Autumn Gray and Gold

I drove up to Vermont's Champlain Islands for a meeting this week and was hoping to take some scenic photos along the way. Unfortunately, the weather turned rainy and gloomy as soon as I arrived. Still, the orange and yellow leaves against the gray sky looked so beautiful in Isle La Motte (top) and Grand Isle (bottom).

Gearing Up for Halloween

A pumpkin display in Woodstock.

I'm still thinking about what to do for Halloween. Since it falls on a Saturday this year, I feel compelled to be part of the holiday in some small way. Even though I am not a big fan of dressing up in costume, I can usually come up with something half-way amusing. (My best costume ever was Crazy Cat Lady in 2007.)

Vermont has a variety of Halloween parades, ghost walks and haunted tours. Good bets include the Rutland Halloween Parade, Queen City Ghost Walk in Burlington, and The Haunted Forest in Williston.

Another local favorite is the Cilley Hill Pumpkin Festival in Jericho on Oct. 30-31. Jericho residents Ann and Richard Stiles raise 400 to 600 pumpkins each year for the annual festival, which takes place after sundown on Cabbage Night and Halloween. The Stiles' neighbors and a local scout troop spend the weeks leading up to Halloween carving the pumpkins, which are then creatively displayed all over the neighborhood.

What will you be for Halloween this year?

My husband Dave and his younger brother Paul on Halloween, 1978.

Chittenden Reservoir

Chittenden Reservoir is tucked away between Pittsford and Killington in a rural area surrounded by the Green Mountain National Forest. A favorite among outdoor enthusiasts, the reservoir is owned by Central Vermont Public Service and began providing renewable energy in 1909. 

Near the boat launch at the south end of the reservoir is a dam as well as a few houses along the shoreline. Even with minimal residential development and a hydroelectric dam, the area is very peaceful and pristine. I was amazed at how quiet everything seemed.

Covering 750 acres in the small town of Chittenden, the reservoir is especially popular for canoeing, kayaking and fishing. Several miles of trails around the lake are used for cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, hiking and horseback riding. The area is also a haven for moose, bald eagles, loons, deer and ducks. It's a nice spot for exploring the outdoors anytime of year.

Learn more about the reservoir on Vermont Public Radio, which recently aired a story about Chittenden Reservoir's 100th birthday.

A New Life for the Martin Bridge in Marshfield

The 44-foot long Martin Bridge, among the last of Vermont's agricultural covered bridges, straddles the Winooski River in Marshfield. Built in 1890, the bridge is believed to be the only one in Vermont that never had an actual road cross through it.

Martin Bridge was built with farming in mind, and its purpose was to connect two fields divided by the 90-mile long Winooski River. The bridge is narrower and has fewer supports than a typical covered bridge. It's also taller to accommodate hay wagons and includes a cattle gate for livestock.

The bridge underwent an extensive renovation this year after falling into disrepair. I read in the local newspaper that the bridge at one point was tilted 18 inches to one side, and residents feared it would collapse into the river. The community rallied and received grants to refurbish the local landmark last spring. Surrounding the updated bridge is a new town park, which includes hiking and biking trails.

Martin Bridge is one of about 100 covered bridges still standing around the state. This small, unique bridge survived the Flood of 1927, which destroyed many covered bridges in Vermont.

Say Cheese

I don't spend much time photographing animals (other than my cats). They tend to ignore whatever I want them to do and usually look the other way as soon as I pick up my camera.

I was going through some photos today and came across this image taken in the spring at Billings Farm & Museum's annual plowing competition in Woodstock, Vt. The horse on the left really cooperated when I asked him to smile.

The Legend of Deer Leap in Bristol

Deer Leap is a series of impressive south-facing cliffs that overlook the town of Bristol. With an elevation of 1,825-feet, its rocky facade is hard to miss as you travel into town. The area, not to be confused with Deer Leap Mountain in Killington, is part of the Hogback Range in Addison County.

Information about Deer Leap in Bristol is a bit hard to come by since it lacks mention in most guidebooks and road maps. Little did I know the fascinating lore of the cliffs.

According to local legend, Deer Leap has an interesting story or two behind its name. Native Americans used to hunt deer along the edge of the cliffs, and the deer would leap to their deaths as they were being chased. After the deer had fallen to the ground below, the hunters would then retrieve the carcasses for food.

Also, there's a lesser-known tale with more of a Romeo and Juliet twist: two young lovers decided to leap from the cliffs because their parents didn't approve of their romance. Apparently, the thought behind this story is that the doomed couple said to one another, "Dear, Leap."

