Haunted Forests in Vermont

Alien abductions and alternate dimensions? The Green Mountains are filled with intriguing legends and ghost tales, including some that have been told for more than a century. Now, just in time for Halloween, a new book explores the most haunted places in Vermont.

"Haunted Hikes of Vermont" by Tim Simard includes detailed trail descriptions accompanied by mysterious tales, ranging from a haunted covered bridge in Stowe to unexplained disappearances on Glastenbury Mountain.

Simard, an avid hiker from Waterbury, writes about a variety of ghost stories and places of notable historic interest, including Camel's Hump, Southern Vermont College, Glastenbury Wilderness Area, Lincoln Gap, Lake Champlain, Gold Brook Bridge, Lake Willoughby and the Northeast Kingdom.

In the book's introduction, Simard sums it up perfectly: "Vermont's history is so interesting and lively, it's not inconceivable that weird energy remains."

**Read more: Haunted Hikes of Vermont (PW Publishing Works)
Take a Haunted Hike (Boston.com)

The Light and Air of Fall

Lately I've been spending a lot of time outdoors in Vermont with my camera. This photo of a classic Chevy truck in Shelburne is one of my favorites from the fall season.

The colorful leaves are always a highlight of autumn in Vermont, but I also love the changing light and crisp temperatures this time of year. Even though the days are shorter, the sky and sun somehow seem brighter.

It was about 45 degrees outside when I took this photo at Shelburne Orchards (the day of the CBS Early Show segment). The air was frosty and the sun was shining on that perfect fall morning. The only thing missing was a pair of gloves on my chilly hands.

Autumn in Burlington

Our home in Burlington has a beautiful maple tree in the front yard. I love the contrast between the tree's yellow leaves and dark branches. In the right light, it almost looks like butterscotch and chocolate.

Most of northern Vermont and the higher elevations are past peak foliage. But it's a different story along Lake Champlain, which stretches 120 miles from the Quebec border to Rutland County. Even though Burlington is in northern Vermont, the foliage here – and in other lakeside communities – turns later.

When I walked outside my front door this week and saw the beautiful maple tree with its yellow leaves, I knew what it meant. Foliage season is winding down, and like every year, it went by too fast.

Map of Burlington

The Early Show at Shelburne Orchards

Shelburne Orchards was featured on The CBS Early Show last week, and I was fortunate enough to be at the orchard for the live segment with weather anchor Dave Price.

Every fall, a producer from the show contacts me for location suggestions in Vermont, and this year Shelburne Orchards in Shelburne was the perfect fit. A small group of us were at the orchard for the shoot, giving me the opportunity to spend some time with Dave Price and his crew.

For the segment, Dave Price interviewed Shelburne Orchards owner Nick Cowles, one of the nicest people you'll ever meet in Vermont.

In case you missed the show, here is the video.

Dave Price and his crew talk with orchard owner Nick Cowles.

It's a wrap: Megan Humphrey, Dave Price, Nick Cowles, and me.

Bristol Pond in Autumn

Bristol Pond is one of those perfect places to spend a sunny, fall afternoon. The pond, also known as Winona Lake, is a beautiful spot for canoeing, kayaking and fishing.

The Hogback Mountains sit along the eastern border of Bristol Pond, making the area especially scenic. You can access the pond off the Bristol-Monkton Road, a few miles north of the town of Bristol.

When I stopped by the pond a few days ago to admire the fall foliage, I was really happy to have my camera with me. Now I just need to buy a kayak.

**If you go: Vermont Fish and Wildlife Fishing Access Areas
Map

Fall in Addison County

Silo and view of the Green Mountains in Monkton.

Over the weekend I traveled to Lincoln, Monkton and Bristol, which are three small towns in Addison County. These communities, located west of Vermont's Green Mountains and east of Route 7, are showing some of the most vibrant fall colors I've seen so far this year.

Not only is the fall foliage at peak in many parts of Addison County, but the views in this area are among the most beautiful you'll find in Vermont. There are a variety of quiet town roads to explore, and you can also see plenty of scenic views on Route 17 and Route 116.

