Original plan was a trip to Tuckerman. Almost a foot of snow on Wednesday into Thursday with high avalanche conditions throughout much of the ravine put that plan aside straight out. Earning turns at Cannon was a backup option. Ultimately, Sled and I decided to hit Jay for some lift service instead. I have not really given Jay high marks on spring skiing. I will eat my words as I obviously have never hit Jay on a good spring day. Today was simply stellar.

We started at the Jet lot which had ticket service and bathroom service only. Walking was required to get to the Jet which provided the only Stateside lift service (as was to be expected this late in the season). Stateside trails that have snowmaking were all wall to wall top to bottom coverage with only a few bare spots on non-snowmaking trails. Essentially, unbelievably good coverage for this late in the season.

We warmed up on Jet and Haynes which were already starting to cook and get chewed up by late morning but still provided great turns. Followed that up with Derick with much the same, ducking into Timbuk which still had ample coverage but not what we were looking for. Next up was bumps on Kitzbehuel. UNFREAKINGBELIEVABLY GOOD. Awesome lines with just a little weirdness where the trail pinches below the split. These bumps were better than anything at Stowe last week or Bush four weeks ago. Sweet. U.N. was also bumped up as was the liftline under Jet and Can Am for your Stateside bumps.

Montrealer to a fairly thin but doable Taxi got us back to the Tram base. I don’t know if this connection with make it until Sunday, going quick and the first real sign of thin coverage on the trails. Tramside was loading the Tram and Metro only which was more than ample. After lunch, we headed up and skied around upper Northway to the Tramside options. Upper Northway will also be lucky to last until Sunday (they could always switch to running the Freezer). The top part under the tram we started calling the water skiing area. Getting down to the top of the Freezer was slow going. I can’t imagine what two 80 degree days will do to this section.

Green Mountain Boys was stellar so we took two on this trail. JFK was really sweet but the runout on lower Ullr’s was non-existent. Those that cared for their bases would have had at least a half mile walk. We milked the snow patches and did significant grass skiing and still ended up walking for about 200 feet when the snow ran out. Fun for one run but not worth repeating. If they keep anything skier’s left of the Freezer open this weekend, I wouldn’t recommend it. Even I, who is proud of Jay’s resistance to roping trails, thought a rope was warranted on trails dumping out into lower Ullr’s.

We dropped U.River which was just stellar. A thin 8 foot wide snow patch along the right side of the trail (two bumps wide, essentially) provided some tight zipper lining excitement before the trail opened up onto an apron of butter. L.River owned for big wide turns back to the tram. Back up once more for Vermonter down to Wiggle. Vermonter was sketch due to southern exposure and baking all day and taking traffic. Northway would have been a better option. Wiggle was big edge to edge GS turns to bring it home.

For shame that places like Stowe close with ample coverage. Jay goes until there really is no way to connect trails…. and then they go a little longer. Many trees were still in play, the trails were perfect spring corn, and bumps were A+++. Excellent last day at Jay for me this season. Bush on Sunday, Kmart next weekend if they are open, and then Tux or bust for the next two months.

For shame so many so called skiers call it quits in March, let alone in April, when some of the best skiing of the year is available with no crowds (and walk on trams at Jay). Strip off your winter clothes, rip some soft lines, cruise on a bluebird day, grab a beverage on the deck, stoke up the tailgate, and don’t leave a single day on the table. Coming from a die hard powder hound, I would take days like this over half foot powder days always.

Conditions for the weekend should remain stellar. Stay away from Ullr’s run out (i.e. stay skier’s right on the Freezer) if you don’t want to walk. Upper Northway at the Tram station will be sketchy and may require down hiking by Sunday. The link between Tramside and Stateside via Taxi could blow out by Sunday too and require some walking. Regardless, those are very minor snow weakness areas all things considered considering how much quality terrain with wall to wall coverage is still in play. Go get some this weekend.