Jericho, Vermont Photos: Lake Champlain monster "Champ" Shoots Fire into the Sky: Fury or Fiery Love?

Friday, December 30, 2022

Lake Champlain monster "Champ" Shoots Fire into the Sky: Fury or Fiery Love?

December 29, 2022, the sunset over Lake Champlain as seen from Jericho, Vermont, was firey red, or was it a mythical creature (Champ, the Lake Champlain Monster) letting out some fire and steam over the goings on at Chris Cleary's house in Jericho?

Chris Cleary and Friends (Matt, Ian, Nate, Alex, and Andres) Champ it out in Chris Cleary's secret workshop in Jericho, VT. Ok not so secret since the article by Sally Pollak, Seven Days titled "Chris Cleary to Burn a Wooden Champ Sculpture on New Year's Eve".

This may look like a sunset, but in fact, the hot ball is the result of Lake Champlain's Champ making a rare above-water appearance to shoot out a flaming ball of hot fire roiling the Lake with steam before it splashed back underneath, into its deep water cavern.

Seldom does Champ emerge, and even less often flame up in such a conspicuous manner. The heat nearly melted all the snow in Burlington, all the way through Jericho, and part way up Mount Mansfield.

What did Champ set its eyes on with the look inland into Jericho?

Once a Dragon is born, albeit in pieces, slats of wood, an unattached head, and yet to grow out spikes and scales, there is no turning back. Through the dark of night, Chris and his team work on Dec 29, a sort of witches' hour as the great red ball in the sky slowly diminishes, for now.

About nine years ago Chris and his wife Kim started Cirque de Fuego — a Jericho-based circus troupe that entertains crowds with fire. Chris acknowledges “You can breathe fire right at them or send a fireball at them" speaking of his entertained and awed audience, but nothing compares to the roar of fire from Champ.

But what is Champ's reason for suddenly coming out of the obscure hideaway in the deepest part of Lake Champlain, some 400' down? More to the point, why is Champ breathing fire right at Jericho Center, lighting up the sky in molten red as though it were August in Vermont?

Matt Speroini (above) and Ian (below) race to finish the creation before Champ resurfaces on New Year's Eve.

As the sea serpent scales harden as the hours go by, they become tougher to finesse.

“I truly believe that community art should be community." said Chris. He has a burning desire to share the experience with many others at the Lake Front New Year's Celebration.

Let's hope the real Champ feels the same fiery love.

The Lake Monster's fury would not bring a welcoming New Year.

Lake Champlain's Champ lights up a Vermont winter sky like no other.

Fury or Fiery Love - Join the BTV Lake Front New Year's Celebration to find out - If You Dare!

Passersby Matty and Jonathan had to stop and exclaimed something along the lines of Wow dude what's up with THAT? Sea monsters are rare enough on large bodies of water like Lake Champlain. Seeing the birthing of one on dry land in Jericho, VT is nothing short of extraordinary. Who wouldn't stop to get a closer look?

Nearby neighbors check in on progress. Shortly before they arrived, a man and a woman visiting from Virginia tracked their way from the BTV Waterfront to Jericho to get a view of Champ II being birthed on land.

Meanwhile, the work goes on.

Like a puzzle, every piece of wood is needed, and every scale must be placed in just the right location.

The Final Stages of Birth of CHAMP II

go on late into the night.

Awaiting - a chin job.

The scales start out sandstone color, and metamorphose to green, but can also briefly change on command to orange, purple, pink, or red depending on the serp's mood.