WONDERLAND

Just over the ridge, in the distance, is the way to Mad River and Sugarbush ski areas.

It appears we live in the Banana Belt.  The Deep South part of the Banana Belt, judging by the snow we haven’t got right here, on our road, that is.  ('Banana' is relative, of course, as we’re talking about Vermont.)  There are dustings of white and frozen puddles underneath that snow, but the fields show as much brown stubble as white, and the woods are half white, half brown, the trees bare.  So it is surprising to travel a few mere miles to the east, toward the high mountains, and find fresh snow, plenty deep enough to ski on, and, a bit closer to the mountains, abruptly discover a world of white on white on white.

As soon as you drove up one of the gaps (i.e., mountain passes) the world looks different.
This happens to be Appalachian Gap.

How did that happen?  We had a day of warmish (30’s) weather during which it rained, then sleeted, and then, while the temperature still hovered around freezing, there came a layer of wet snow.  The wet snow glued itself to the trees, and was followed by several inches of light, fluffy snow and very low temperatures.  The cold (in the minuses, and no higher than about 15-20 degrees) allowed every bit of fluff to stay exactly where it was.  Not even bright sunshine managed to loosen the trees of their burdens.   But all of that didn't happen right here.  But close.

A creek along the Robert Frost Trail on Middlebury Gap.

A row of trees or perhaps bushes, bowing as if in homage

Branches form an arbor on the Robert Frost Trail.

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep..." (Frost)
But today they have an inner light.

Many trees had already shouldered a load a month ago when they had to carry a tremendous load of ice and snow.  That wasn’t pretty.  And there was so much damage.  Sadly many of those same trees never had an opportunity to try and straighten again before this fresh, albeit somewhat more gentle, assault.  Along the Robert Frost Trail on Middlebury Gap the path I walked was often blocked by limbs bent so low they formed a kind of arbor.  I noticed with pleasure that although there was one set of footprints before mine, whoever had walked the trail had taken care not to disturb the snow on the limbs he or she had slipped beneath.

At the top of 'App Gap'

The effect was more pronounced on Appalachian Gap.  But as you drove over the top the phenomenon abruptly ended, the trees showing only some fresh snow, nothing frosted.  At Sugarbush, if you looked back at Mt. Ellen, you could see the top third of the mountain covered in white. 

Beautiful conditions, but brutal wind, plus cold!
Couldn't take the ride up, we left early.

This side of Ap Gap, looking ahead to Mt. Ellen

The large view is not the only angle for seeing something beautiful.

The very cold mornings sometimes make frost on the side of the house, like these butterfly crystals.

A seat from which to contemplate the view, at the Robert Frost Trail.  Aaah!