Category: Jay Peak

2006-2007 Season, January, Jay Peak

Horrid Conditions at Jay

Thank goodness we are going to get some more snow soon. As far as snow conditions go, this was the second worst snow conditions I have skied this year (which includes those infamous December days in which only The Jet and Haynes were open). Absolutely horrid. I took four runs and went home, completely baffled by the small line of people queuing up to actually pay for lift tickets outside the Stateside Lodge. I have skied some questionable days this season, but ultimately I have generally decided it was worth the time and gas money to get at least a few runs and dial in the legs a bit more. Not today, it was a complete waste of my morning.

Something wet but not of the frozen variety caked Jay’s snow base and froze over slightly. The result was that the groomers were only skiing well for those with well tuned race skis (I would have been a lot more happy today had I a pair of Volkl 6 Stars). Trails on the Stateside of the Bonaventure Quad were essentially scraped up frozen groomer tracks with a deceptive dusting of loose snow. Natural snow trails faired slightly better in most spots, a lot worse in others.

(more…)

2006-2007 Season, December, Jay Peak, Powder Day

Sloppy Seconds Powder Day at Jay

0607season/20061231jay/

After yesterday’s romp (which was my first open to close day of the year), I was rather tired and a wee bit sore. I opted for a late start and desired to leave early when my legs inevitably gave out. I ended up skiing from approximately 9a-1p which was about what I had expected.

What I had not expected was how bad the conditions would setup over night on the mountain. Temps dropped and the snow froze up a bit and got some wind buff. I skied a few open trails before ducking back into the woods and did not like what I saw. Northway and trails in that drainage were total skating rinks and the upper section of The Jet and Haynes did not look so good (I didn’t ski either, but after seeing a few slides for life from the lift, you kinda get the feel for how things are skiing). Natural trails were obliterated. They opened up Kitzbeuhel today but it was just nasty.

Out of a dozen runs I think I ended up in the woods about 10 times picking out trusty powder shots where I suspected base levels would be adequate and dangerous hazards would be minimal (relatively). I found way more pow than I had expected. Each run featured about 25% untracked or barely tracked in places I suspected had been trounced yesterday. It was slim pickings though… pick a line, get six turns, stop, reassess, likely traverse, repeat. By noon time the fresh lines were gone but sloppy seconds were still available. After a few more desperation runs for safe shots, my legs had enough and I called it a day. Pictures will be posted later.

Photo Gallery

2006-2007 Season, December, Jay Peak, Powder Day, Video

Finally, a Powder Day at Jay!

0607season/20061230jay/

On the previous Tuesday, Jay had only ten trails open. A four short days later, the trail count suddenly tripled to thirty. Essentially, Jay dropped the ropes on trails folks had been poaching and let everyone have at the dust on dirt. It was all good! Amazing what six inches of snow feels like when you have been deprived for weeks. Equally amazing what said powder will make people think is skiable.

Derick Hot Shot started off really nice; nicer than Tuesday at least, but got beat up quickly. That was the theme of the day for the open natural snow trails. The moguls under the Jet Chairlift finally started to setup but still featured lots of icy spots. Haynes was a skating rink. Patrol took note and put up fencing along some trees.

Traverse trails like Taxi were open on natural snow sporting deep water bars and rocks. Beginners and intermediates were not having fun on such trails despite their Green Circle rating. Later in the day, patrol roped a particularly bad section of Taxi towards the end of the traverse which forced beginners and intermediates down a disastrously thin Lower Can Am. Not even I had much tolerance for the mess on Lower Can Am, I can only imagine what the other skiers were thinking.

Off the Summit, Vermonter was our first run and a total disaster. Not sure if it ever got better. Northway was in much better shape from the Summit. Upper Milk Run was also particularly terrible and not worth the effort.

Trees were navigational but only with high caution levels and careful line choices. I backed off several lines due to obstacles or being unsure what was hidden under the six inches of fresh. A base had been established, but nothing substantial. One rock, stump, or snow snake could easily trip someone up and send them flying. Where we found lines, the skiing was sensational (relative to the weather we have had this December). A lot of folks were selecting some questionable tree shots. Knowledge of how things setup and what is doable in low base periods is advisable before just jumping into any open hole on the side of the trail. Things were especially crunchy lower down on the mountain.

Video from Today at Jay Peak

Photo Gallery

2006-2007 Season, December, Jay Peak

Disappointment from a Bust Storm Prediction at Jay Peak

*Le Sigh*

After a week of wild predictions ranging from boot deep to the jackpot, I woke up Tuesday morning to the tune of only two inches of snow in Saint Johnsbury. Fret not, surely Jay Peak received much more than two inches! Arriving at the Stateside lot shortly after the bull wheels began turning, it was unfortunately confirmed that Jay Peak faired no better than Saint Johnsbury. Two stinking inches of very wet snow. Adding insult to injury, non-crystalline precipitation was following from the sky and a mist of wet nastiness hung over Jay. Is it 2007 yet?

(more…)

2006-2007 Season, December, Jay Peak

Winter Returns at Jay Peak

0607season/20061224jay/

Welcome back to winter! Just in time for the Christmas Holiday and two days after the Winter Solstice, Ullr was kind enough to bless Jay Peak with two inches of fresh snow. For some excited skiers and riders, it was all fun and games until trying to drive up an unplowed Route 242 without snow tires! Snow began promptly on Route 242 just past the village of Jay and several cars with out of state plates and no snow tires dotted the side of the road. Trails were surprisingly sparse during the morning hours due to the slick conditions on an unplowed Route 242. Even once road conditions allowed safe passage for all cars regardless of treed, crowds were manageable through the morning and afternoon.

This afternoon featured the best weekend skiing at Jay Peak in almost two months since the earned turn October storms. The base was still generally wet from the rain on Saturday. However, a nice layer of fresh wet snow blanketed the trails with occasional spots of lighter powder making for excellent sliding conditions.

Beginning the morning with a ride up the Bonnie Quad, I found delightful cruising on Northway with exceptionally good high speed carving on the lower half of Angel’s Wiggle. I opened up my skis and carved huge edge to edge arcs back to the base area. While tempted for a repeat, I decided to take a rain check and opted for the Jet Triple.

(more…)