2024-2025 Season, February, Jay Peak, Powder Day

Impact

I have spent a lot of time thinking about this exceptional season. Today was my fourteenth powder day out of fifteen ski days. It is astounding how good the season has been at Jay Peak, and it is only the mid-point.

During many of my chair lift rides this season, I experienced feelings of gratitude and appreciation. How could I not be grateful? Given a warming world and changing climate, I thought winters like this were over.

This season is a massive aberration. A once in a lifetime anomaly. So, I continually attempt to recognize and appreciate how great this season is, as it probably will never happen again.

But I took my appreciation a step to far and begin thinking that “if my season ended today, in the middle of the season, it would still be one of my top three seasons ever, it may even be my best.” Famous last thoughts.

—

While skiing in the Orchard and ducking through some trees, I experienced a side effect of having lots of snow with large base depths and no thaws: low ceiling.

During the past few weeks, vertical space has been shrinking in the off-map woods. Instead of cross blocking branches from the sides, I am using my poles to cross block branches from above at eye level. Visibility has become a problem.

While snaking my way through some trees, I went to block branches away from my face and I didn’t see a small sapling on the other side. Since I was ducking to avoid the branches, I impacted the sapling with my shoulder. I skied right through it, not even falling or losing my balance. But I knew it was a day ending impact.

The Orthopedic reports some ligament damage in the rotor cuff area and recommended a few weeks off from skiing. An MRI would be required for a more specific diagnosis and surgery would be the only fix if there is a problem. So, we are taking a wait-and-see approach and hoping the damage is not severe and heals itself.

My ski injuries never happen on challenging terrain. They always happen on easy low-angle terrain, when my guard is down. In this case, the very thing that made the season so amazing (massive snow totals with no thaw) also caused the low ceiling conditions and visibility issues that led to the injury.

I am still grateful, however. This really is a top three season for me, regardless of what comes next. And after a few weeks rest, I will be back to experience all that this season still has left to offer.

2024-2025 Season, February, Jay Peak, Powder Day

Convergence

The good times cannot last forever, can they? The walls on Jay Peak’s exceptional winter are finally starting to close in. But this weekend was not the end of Jay’s winter weather streak, the good times continue.

Originally, the forecast suggested a mixture of snow, sleet, and perhaps even rain on Thursday, all combined with high winds. I assumed the weather would be poor and lifts would not run.

But Thursday turned out to be the pick of the weekend. Only the Jet ran. But precipitation stayed frozen all day. People that skied on Thursday boasted of an excellent powder day.

Unfortunately, the precipitation turned heavier late Thursday. And the dense snow was further compacted by the wind. Friday was still a powder day. But the untracked was challenging to ski: very dense and hooky.

I spent a rare day Tramside, peeling back the layers on old favorites that I rarely ski and even exploring a region that I had not yet completely explored. The snow was hooky and grabby, resulting in cautious turns.

The wind was raging, but the Bonnie ran all day. Tramside laps required riding the Metro and dealing with its frequent stops. It was worth a vacation day, but it was not worth more than a half dozen Metro/Bonnie laps.

2024-2025 Season, February, Northeast Slopes, Powder Day

Backup Plan: Northeast Slopes

A wacky morning worked out for the best. A much publicized storm tracked further north than expected, which made my drive to Mad River Glen worse than usual. Despite the slow drive, I neared MRG before first chair.

However, Route 17 was backed up and the parking lot was already full. I’ve never experienced a full lot at Mad River before. I did not know that was possible before first chair. I made a U-turn and created a backup plan.

After driving back down Route 17, I stopped and browsed the web site for Northeast Slopes. Tickets are cash only and cost just $15.00. I had exactly one twenty dollar bill on me, so it was meant to be.

I drive to Mad River Glen from New Hampshire via Route 25. During the past 18 years, I drove past Northeast Slopes at least 50 times. “One of these days…” I always said to myself. It was finally that day!

Northeast Slopes is open from 12:00pm-4:00pm. Despite arriving late morning, I was still on time for “first chair”. After an hour and a half wait, I was riding a telescoping T-bar for the first time in eight years.

The T at Northeast Slopes was relocated from Ski Bradford. I grew up skiing Bradford and I never saw it run. Northeast Slopes puts the T to great use as riding the former rope tow must have been a strenuous effort.

The old rope tow parallels the T most of the way up the 350 vertical foot face. The open slope has a fairly consistent grade and is moderately pitched. It would be rated a blue square at most major resorts.

The main slope is split in half by the T and old rope tow (SBNO). A variety of options finger out to the sides of the main slope. The variations are quite extensive, it took me an hour to ski every possible combination.

A groomer made six passes on the main face, leaving most of the main slope and all other trails untracked. Some natural undulations are present as the trails are not graded and naturally follow the varying contours.

Despite the fact that singles were not doubling up, the T generally never a line. Only fifty cars were in the lot. Given the ample acreage and limited number of skiers, I was skiing untracked snow all day (almost every turn).

The blower powder was generally boot deep, though I went knee deep in a few areas that did not get skied during the past two days. The knee deep untracked turns were in a few short-but-sweet mini glades.

I skied for two hours straight. It was a riot getting more untracked turns in two hours than I would have gotten all day at Mad River Glen. I was not counting laps, but I probably skied about 10k vert of untracked blower pow.

Northeast Slopes is a neat area that offers more than one might expect when you see it from the road. The area is completely volunteer operated and offers an amazing experience on a shoe string budget. They may have the least expensive ticket in the country.

The vibe is decidedly small town, family oriented, and friendly. Yet the skiing is not small town. NE Slopes skis bigger than a local learning area. Nothing is too challenging, but the terrain is not boring either.

Northeast Slopes would be a nice stop on Friday afternoon if you are heading to Northern Vermont for a weekend trip. Or perhaps a Sunday afternoon stop after leaving a resort early. For locals, it is a no brainer.

It is a bit over half an hour from Dartmouth, which would make a good morning-afternoon combo. Especially since Northeast Slopes is only open from 12:00pm-4:00pm (with all possible options skiable in an hour).

2024-2025 Season, February, Jay Peak, Powder Day

Overflow

Yet another foot of snow. Yet another powder day.

One can appreciate how good the season has been at Jay by noticing how few skiers show up for a one-foot powder day. The lifts were ski on all day.

Untracked turns were abundant and easily found open-to-close without having to hunt. I hit some lines that rarely fill in completely. Lines that I haven’t skied in years.

Given the short lines and lack of urgency, I even rode the tram for the first time since 2017. The Face Chutes skied very well. But they were just an appetizer. I followed exceptional untracked drifts through the trees and into St. George’s.

It was so good, I decided to ride the tram again. However, the wind started picking up around 1:30pm, which closed down both the Tram and then the Freezer.

By then, even though there was infinite untracked remaining, I had had my fill. How much untracked powder can one skier possibly enjoy?

My cup is overflowing. I am so grateful for the bounty.

2024-2025 Season, Cannon Mountain, Earned Turns, February, Powder Day

Tuckerbrook

Due to being on call for work, I needed to stay close to home. I opted for an early skin and ski of Tuckerbrook.

It was disappointing not going to Jay (given their exceptional snowfall numbers during the past week). But Jay didn’t receive any more overnight snowfall than Cannon, so I was not missing much.

Below the nordic junction, the trail is still quite thin. Occasional rock is still exposed. But above the junction, the trail is well covered (especially the upper half).

Tuckerbrook is filled in but not that deep. Occasional tree tops are still poking through the snow. The troll bridge has many rocky topographical hurdles. The L&L pitch is still lacking base and is absolutely not recommended.

Overall, it was a pleasant skin and ski.