snow-patched gardens and Vermont’s wildlife comes out of hibernation. But sometimes, like this past week, we experience unseasonably high temperatures. Some portions of Vermont broke single-day records this past week with temps in the high 80s. Rutland County experienced low-mid 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Vermont’s highest April temperature on record is 90 degrees Fahrenheit, in 1976 and 1990. On days when there is still snow on the ground, but people are rocking shorts and tank tops on the grassy spot nearby, we think of this as merging winter and summer into our own unique season.

Snow on the Mountains

Even on days as hot as this weekend, you will still find people skiing and riding on whatever snow they can find that hasn’t melted yet. If you zoom in, this is a photo of Pico Mountain from Lefferts Pond in Chittenden, Vermont. Pico Mountain stopped running its chair lifts at the beginning of April this year, but some hardcore skiers will skin or hike up and ride down where they can find enough snow to make the season last a little longer. As of early this week, 60 of the 175 trails on Killington Mountain are still open with multiple lifts running. They call Killington Mountain the Beast of the East for many reasons, one is offering the longest ski season.

2023 Pond Skimming at Killington Mountain. Photo Courtesy of Killington Resort.

Pond Skimming

This segues perfectly into pond skimming. Have you ever heard of it? If not, get ready for something that seems a bit hard to believe but fun at the same time. This competition is made up of adventurers who ski or ride down a bit of the mountain into a frigid pool or pond and attempt to skim across to the other side. Some reign victorious, and others fall with a hard splash. It is unclear where the tradition began, but some have tracked it back to the late 1920s in Alberta, Canada. Of course, as the tradition has evolved costumes have become highly encouraged. Those brave enough to attempt to make their way across the water dress up for this event at Killington Resort. Killington’s 2023 pond skimming event took place this past weekend, so for those who fell into the water, it might have been a nice cool down from the hot sun.

Snow on The Beach

This isn’t an ode to Taylor Swift’s song, “Snow on The Beach.” Sometimes, there really is snow on the sandy spaces of our lakes and larger bodies of water. This photo was taken Sunday, April 16, at the Chittenden Reservoir. The sun was strong, but not strong enough to melt all of the snow away.

For many people in the North East, this is an uplighting time when the seasons merge. There is still a little bit of snow, flowers are beginning to grow, and there are signs of summer on the horizon.

Do you dream of living in a place where we celebrate the beginning of warm weather, but are still happy to have snow? Then, Vermont is the place for you! If you are interested in learning more about this beautiful area so many have made their home, connect with us here! We are always happy to discuss opportunities in our region.