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Fall 2006 CoverThe following selections are from the current issue of Stratton Magazine. You may subscribe to Stratton Magazine to read more articles and keep up to date with happenings in the Stratton area.
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A "Whipper In" keeps the hounds on courseBy Nancy Boardman
photography by hubert schriebl
Taking the "Fox" out of Fox Hunt
Hooves pounding, ears flapping and coattails flying, it was an exhilarating start for horses, hounds and riders alike at the Guilford Hounds' first hunt in the Mettowee Valley last November.
But, lest readers question the thrill, to say nothing of the moral correctness, of riders thundering after an unsuspecting fox with murderous intent-what Oscar Wilde decried as the "unspeakable in full pursuit of the inedible"-let it be said straight off that this was a drag hunt.
Unlike their counterparts in England, American huntsmen historically have pursued their quarry not to kill it, but rather to "account" for it, meaning that the fox is allowed to "go to ground," run up a tree or otherwise escape. These days, as is true for many other hunt clubs, the Guilford Hounds dispenses with the fox altogether. Instead, it operates as a drag pack, which means that the hounds are following a pre-placed scent track, rather than a live animal. And so those of us who were on site that cold crisp morning could relax and take in the beauty of the scenery, the pageantry of the meet, the elegance of the horses and the energy of the hounds, without dreading an old-fashioned, English-style denouement. » read more
Vermont's old cemeteries tell stories of lives lived in a different timeBy Kristin Mcdonald
Photography by Hubert Schriebl
Maybe it's the natural human curiosity surrounding death, the mystery of the afterlife, or the tantalizing possibility of the existence of ghosts, but graveyards seem to fascinate us. For some, they may be dark, foreboding, creepy places you wouldn't want to visit except during the bright of day. In our corner of New England, however, cemeteries attract thousands of visitors each year. Many graves are very old, and the markers are hand-inscribed with folk art and final messages about the lost lives buried there. Although some of the stones have been damaged by time and the harshness of natural elements, the cemeteries are tidy and well maintained by local groups who have a reverence for the past and pride in their heritage. Many of the old cemeteries have walking paths, some have bridges and brooks. And with the Green Mountains in the distance as a backdrop, they are peaceful and picturesque, prompting meditation and reflection. They seem to invite you in, saying, "take a walk through history, visit our founding fathers, our Revolutionary and Civil War heroes, our artists and poets; learn of the tragic and all-too-brief lives of some of our first community members. Come hear the long-ago stories of an older, simpler time of life." » read more
A threatened species manages to survive on Stratton MountainBy Louise Jones
Photography by Hubert Schriebl
A rare bird is causing a lot of excitement on top of Stratton Mountain. The Bicknell's thrush is medium-sized, with a spotted breast, olive-brown or brown back, purplish legs and a yellow or yellow-orange lower jaw; the males and females look alike. They have an average life span of five years, but biologists at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science have found the two oldest Bicknell's on record at their Stratton research station-a nine year-old female in 2005 and a ten year-old male this past summer. The birds nest in summer on the tops of the higher mountain peaks of northern New England, New York and southern Canada, and are among the least-known breeding birds in North America, rarely seen in migration. Chris Rimmer, director of the Conservation Biology Department at VINS, says that there are "in the ballpark of 25-40,000 Bicknell's thrushes although we have to stress that there is little precision around that figure. Our habitat projections indicate that Vermont has about eight percent of the total Bicknell's thrush habitat in the United States. Thus, we could estimate that 2000-3200 thrushes inhabit Vermont." To compare, I asked him how many robins in Vermont. "A wild guess would be at least one hundred times as many robins and maybe even five hundred times as many," he said. » read more
The sunflower provokes a kind of elemental, instinctive response in most humans.By Geoffrey Norman
Photograph by Hubert Schriebl
The Incas, Peter the Great, Vincent Van Gogh ...
they all loved sunflowers. They are big, happy,
easy to grow, and you can eat the seeds or
feed them to the birds. So what's not to love?
There was a bare spot in the meadow where I had burned a brush pile during the winter. It was very early summer and the grass would eventually come back and fill in the gap. By Labor Day, you wouldn't know it had ever been there. » read more
Photography by Hubert Schriebl
Ah, Sun-flower! Weary of time
Who countest the steps of the sun
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller's journey is done:
Where the Youth pined away with desire
And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow
Arise from their graves and aspire
Where my Sun-flower wishes to go.
William Blake
» read more
Festive and Colorful, farmers' markets offer fresh picked produce and a whole lot moreBy Ellen Ecker Odgen
Photography by Hubert Schriebl
A farmers' market is not just another market-and it's not just for farmers! For a lot of us, it's a big part of life in the country. Festive and colorful, farmers' markets offer fresh-picked produce and farm-raised meat, artisan cheeses, baked goods and breads, flower bouquets, excellent prepared foods and high quality crafts. Plus, a visit to the farmers' market is a lot of fun. At the market, you can meet the farmers who grew the food, talk with the crafts-people and bakers, enjoy entertainment, learn about beekeeping, hear a storyteller or a fiddler entertaining with a few tunes. You also might collect a family recipe or two from a local cook or farmer. » read more
Bucko!My father passed away last year. We never spent much time together, so much of Bucko’s nature came from the other side, and in particular Grandma Moon. But there is a small piece of him in here somewhere. » read more
Photography and Essay by Hubert Schriebl
Last year I hit one of the “big” birthdays, and as I always do on my birthday, I climbed Stratton Mountain. I cut a small notch on the rail of the Hubert Hutte to commemorate my ascent. The trails were still covered with snow and I had a good run down on skis. The following days and weeks I repeated the climb frequently on foot, witnessing the changing of the seasons from spring to summer and fall and winter, each time leaving a small mark on the rail when I reached the top.
Usually starting at 6 a.m., I was able to avoid the wet grass soaked by rain or dew. I followed the rocky path under the gondola up to Interstate, which leads to the high west meadows. From there up to Times Square where Wanderer meets Drifter and straight up to the top.
I enjoy the summer sounds of babbling brooks, rustling leaves, the melodic sounds of mountain birds, as well as the sights of the ever-changing flowering slopes. Then there are the mornings when the howling wind pushes low clouds and fog, like ghost trains, over the mountains with a current only a crow would challenge.
By the beginning of fall, I counted over 50 notches, and I thought I could challenge myself to 100 climbs in a full year. But from then on, it proved to be more challenging. Ice-covered rocks and early snow would sometimes make the descent more difficult. However, I was often joined by friends or my son to share the experience (and make it more safe). By the end of Stratton’s winter season, I had four more climbs left to do, and on April 18th, I cut the last notch in the railing.
Glassblower Nick Kekic of Tsuga StudiosBy Louise Jones
Photography by Hubert Schriebl
Once a year Vermont artists open their studios to the public
Vermont has always been a mecca for artists and craftspeople. Their studios dot the countryside, many on main streets or in galleries, but the majority of the work spaces are tucked away off of the usual thoroughfares far from the prying eyes of admiring patrons. However, in 1992 the Vermont Crafts Council created the Open Studio Weekend, which brings browsers and shoppers into workshops over the Memorial Day Weekend. Its purpose is to showcase the wide variety of artists that live and work in Vermont and emphasize the important role they play in our communities. Fifteen years later, it is one of the most popular summer events in the state among both tourists and locals. This year exhibitors will open their studios to the public Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The weekend is also a kick off for the state-sponsored Vermont Cultural Heritage Days, from Memorial Day through July Fourth. » read more