tarponhead
New member
Hi Folks,
Busy, so just posting now.
Drove up Friday night with both boys in tow, solid conga line up 91 with most cars getting off at the southern Vt resort exits. Stayed at White River Junction Friday night. Four charter busses in the lot, looked like all HS clubs. Casual conversation indicated most were Killington bound.
Burke: Left early Saturday and arrived at the Sherburne base lodge by 8:15. What a mountain! We never waited more then 2-3 minutes to load the upper chair on either day. On prez weekend????? Despite no recent snow the groomers were steller. Packed powder but very easy to engage your edges. The trails got character and we were all amazed by the diversity we saw (e.g., skiing warrens way one run (big super-g like course) and then following that up with deer run/powderhorn to Y-knot; narrow scenic stuff). Its just an amazing place....and no crowds. The non-groomed trails (wilderness, ledges (great trail but I sucked when I got to the actual "ledge"), dougs drop, powderhorn etc) where still in pretty good shape despite lots of detritus and other "stuff" in spots. Did not bother with lower fox's folly as to much rock exposure seemed to make it a bit more technical then we were interested in (i.e., could handle).
Being poconos ice grinders, we don't get to ski glades so the opportunity to do so there was a blast. Everything marked was skied out, but we didn't mind. Lapped sasquatch and Y-knot for the most part with the boys playing on some unmarked stuff off of deer run. Stayed away from the more technical glades. That will come with time.
Day 2 was a near repeat of day 1. Only better because we were more confident in our tree skiing. I deliberately quit skiing each day at 3PM so I could hang at the fireplace in the Bears Den and quaff some with my "new friends". I do not know of any higher praise then when son#2 immediately after a long ride home asked when we could bo back to Burke again. I said "not soon enough!"
Jay Peak: Monday, Prez day we left early and arrived at the State lodge by 8AM. Wind was honking big time. Used our season passes at Blue for a substantial discount. Lifts were on hold until 9:15 or so and then only the jet tripple was spinning. 15 min wait. Big change from Burke. All the exposed trails where wind-scrubbed. No surprise, but I guess thats kinda besides the point at a place like Jay. Not being experienced glade skiers we kept to the lower angle stuff (stateside glades, kokomo etc.) The condition in the trees at Jay were markedly better then what we found at Burke. Untracked depending on the line. I know these glades are toys compared to what we saw elswhere but you gotta start somewhere.....We had a great time and we skiied until lifts stopped spinning shortly after 4. Legs where spent. Spoke to some people at lunch and they said it was not the best. "Not best" at Jay was still pretty damm good for us and we are excited about going back there in April (1st-3rd; boys spring break). All in all a very fun day. Boys are totally jazzed (and much better) glade skiers then I. I hope I can keep feeding their appitite.
Great trip. Both mountains were firsts for us and we will be back. Left early and the drive home on the 16th from southern Vt on was all in a snow storm . No surprise but the heaviest snow was in northern jerzey.....
Busy, so just posting now.
Drove up Friday night with both boys in tow, solid conga line up 91 with most cars getting off at the southern Vt resort exits. Stayed at White River Junction Friday night. Four charter busses in the lot, looked like all HS clubs. Casual conversation indicated most were Killington bound.
Burke: Left early Saturday and arrived at the Sherburne base lodge by 8:15. What a mountain! We never waited more then 2-3 minutes to load the upper chair on either day. On prez weekend????? Despite no recent snow the groomers were steller. Packed powder but very easy to engage your edges. The trails got character and we were all amazed by the diversity we saw (e.g., skiing warrens way one run (big super-g like course) and then following that up with deer run/powderhorn to Y-knot; narrow scenic stuff). Its just an amazing place....and no crowds. The non-groomed trails (wilderness, ledges (great trail but I sucked when I got to the actual "ledge"), dougs drop, powderhorn etc) where still in pretty good shape despite lots of detritus and other "stuff" in spots. Did not bother with lower fox's folly as to much rock exposure seemed to make it a bit more technical then we were interested in (i.e., could handle).
Being poconos ice grinders, we don't get to ski glades so the opportunity to do so there was a blast. Everything marked was skied out, but we didn't mind. Lapped sasquatch and Y-knot for the most part with the boys playing on some unmarked stuff off of deer run. Stayed away from the more technical glades. That will come with time.
Day 2 was a near repeat of day 1. Only better because we were more confident in our tree skiing. I deliberately quit skiing each day at 3PM so I could hang at the fireplace in the Bears Den and quaff some with my "new friends". I do not know of any higher praise then when son#2 immediately after a long ride home asked when we could bo back to Burke again. I said "not soon enough!"
Jay Peak: Monday, Prez day we left early and arrived at the State lodge by 8AM. Wind was honking big time. Used our season passes at Blue for a substantial discount. Lifts were on hold until 9:15 or so and then only the jet tripple was spinning. 15 min wait. Big change from Burke. All the exposed trails where wind-scrubbed. No surprise, but I guess thats kinda besides the point at a place like Jay. Not being experienced glade skiers we kept to the lower angle stuff (stateside glades, kokomo etc.) The condition in the trees at Jay were markedly better then what we found at Burke. Untracked depending on the line. I know these glades are toys compared to what we saw elswhere but you gotta start somewhere.....We had a great time and we skiied until lifts stopped spinning shortly after 4. Legs where spent. Spoke to some people at lunch and they said it was not the best. "Not best" at Jay was still pretty damm good for us and we are excited about going back there in April (1st-3rd; boys spring break). All in all a very fun day. Boys are totally jazzed (and much better) glade skiers then I. I hope I can keep feeding their appitite.
Great trip. Both mountains were firsts for us and we will be back. Left early and the drive home on the 16th from southern Vt on was all in a snow storm . No surprise but the heaviest snow was in northern jerzey.....
