How tough is Tuckerman's Chute in Jay Peak?

[Vano]

I have been reading a bunch of posts on the forum regarding the toughest trails in the East. Unfortunately, I have not tried most of the trails that usually come out on top of the list, such as Goat and the rest of the Front Four.

The only point of reference that I have is the Tuckerman's Chute that I skied in Jay peak last March. The snow was ok, packed but not icy, definitely bumpy.

How would Tuckermans, in the aforementioned condition, compare to the other tough East Coast trails that usually come out on top? (Both in steepness and the overall difficulty of the run.) You can assume average snow conditions.

Thanks!

[Brettski]

Do you mean directly under the Tram?

An you're from Joisey, and you've only skiied Jay?

Is this a troll?

[Vano]

Originally Posted by Brettski

Do you mean directly under the Tram?

An you're from Joisey, and you've only skiied Jay?

Is this a troll?

That is correct. Its the trail right under the Tram. There are two - Tuckermans and Face Chutes. I didn't get a chance to ski the Face Chutes but I have heard the level of difficulty is about this same.

Now the Troll comment: Not a troll. In the North East I have skied:
- Killington Many times (Don't consider Outer Limits very difficult)
- Bellayere
- Stowe with my wife (never did the Front 4)
- Tremblant
- Blue Mountain PA
- Jay Peak
- Hunter
- Windham

Of all these places, I would consider Tuckermans Chute at Jay to be the toughest trail of all. That is why I am using it as a benchmark against all others that I haven't skied yet. My goal is this year to ski:

- Stowe and the front 4
- Mad River - all of it!!
- More Jay Peak cause they get great snow
- Plattekill, NY
- Magic Mountain and Bolton if there is time

[Brettski]

Just looked at the rrail map. Don't knoe if the face chutes and tuckermans are the same.

What time of year did you ski them.

Were they covered in pow-pow?

[smootharc]

Originally Posted by Vano

My goal is this year to ski: Mad River - all of it!!

....I'm assuming you've booked a room for, say 3 weeks. You'll need the time for the "all of it" plan, imho.

And, pray tell, why no Sugarbush on the list of "must do's" ? Just curious.....

[GrizzlyFD]

Tuckermans chutes are tough...but it all depends on the line you take. One of the "easier" lines is if you hang a left and follow the wooden fence as far left as you can and then drop into the chute.

One of the best lines appears (called the cheek) late in the season after the snow packs in the pine trees between the face and tuckermans chutes and your skiing on the tops of the trees...its pretty steep the whole way down. I couldn't tell you exactly how to get at it, but I could show you once I'm there.

The face chutes are tougher, but if your good you can showboat the whole way down under the tram.

Oh and don't tell anybody but you can hit fresh powder all day after a storm on these chutes ... if you don't mind waiting for the tram...

[Vano]

Originally Posted by Brettski

Just looked at the rrail map. Don't knoe if the face chutes and tuckermans are the same.

What time of year did you ski them.

Were they covered in pow-pow?

They are definitely different trails. The face chute is a bit more open though, you have a higher chance of wondering off to an ice fall or a small cliff, but Tuckerman's is steeper. But since I haven't skied Face Chutes, lets just forget those. Tuckerman's is the toughest trail I have skied in the East to date. There was no powder at all, it was full of moguls but the snow was soft - ie no ice moguls and no problems with holding edge on the skis.

I am guess the only people that can semi-accurately answer the question are people that have skied Tuckermans along with a few of the well known Tough trails.

[Vano]

Originally Posted by smootharc

....I'm assuming you've booked a room for, say 3 weeks. You'll need the time for the "all of it" plan, imho.

And, pray tell, why no Sugarbush on the list of "must do's" ? Just curious.....

Not sure why Sugarbush is not on the list. If I am not mistaken, it is pretty close to Stowe. If thats the case, I probably dismissed it as I though it would be cooler to try to front 4 in Stowe and then do the one hour drive to Jay Peak and ski a day or two there. If i get out to Vermont for longer than I have been in the recent years I will try Sugarbush and Smuggs I guess.

[Vano]

Originally Posted by GrizzlyFD

The face chutes are tougher, but if your good you can showboat the whole way down under the tram.

Really? The few people I saw skiing the face chutes must have been taking the "easy" line cause it looked steep, but relatively smooth and wide open to me when I was there. I did see a few boarders that had wondered off to skier's right too much and were facing some ice falls - they took their boards off and walked back up to the tram Probably a smart decision - I know I wouldn't want to be airing off any ice falls.

[highpeaksdrifter]

Originally Posted by Vano

Not sure why Sugarbush is not on the list. If I am not mistaken, it is pretty close to Stowe. If thats the case, I probably dismissed it as I though it would be cooler to try to front 4 in Stowe and then do the one hour drive to Jay Peak and ski a day or two there. If i get out to Vermont for longer than I have been in the recent years I will try Sugarbush and Smuggs I guess.

Sugarbush is just down the road a piece from MRG. Easy to hit both while staying overnight in the same place.