NSBS Behind the Scenes
The Northeast Ski Blogger Summit had significant difficulty performing our core function: blogging. Despite the Stateside Chalet and Tram Haus Lodge both having wireless connectivity, the Village Condos offer no such luxury. None of us thought to bring an ethernet cord but we managed to bum a pair of short cables from the Tram Haus front desk. That still left six bloggers with only two internet connections split between two different condos. Hilarity ensued.
So we ventured forth to the Tram Haus Lodge for dinner and internet connectivity. It was quite the scene at Alice’s Table. After eating dinner and reveling in the day’s adventures, we pulled out lap tops and began typing. The looks from other tables ranged from incredulous to offended. The next evening at the The Belfry, we spied a little kid at the dinner table with an iPad. Blogging: coming soon to a restaurant near you.
Much of our non-skiing time was spent on lap tops, but not as much as one might expect at a Blogger Summit. I originally envisioned six guys sitting around a table blogging away in silence. But the reality is that group blogging is a social experience: pictures and video were shared, blog posts were read and commented on, and internet memes and personalities were discussed. The actual writing was difficult due to distraction. It became a piecemeal approach of typing quick notes and thoughts, letting them gestate, and then going back to expand.
Inserting a notorious deal finding cheapskate day tripper into a spiffy slopeside condo had occasional comic results. I found myself less efficient despite the easier access. Normally I travel light and compact. But staying slopeside for three days required extensive preparation. It required advanced planning for all contingencies instead of calling the shots predawn. It made me want to be lazy in the morning–I can see the appeal. And I can better understand why it’s so easy to score uncontested untracked in the morning on a Jay Peak weekend powder day: everyone lodging on mountain is still farting around their condo.
Condos have appealing aspects in a group. Whether drinking post-powder beers while watching ski porn or mowing down a hearty SBR breakfast, the social aspect is something I sadly don’t get as a day tripper. Jay’s Village Condos were luxurious in my hosteling eyes. Gaping space with ample seating for a dozen despite the beds only servicing a third less bodies. I felt oddly disconnected by not having to pack my gear the night before nor set an early alarm.
Most importantly, had I not stayed in the condos, I would never have rode the Village Double nor skied Racoon Run. Grammy Jay may be the only line at Jay that continues to elude me…
