Riding the Jet Triple Chair late afternoon, I asked aloud “why did I ever leave Jay?” Jay became routine. I had become a powder princess; loosing my edge. New areas I had never skied beckoned for exploration. I became a wanderer–visiting new areas and revisiting areas that I skied so long ago they felt new. My explorations were as fruitful as any novel experience. But they also gave me perspective on what I was missing… on what I turned away from for far too long.

Dropping into the Jay sidecountry was sublime. It all came flooding back to me—the many incredible untracked powder days past; the beauty of the widely spaced hard woods. Today was not the deepest by far but it was just as exciting and euphoric. I stopped and hollered; laughing hysterically with joy and amazement.

It was all the more special to share these experiences with my fellow blogging friends—who were equally blown away by the skiing. Harvey’s perspective that experiences common place to me are peak experiences for him weighs heavy on my mind. Such experiences should never be taken for granted. No matter how many times such things are experienced, they should never become thought of as common place.

Approaching the lip of Upper Exhibition, I heard SBR start. I looked in his direction, shared a look, and knew it was on. It’s a special moment when two skiers connect, simultaneously decide to change plans, and drop into a line knowing that something special awaits. Who needs to ski the glades when there is boot deep untracked blow on a steep open pitch? A few conservative turns gave way to full on charging mode. And then the white stuff kicked up in The Flash and I couldn’t contain my wonderment.

It was a homecoming of sorts, charging hard in boot buckle deep untracked at noontime. I’ve clearly been away from Jay Peak for too long. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Perhaps we could have expected an inch or two at best and my leisurely start to the morning clearly indicated that I had no hope of a powder day. But Jay is a mountain of surprises.

You only experience the novelty of a new area once. That jaw dropping awe can only be relived through seeing the eyes of others experiencing it for the first time. It was like that today. I’ve skied all these lines before to the point of routine. But I saw them again almost for the first time today. And that was amazing.

More words to follow but I am spent for tonight. We’re just getting started.