Jay 01/03

[riverc0il]

Ugh. UGH. UUUUUUUGH. UUUUUUUGLY.

This is a complete and total repeat of early January 07. Thankfully, we have a much deeper base than early Jan07 so a recovery should happen fairly quickly after two storms. It is going to take at least two feet to get back into mid-December conditions.

A few inches (3ish on average, sometimes more sometimes less) covered up all the crap hidden underneath. Instead of helping non-groomed trails, the fresh snow made things worse because you couldn't tell where the crap is. I did two quick low angle glade options and decided to stick to the groomers.

Not that things were much better on the groomers. Frozen groomer tracks and real legitimate ice all over the map. Tramside skied better than Stateside it seemed, though Goat just over the ridge had some pretty nasty looking sections.

I met up with some friends and we banged out three down Ullr's dream before I left at 11:30am. If I hadn't met up with some friends, I would have been out of there an hour and a half sooner after only three runs. Definitely worst conditions of the season so far.

 

[ccskier]

Thanks for confirming that leaving VT on Thursday afternoon was a wise decision. I won't bother heading back up until we get some snow. May try and make a day trip eleswhere in between for the hell of it.

 

[billski]

I saw the promos from Jay in my mailbox today. I knew something was wrong. Not surprising. Love to hear a report on Stowe or Smuggs or Bush and compare notes.

 

[riverc0il]

Thanks for confirming that leaving VT on Thursday afternoon was a wise decision. I won't bother heading back up until we get some snow. May try and make a day trip eleswhere in between for the hell of it.

I thought of you, ccskier. On my first run. After having read your reports, I had expected it to be bad but had hoped the new snow would have helped. Almost immediately on my first run, I realized that the conditions were everything you said and that much worse. I am sure the holiday traffic didn't help things either.

 

[thetrailboss]

Should have been at Sugarbush. We had 8 inches of new snow and it skied very well. I will say that it was the wrong consistency of snow....very light and blew off in some spots too easily.

 

[ccskier]

Tuesday/Wednesday were the jems at Jay. We woke up in Burlington thursday morn, got back to Montgomery at 9:15, no new snow in the driveway and the termometer in the car read -3 and I knew things would not be good, decided to head south. When we passed the resort it was -8 at noon, at that point I knew it was time to go. Hopefully things will shape up in the next few weeks. It is too bad that JAy gets hit the way it does. It is going to take some major snow to bring it up to speed. JAy, like many resorts needs a big year this year to keep things going for development. Personally I still think it is the most bang for the buck.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

any Stowe/Smuggs reports would be appreciated....looks like some snow in the forecast,,,

 

[billski]

any Stowe/Smuggs reports would be appreciated....looks like some snow in the forecast,,,

look in this thread
http://forums.alpinezone.com/45931-bolton-valley-vt-1-3-2009-a.html

there is a link to some amazing stowe pics from Saturday from J Spin. I've got the wheels pointed that-away for next week.... when you going?

 

[ccskier]

any Stowe/Smuggs reports would be appreciated....looks like some snow in the forecast,,,

Talked to a few friends who skied both, both sub par even with the 6-8''. Major fluffy snow, dust on crust. It is going to take a few decent storms before things get better.

 

[billski]

Talked to a few friends who skied both, both sub par even with the 6-8''. Major fluffy snow, dust on crust. It is going to take a few decent storms before things get better.

the problem it appears is that the snow is too dry and won't stick to the FGR. The precip this midweek might just be moist enough.

 

[BigJay]

Sunday was pretty good... I wanted to end this 2 week holiday with powder runs... Woods are filling up nicely with thick drifts thanks to the wind! Groomers were in excellent shape... Jet was great... But woods felt pretty good despite only 2 in of snow in the past 48hrs.

Saturday was spent deep in the backcountry where we had great snow... but 1.5H of access time to get to it... And 1 hour to get out... skinning as well...

Friday was pretty good at the mountain... we skied only from 2PM till 4PM... there was still lift lines at the jet almost at 4PM... so that's why we opted for BC outting on saturday...

Thursday was atrocious: ICE all over the mountain... Winds took most of the snow out of the trails... So one run and we headed back home...

After having 5 great days from Dec 20th to 24th, conditions were well below average... but BC turns were still alright... Thin... but in low angled areas, things were never dangerous... despite a few water crossings...

Hope it snows a lot this week!

 

[RadaBskiing]

I was at Jay yesterday. Hard left or hard right and you'll find snow and lot's of it. I'm looking for information on Big Jay anyone?

 

[BigJay]

I was at Jay yesterday. Hard left or hard right and you'll find snow and lot's of it. I'm looking for information on Big Jay anyone?

Big Jay is closed from the mountain now... It will need at least 2-3 ft of snow before it's open from the resort.

We rode on Big Jay before the meltdown on the 23rd. Skinned from the road... Powder was ranging from waist deep to almost nothing... Lots of deadfalls poking all over... Access isn't filled in yet... so lots of water crossing... So again, the place needs a lot of snow before it's fun to ride...