Vermont Symphony Orchestra at the Trapp Family Lodge

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the final summer performance of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe. The concert was the summer kickoff of the Stowe Performing Arts Music in the Meadow summer concert series. Music in the Meadow showcases  acclaimed musical acts in a pastoral setting on the slopes of Stowe's green mountains.

Each year concert goers gather in the concert meadow with picnic baskets, low back chair, and blankets where they settle into their own sites, many of which have been continuously occupied by the same families for several years, and enjoy an evening of musical entertainment. Cars arrive several hours early as parking can sometimes limited and the spaces closer to the stage fill up fast. Blankets are spread out and picnic of lavish spreads including wine, finger sandwiches, cheese plates, and fresh fruits and vegetables are laid out atop portable picnic tables from Crate and Barrel. High school students meander through the throng of people selling raffle tickets and water bottles to the waiting patrons. By the time the sun sets and the concert begins the crowd is tightly packed and eager with anticipation for the evening's music.

                       

This year the VSO was conducted by a Briton Andrew Massey who has been with the orchestra since 2007. Massey MC'd the evening in between songs to keep the audience involved and to create a light whimsical atmosphere which reflected the musical selections. The program included a mixture of classical, popular, and Broadway musical numbers and as always the evening ended with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture seamlessly followed by a Sousa march. This was also the first year that I can remember where the fireworks representing the canons in the piece actually went off without a hitch. As the orchestra played it's final notes fireworks filled the sky from the valley below the stage. The display rivaled 4th of July presentation from the week before and left concert goers satisfied and eager for the coming musical attractions.

Trapps to Taylor Lodge and back.

Being in Vermont I'm never at a loss for where to hike, but with years of climbing the same trails I've had to get creative with where I want to go. On Tuesday Justin and I decided to tackle Taylor Lodge. The hike is a fairly moderate one that takes you up from Lake Mansfield to Taylor Lodge, a shelter along the Long Trail. However to make things interesting and because we planned to go directly after work we decided to start at the Trapp Family Lodge and hike down the back side of the property into Nebraska Valley and then start the trail head at the side of the lake. Our new starting point added an additional five miles round trip to our trek.

View from the ski trails. 

A sign along Old County Road warning motor vehicles. 

The beginning of our journey was fairly easy following the cross-country ski trails across the property and down into the valley. Once off the property we followed the overgrown Old County Road onto the Catamount Trail. I was shocked at how steep some parts of the trail were considering that the Catamount Trail is a ski trail that follows the length of Vermont. Eventually we hit the bottom of the Valley and followed the only road back to the Trout Club and to the trail head.

We finally made it to the Trout Club. 

J. at the trail head. 

A gross snake on the road. 

The actual trail to Taylor Lodge is a moderate one that winds through the woods and the cuts up the side of the Green Mountains. Besides ourselves only a handful of others were out on the trail that day. At the shelter we chatted with two nice, older women who were enjoying their lunch. The two of us did not stay very long because of our time constraints and the heat.

A mountaintop valley and pond. 

A small beaver lodge in the valley. 

The backside of Taylor Lodge. 

Heading down the side of the mountain was more difficult for me than I anticipated. I had finished four miles of excursion and was becoming tired and had drug my hand through a nettle vine. I kept on trudging down the mountain and along the road until it was time to head back up the other peak to Trapp's. The last few miles were uphill and left me so exhausted that by the time we were back on the ski trails I didn't notice the deer I was about to run into until I was ten feet away and it jumped in front of me.

Two deer off the side of the trail. 

Despite me being completely out of shape still for long distance hiking, it was an enjoyable afternoon of tackling new trail routes and being outdoor. The 8-mile hike also made me one step closer to my distance goals for August.