Compared to other Vermont peaks such as Mount Mansfield, Mount Equinox and Mount Abraham, Deer Leap is small in stature. But the legend and beauty of the cliffs make Deer Leap entirely unforgettable.

Columbus Day Weekend

Here are some fall foliage photos I took over the weekend in Lincoln (top), Starksboro (middle) and Underhill (bottom). The colors are a bit past peak near my home in Underhill, but the foothills are still glowing. Right now there's incredibly bright fall foliage in the central and southern sections of the state, especially near the Green Mountain National Forest.

Off the Beaten Path in Montpelier, Vermont

The corner of Horn of the Moon Road and Jacobs Road outside of downtown Montpelier.

Lately I've been taking my camera just about everywhere with the hope of capturing some nice fall images. Yesterday afternoon the sky kept changing from sunny to dark, so I found myself chasing sunlight on the back roads of Montpelier.

While keeping an eye on some fast-moving gray clouds, I retraced a biking route I used to enjoy when I lived in Vermont's capital. The area is a network of dirt roads located high on a hill north of the city and east of Wrightsville Reservoir.

The views in this area are some of the best in Vermont. In certain spots, you can see Lincoln Peak, Mount Ellen, Camel's Hump, and the majestic Worcester Range, which includes Hunger Mountain and Mount Elmore. This is a perfect location for walking, biking and photography.

From Main Street in Montpelier, take a right in the rotary and a left on North Street.

Jericho Settlers' Farm in Jericho, Vermont

Jericho Settlers' Farm is a small working farm committed to growing local food for the community. The farm, located on Barber Farm Road in Jericho, was established in 2002 by Emilie Alexander, her daughter Christa Alexander, and Christa's husband Mark Fasching.

Last year, my husband and I participated in the farm's community supported agriculture (CSA) program by purchasing locally-raised beef and fresh vegetables for the winter and summer seasons. As in most places, CSAs have become incredibly popular in Vermont in recent years, especially ones that are offered in the summer months.

Jericho Settlers' Farm also has fresh eggs for sale at its farmstand and sells locally-grown produce at farmers' markets in the area. Interestingly, the farm also has an art gallery on the premises. The gallery includes works of noted landscape artist Emile A. Gruppe, as well as watercolors and photography by local artists.

Middlebury Gap Road in Ripton, Vermont

Middlebury College's Bread Loaf Campus in Ripton, Vt.

Route 125, also known as the Middlebury Gap Road, is a scenic road through Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest. Every fall I take a drive on this 16-mile stretch between Middlebury and Hancock.

Just east of Middlebury is the tiny town of Ripton (pop. 556), home of the Ripton Country Store. The shop has everything you would expect from a country store, including hot coffee, homemade baked goods, and the local newspaper. With an antique woodstove, rocking chairs, bottles of maple syrup and a wall display of deer antlers, the store's atmosphere is classic Vermont.

Beyond the store is the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail, Wayside Area and Cabin, where the poet lived for 23 summers. Nearby is the Middlebury College Bread Loaf School of English, where Frost taught until the early 1960s.

This breathtaking campus also hosts the annual Bread Loaf Writers' Conference (remember The Simpson's Word Loaf episode?). The area is hard to miss -- all of the historic buildings on campus are a bold yellow-mustard color with dark green shutters.

Moss Glen Falls in Granville, Vermont

Given its beauty and easy access, Moss Glen Falls is probably the most photographed waterfall in Vermont. The 30-foot waterfall is located on the western edge of Route 100 in the Granville Gulf Reservation, a six-mile, winding stretch of untouched wilderness between Granville and Warren.

The falls are a short walk from the road along a boardwalk that leads visitors to a viewing area at the base of the falls. I stopped by the falls this afternoon to take a few photos. Despite the rain, it was a busy place with visitors from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and even Tennessee.

Another popular attraction in Granville Gulf are moose. Just north of the falls on Route 100, there are multiple roadside signs for moose. Generally out at dawn and dusk, moose can be found in swamps and low-lying wet areas. I have yet to see one in this particular area, but if and when I do, I hope I spot one in the distance, nowhere near the road.

Hiking Mount Mansfield from Underhill State Park

Underhill State Park in Underhill is the starting point for hiking Mount Mansfield (elevation 4,395 feet), Vermont's highest peak. The park is part of Vermont's 34,000-acre Mount Mansfield State Forest and is located on the western slope of Mount Mansfield. Underhill State Park is rated as one of the best state parks for hiking in Vermont.

Out of the park's four trails, the most popular is the Sunset Ridge Trail, which is 3.2 miles to the peak, or "chin" of Mount Mansfield. The summit ridge is almost entirely above tree line, so on clear days you have unobstructed views to the west of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains.