Jay just became the first major resort in the northeastern United States to be fully open this season. During the last week of February. With a rain event incoming later this week, this could very well be the high water mark for the region this season.

Conditions were packed powder with stunningly good (for Jay) groomed surfaces. I bypassed the woods on my first run from the Bonnie to rip Northway with near edge to edge perfect carves, a rare treat for any Jay Peak skier. But the reason I drove to Jay was to ski the trees, terrain that few other areas have available (particularly the off map variety).

My next three runs all involved off map trees where I found variable snow including loose powder, packed powder, crusty hard pack, and honest to goodness untracked. The untracked was short lived in the form of isolated turns and only a few inches deep but appreciated nonetheless. Off map trees are still occasionally schwacky and thin, requiring some attention. But excessive caution is not required on the lower angle off piste.

My explorations were cut short due to a severe bout of fatigue. But I was very satisfied with the off map tree skiing that I got to enjoy. One must assume that any day of tree skiing this season could very well be the last day of tree skiing for the season. With a major rain event en route and spring beginning next month, who knows if Jay will be fully open again this season? A sad thing to consider during the month of February.

But that is the state of things. We need to enjoy every day for whatever it has to offer.