| One of the beautiful things about Vermont is the | | | | should be aware of what hunting season it might be |
| change of seasons. It keeps life interesting with a | | | | and either stay out of the woods or make sure you |
| constant change of scenery ranging from the grey | | | | are highly visible, preferably wearing hunter safety |
| cloudy weather of November to the incredibly bright | | | | orange. |
| crisp blue and white of a clear winter day. We have | | | | Winter comes next and is one of my favorite |
| warm summer days with high humidity and sub zero | | | | seasons. Being a musher it's the season I and the |
| winter days with zero humidity and every thing in | | | | dogs live for. At Peace Pups Dogsledding here at |
| between. These temperature ranges tend to keep | | | | Lake Elmore it's when we begin to offer dog sled |
| out a lot of the nuisance insects that our neighbors | | | | rides and skijor lessons. There are several kennels in |
| to the south have with rare sightings of ticks and | | | | Vermont offering similar services. If you're here |
| lime disease, and virtually no poisonous snakes or | | | | visiting I highly recommend checking one of these |
| spiders. Some of this has changed in recent years | | | | out. There is nothing like being pulled along through |
| due to the increase in temperatures in the area. Tick | | | | the woods by a team of sled dogs. It's an |
| sightings have becoming more frequent in southern | | | | experience you won't soon forget. Another dog |
| Vermont and even an occasional tick sighted in the | | | | powered winter activity is skijoring. This is being |
| northern regions. Along with all these seasonal | | | | pulled by one or more dogs while on cross country |
| changes comes the opportunity for changes in | | | | skis. Skijoring is growing in popularity and is a great |
| outdoor activities. In Vermont you can participate in a | | | | way to get out and exercise both yourself and your |
| wide range of activities not available in many parts of | | | | dog. There are also many other ways to get outside |
| this country. You'll be amazed at what you can find | | | | and play with or with out dogs. Of course Vermont is |
| to do in the great outdoors of Vermont. | | | | know for it's down hill skiing and there are many |
| During the summer months we have road and back | | | | cross country ski areas as well. The Catamount Trail |
| road cycling with the advantage of many low traffic | | | | System runs the length of the state makes for a |
| roads to ride on. We have a multitude of old dirt | | | | good long ski trip or you can hit short sections of it |
| roads, logging roads, and single track mountain bike | | | | for a day ski. There is awesome sledding and |
| trails and even lift serviced down hill biking at local ski | | | | performance sleds made right here in Vermont. Take |
| areas. Due to our numerous lakes and rivers there | | | | one of these sleds and hike up a mountain for a fun |
| are many opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, wind | | | | backcountry sled trip. Snowshoeing has become very |
| surfing and kite boarding. There are many brooks and | | | | popular and you'll often see folks snowshoeing on the |
| streams with great swimming holes through out the | | | | hiking trails around the state. |
| state. Don't forget hiking! The Long Trail runs the | | | | Spring completes the cycle with the snow melting |
| length of the state and there are many day hikes | | | | away and all the trees and plants springing to life. |
| through out. Many of these day hikes lead to the | | | | Again, it's just incredible to watch everything go from |
| tops of mountains with beautiful vistas. Vermont is | | | | a frozen state to being lush and green all over again. |
| also a great place to camp with a wonderful state | | | | Spring can be one of the more challenging seasons to |
| park system offering family camping at many | | | | play outside. In the midst of spring we have mud |
| locations through out the state. | | | | season during which time you can't really mountain |
| Fall is an amazing season to just be outdoors and | | | | bike or hike due to the mud. We stay off all trails |
| watch the daily changes as the maples begin to | | | | until things have dried out to help reduce the erosion |
| change color and prepare for winter. It is often rainy | | | | and trail damage. It's too cold to swim and many of |
| in November but we also have lovely low humidity | | | | the smaller ponds and lakes will still have a layer of |
| crisp clear days that make for some of the best | | | | ice on them so kayaking and canoeing isn't possible |
| hiking of the year. Being cooler it is also a nice time | | | | either. Many people start road biking as soon as the |
| to get out for those end of the season bike rides. | | | | roads are clear to start getting in shape for the |
| Fall is the time of year we mushers start to be able | | | | coming season. Running works and there's always the |
| to run their dogs since the temperatures are lower | | | | gym. |
| and there is less chance of the dogs overheating. If | | | | Then we start all over again which keeps life |
| you only have one or two dogs you might want to | | | | interesting and keeps one from being burned out |
| try running your dog with a dog scooter. This is a | | | | from doing and seeing the same thing year round. |
| growing sport and a fun way to get you pups out | | | | For more information on dog powered sports in |
| for a run. Deer and moose hunting seasons take | | | | Vermont check out Peace Pups Dog Sledding and |
| place in the fall so if you are recreating outdoors you | | | | Bicycle Tours. |