Hiking the Hill and Long Trail

It was beautiful last weekend, perfect for working on the barn and dealing with firewood, but also for a fun family outing. The weather has been somewhat fickle this summer, though it was beautiful (dare I say perfect?) in August, with dry, cool and sunny days. Now that we are heading into fall, we’ve had a ton of rain but at least it’s been, for the most part, cooler. Good weather for getting out and soaking up what Mother Nature has to offer.

After taking care of business, we decided to head over to Killington and ride the gondola up to the top, then hike the ski trails to the bottom. We had done this once before, several years ago when the kids were smaller, and it was sort of a disaster. The kids were too young, N was about 4 or 5, and they pooped out about 1/4 of the way down the mountain. We ended up carrying both of them down, and believe me, it was not easy. A was heavy, and by the time we made it to the bottom, I couldn’t move my arms.

This time around, we laid down the law and told them we were not going to carry them, not that they wanted us to. They’re big kids, now. The gondola ride up was fun, worth the trip in and of itself, and it was beautiful at the top, with amazing views. The ski hill is open for mountain bikers who ride the gondola up and bike down, and the cars are painted in all these cool designs, which makes for an interesting ride up. Once we got to the top, we headed down and it was a really nice time. The kids really enjoyed it, though I have to confess, walking downhill for an extended period can take a toll on my old bones, especially my spine.

After we got to the bottom, it was pretty late, and we were in need of sustenance. It was too late to think of making supper, and since we were in Killington, a ski town and party central, there were plenty of choices. However, it’s the off-season, and a lot of places were closed. We ended up hitting the road and stopping at the Long Trail Brewery in Bridgewater. The place is really cool, and even though it’s basically pub food, we enjoyed our meal. They even have a quick tour of the brewery, which R and kids took while I sat and stared at the walls.

All in all, a great day of outdoor fun and fine pub dining. Interestingly enough, now N is interested in mountain biking. Go figure.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Jonathan for the pic.