Over spring break, I went skiing at Sugarbush Lincoln Peak! Located deep in the Green Mountains, Sugarbush is one of the largest ski areas in New England. Lincoln Peak has a summit elevation of 3,975 feet. The major habitat types are balsam-fir forests, mixed northern forests, northern hardwood forests, and mature hemlock forests. Vegetation communities at Sugarbush have been influenced over time by natural processes, such as ice storms and changes in climate. A large portion of the mixed northern forest was impacted by an ice storm which occurred in January 1998. The storm left 60 to 70 percent of trees in the area bent or broken from heavy ice loads. The vegetation at Sugarbush has also been influenced by human activities. Timber harvesting, clearcutting, ski area development and skiing all negatively affected the surrounding areas. Since the development of Sugarbush, the forests in this area have been primarily maintained and limited cutting of small vegetation and tree limbs has occurred to preserve trails. While skiing, I spent some time in the woods off of Castle Rock Peak. Due to the recent snow storm, the woods were covered in a thick layer of powder making it difficult to move around. The main difference between my place at sugarbush and my phenology spot at Centennial woods was elevation. Due to the elevation at Castle Rock Peak, the main tree types identified were evergreens rather than birch and maple. The snowfall here was also significantly more than in Burlington. The woody plants here appeared dormant. I expect this to change within the upcoming weeks as plants and animals respond to the increased sunlight and warming temperatures. I was unable to hear or spot any birds during my visit.