**If you go: Map
Related Post: The Legend of Deer Leap in Bristol

Foliage in Lincoln.

A barn on West Hill in Lincoln.

Colorful foliage on a back road in Lincoln.

Farm house in Bristol with Deer Leap in the background.

Columbus Day Weekend in Vermont

I always have high hopes for Columbus Day Weekend. Fall foliage is in full swing and there are always a variety of fun events going on around the state. There are too many festivals to name, but I wanted to highlight a few of my Columbus Day Weekend favorites.

Newfane Heritage Festival
Newfane – October 9-10, 2010
This year’s 40th annual festival features more than 85 juried arts, crafts and specialty products, children’s activities, live music, food, homemade apple pies and apple crisp, a raffle and more. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Newfane Common, Route 30. For more information, visit http://newfaneheritagefestival.blogspot.com.

Annual Tractor Parade
Charlotte – October 10, 2010
Enjoy antique and modern tractors make their way down Spear Street in East Charlotte. The event includes children’s games, hayrides, farmers’ market, food and more. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., parade starts at 1 p.m. Spear Street. For more information, visit http://tractorparade.com.

Dummerston Apple Pie Festival
Dummerston – October 10, 2010
For more than 40 years, the Dummerston Apple Pie Festival has been held on the Sunday of Columbus Day Weekend. About 1,500 apple pies are made by many church members and friends, and people from all over the United States travel to Dummerston to take part in the festivities. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.dummerston.com.

Giant Pumpkin Regatta and Festival
Burlington – October 10, 2010
The annual Giant Pumpkin Regatta and Festival features local business leaders, students and others racing in giant hollowed-out gourds on Lake Champlain in a competition of size and speed. The event includes food vendors, activities and entertainment on the Burlington Waterfront. For details, visit www.vermont.org/pumpkin.

Fall Foliage in the Mad River Valley

Colorful foliage on Bragg Hill in Fayston.

The Mad River Valley is showing beautiful fall color this week. The hillsides in this scenic area of central Vermont are particularly bright with shades of red, orange and gold.

On Sunday I drove along the back roads of Waitsfield, Warren and Fayston for a leaf-peeping outing. I spent most of the afternoon with my camera on Bragg Hill, a road between Waitsfield and Fayston that climbs to the west and offers views of Sugarbush Resort's Mount Ellen.

Judging from the top photo, this is about as good as it gets for fall color.

**If you go: Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce
Map

View of Sugarbush Resort's Mount Ellen from Bragg Hill.

A Lesson in Falconry

Dave casts a Harris hawk into the air.

Dave recently took a lesson at the British School of Falconry in Manchester. The lesson was a Christmas present I gave him last year (he's hard to buy for and I must admit, this was one of my better gifts).

During his beginner falconry lesson, Dave learned how to handle, cast and recall a Harris hawk named Haggis. Wearing a yellow calfskin glove on his left hand, he walked around with Haggis on his fist before eventually casting her to a perch in the distance. A few minutes later, Dave called Haggis back by slowly raising his hand.

That was just the beginning. After Dave's 45-minute lesson, he participated in a "hawk walk," an hour-long guided hike in the Vermont woods where Haggis followed Dave from tree to tree. Occasionally, Haggis would return to Dave's gloved fist for food.

The British School of Falconry, affiliated with the Equinox Resort, is the nation's first school of its kind to offer hands-on lessons with trained birds of prey. You don't need to stay at the Equinox Resort to take a lesson, and the school offers a discount to Vermont residents.

What I thought would be a fun, offbeat holiday gift turned into a day we'll always remember. Who knows? With Christmas right around the corner, maybe we'll get to see Haggis again next year.

**If you go: British School of Falconry
Map

A hawk scale and weight chart updated daily.

Dave with Haggis, watching a participant cast another hawk.


Haggis shows off her wings early on in the lesson.

A hawk walk in the woods (hawk is in the tree to the right).

Haggis and another hawk rest on a gazebo during the hawk walk.

Dave says goodbye to Haggis at the end of the day.