Jay Peak, Jan 17th 2009

[billski]

Much windier day, a bit warmer, -5 at the start of the day. Pretty windswept. Unfortunately the blues were all scraped off fairly early, making for that scraping sound.

We did Upper Can Am. Let's just say it was interesting and had us looking more and more towards the woods.

There were a lot of "icy" signs. Even the blues deserved some

Ullr's was a little better than most with some pow to turn on. Unfortunately it was on the windier side.

Time to head for the woods

We stick to the mid-pitch stuff. Really just beginning to explore Jay. Simply put, we just loved it. The woods were full of pow and fresh. New, albeit short fresh tracks could still be made a week later.

Woods were really the highlight of the day. It was a lot of fun. I now really understand Jay's reputation. We barely scratched the surface of what Jay has to offer.

warp speed scotty!

Woods bumps made me think of some bump forum owner I know. He would really like it here.

Comment on beginner's facilities. I'd argue that there are sufficient beginners slopes, with at least two accessible lifts and the moving carpet. Jay really doesn't have much for lower intermediates.

The place was loaded with high school and collegiate types. We must have been the oldest folks there. Great day. Only line was at the Tram!

We will certainly be back for more woods!

Billski

 

[hardline]

it really looks like they trim the hell out of those woods and you guys are not that old you where able to hang with me for a few hours.

 

[billski]

it really looks like they trim the hell out of those woods and you guys are not that old you where able to hang with me for a few hours.

Yeah, the marked glades seem to get a lot of trimming.
Thanks for the attaboy, we try hard...

Hey you other AZ'ers. You should get together with hardline for a day, I think you'd really enjoy yourself, get pushed a little and learn a bit about the mountain, especially for areas like Stowe which were his haunt for several year.

 

[billski]

They have one trail that's called a "gren" glade, "Kokomo". It's an absolute joke. It's got a few random trails here and there and a woods island, but is mostly a winding trail. You couldn't run a slalom through three trees if you wanted to!

 

[salsgang]

Great Pics! Glades look sweet. I climbed Jay this summer. I gotta ski it now!

 

[BigJay]

They have one trail that's called a "gren" glade, "Kokomo". It's an absolute joke. It's got a few random trails here and there and a woods island, but is mostly a winding trail. You couldn't run a slalom through three trees if you wanted to!

Kokomo was "kind" of a glade when it started... We first used it around 95 for a mountain bike race... Then people started skipping the flats of Ullr's trough the woods. One winter they opened a sort-of glade... Pretty much one cat-track wide trim but with small trees still on the trail.... Then it evolved to this 2-track crossing-thing.... Now it's more a winding traverse trail...

Bushwacker and Moon Walk are for beginners... Again, they put a cat-track on Bushwacker a couple years ago.

Conditions were pretty awsome if you stick to the woods. One of the best weekends this season! But again, you have to stick to the woods... I don't know what they trails were like... did the jet once late sunday afternoon... Awsome! Packed pow on the skier's left... Then ripping (carving) through the bumps under the lifts... Simply amazing conditions!

 

[billski]

Kokomo was "kind" of a glade when it started... We first used it around 95 for a mountain bike race... Then people started skipping the flats of Ullr's trough the woods. One winter they opened a sort-of glade... Pretty much one cat-track wide trim but with small trees still on the trail.... Then it evolved to this 2-track crossing-thing.... Now it's more a winding traverse trail...

Bushwacker and Moon Walk are for beginners... Again, they put a cat-track on Bushwacker a couple years ago.

Conditions were pretty awsome if you stick to the woods. One of the best weekends this season! But again, you have to stick to the woods... I don't know what they trails were like... did the jet once late sunday afternoon... Awsome! Packed pow on the skier's left... Then ripping (carving) through the bumps under the lifts... Simply amazing conditions!

My real issue is that they promote the trail as a place where you can get your start trying out glades. The online map states, "it's also a great intro to glade skiing/riding for novices." That's the part I don't buy.

The trails were generally scratchy. You're right, the woods were the place to be this weekend.

 

[BigJay]

My real issue is that they promote the trail as a place where you can get your start trying out glades. The online map states, "it's also a great intro to glade skiing/riding for novices." That's the part I don't buy.

Yeah, i get your point... but from a beginner's perspective, if your narrowing things down from a 100ft boulevard to a "rolling contour" trail that is only 10-12ft wide, it would really put you in the state of mind of skiing a glade for the first time...

On a different note, this weekend, i got pissed twice on the way up to the mountain... Twice with the same thing: Mass plates on a Subaru that climbs at 20-30mph on 4-season tires.... GRRRRR! The suby gets them up the hill barely... I wonder how they manage to drive 6+ Hr in these conditions!

In snow country, you NEED winter tires... It should be mandatory as you enter the state!

Ok, that's it for now...

 

[severine]

Nice pics! Thanks for sharing your report. Jay is a place I'd like to ski when I'm ready to start woods so it was nice to hear your perspective on their claim for it being a place where you can start trying out glades.

 

[billski]

Nice pics! Thanks for sharing your report. Jay is a place I'd like to ski when I'm ready to start woods so it was nice to hear your perspective on their claim for it being a place where you can start trying out glades.

Be careful you don't take my criticism of one trail as a general condemnation - just the opposite. There are other "beginner" glades there, Moon Walk, Bushwacker come to mind.

 

[billski]

On a different note, this weekend, i got pissed twice on the way up to the mountain... Twice with the same thing: Mass plates on a Subaru that climbs at 20-30mph on 4-season tires.... GRRRRR! The suby gets them up the hill barely... I wonder how they manage to drive 6+ Hr in these conditions!

In snow country, you NEED winter tires... It should be mandatory as you enter the state!

Ok, that's it for now...

I opened a thread on this topic. It's a good one.

 

[severine]

Be careful you don't take my criticism of one trail as a general condemnation - just the opposite. There are other "beginner" glades there, Moon Walk, Bushwacker come to mind.

Not a problem.

 

[Oetzi]

This wood trails look great!!

I'm going from Boston up to Bangor having three days of time, and I would like to hit some places to ski for that 2-3 days.

Now what do you guys think is Jay Peak really worth the extra distance? From this pics here I would definitely say yes.

Keep in mind that I absolutely love skiing through threes and woods, that is my favorite way to ski, but I'll probably be alone on my trip.

 

[billski]

This wood trails look great!!

I'm going from Boston up to Bangor having three days of time, and I would like to hit some places to ski for that 2-3 days.

Now what do you guys think is Jay Peak really worth the extra distance? From this pics here I would definitely say yes.

Keep in mind that I absolutely love skiing through threes and woods, that is my favorite way to ski, but I'll probably be alone on my trip.

You would probably like it. If you stick with the on-map glades, (which are substantial) you'll be fine, since they regularly sweep those areas (checkout their online trail map, it's good).
You might even find hardline at Stowe that week, if you are lucky. Stowe trees are very different, much wilder than Jay. Definitely worth trying both.
I hear the woods at Burke are good, but you definitely need a guide for the first time.

Bring a cell phone and a radio if you're going in alone, just to be sure.

 

[tipsdown]

You would probably like it. If you stick with the on-map glades, (which are substantial) you'll be fine, since they regularly sweep those areas (checkout their online trail map, it's good).
You might even find hardline at Stowe that week, if you are lucky. Stowe trees are very different, much wilder than Jay. Definitely worth trying both.
I hear the woods at Burke are good, but you definitely need a guide for the first time.

Bring a cell phone and a radio if you're going in alone, just to be sure.

Billski,

It's been a few years since I've been out to Jay. How to Saddleback's woods stack up to Jay's? I know they've sut some more since I was last out there. Saddleback has the best tree skiing IMO although they aren't as plentiful as those at Jay.

 

[billski]

Billski,

It's been a few years since I've been out to Jay. How to Saddleback's woods stack up to Jay's? I know they've sut some more since I was last out there. Saddleback has the best tree skiing IMO although they aren't as plentiful as those at Jay.

Never skied woods at Saddleback. In fact, the last time I skied there was ages ago and only on the groomers. It wouldn't surprise me that the woods are good there, especially with light skier traffic, keeps them in nice shape.

A couple other folks have been to Saddleback this year, search the forum for their trail report.

Woods have gotten kinda "trendy" in the past few years, the resorts are putting some effort into marking and trimming them. I invited Saddleback's ski school director to our club last October to do a presentation on the mountain. I asked him lots of questions, but I never thought to ask them about the woods!

I think you could have a lot of fun staying in the north woods, and I'd bag the trip down to Kmart simply because it's a lot of driving time and a lot more busy the further south you go.