Jay Peak This Weekend

[skiadikt]

And let me add that, while we definitely compete/have fun/rub salt in each other's eyes, hats off to Sugarbush both for stepping up and opening this weekend and for winning a NSAA Guest Service award for their Sugarcube product this season. From the angle of re-opening, there are lots of resorts who don't understand what pushing the season does for their core base. Sugarbush is not one of those.

+10

 

[riverc0il]

Bumps on Stateside last week were awesome. Cheers to Jay for going long, and looks to be a tie for last to close.

 

[mister moose]

My view on this coming weekend is not that much different than mid-season, except that mid-season I might have a bus option to get up north (though not to Jay), which is cheaper and easier than me driving. I guess also more trails would be open, making it more worth the effort. But as far as this weekend, work might still be a problem, and as far as Jay goes, driving too. If they are open in August I'd happily go if my schedule permits. Like many on AZ, my desire to ski doesn't end with the unfortunate change in seasons.

Spring skiing is not about trail count. Spring skiing is not about bus rides on organized tours. Spring skiing in and of itself is "worth the effort."

Spring skiing is about short sleeves on the chairlift, soft piles of snow yielding beneath every turn, it's a form of a powder day that never gets tracked out. It is the only time of year when the skiing can get better with more traffic. It's warm, it's wet, and paying for it is legal. You know its a good day when the mogul top explodes and corn snow hits you in the face. There is a radio/Ipod playing at the chairlift. Water bottles are buried in the snow by the maze. You know its a good day when there is food and music outside. This is a time for ski enthusiasts, and we all share that bond. Many of us know each other. Everyone is smiling.

Lift tickets and lodging is cheap. It isn't about how many runs you get in. It's about that magic period between the morning firmament finally softening and the sun setting. It's about lingering in the alpenglow of early evening.

It is not for everyone. It is not good for novices. It is not good for the weak of thighs, the faint of vertical, or the skier who has trouble pointing their skis down the hill. It helps to have fatter skis, or at least fatter shovels. It uses different techniques, but they are worth learning. You must learn to ski at least medium size bumps, as they form fast, or at the least, big wet slush piles.

Each year we conduct the spring rush, and each year we get a few more converts. Spring skiing is more dependable. All you need is a lift and temperatures above 40; one is bolted down and the other has to happen eventually.

It's great that Sugarbush and Jay have both opted to make the effort to stay open one more weekend, and make no mistake, it is an effort. Both are great choices. Choose one of them.

 

[jerryg]

Spring skiing is not about trail count. Spring skiing is not about bus rides on organized tours. Spring skiing in and of itself is "worth the effort."

Spring skiing is about short sleeves on the chairlift, soft piles of snow yielding beneath every turn, it's a form of a powder day that never gets tracked out. It is the only time of year when the skiing can get better with more traffic. It's warm, it's wet, and paying for it is legal. You know its a good day when the mogul top explodes and corn snow hits you in the face. There is a radio/Ipod playing at the chairlift. Water bottles are buried in the snow by the maze. You know its a good day when there is food and music outside. This is a time for ski enthusiasts, and we all share that bond. Many of us know each other. Everyone is smiling.

Lift tickets and lodging is cheap. It isn't about how many runs you get in. It's about that magic period between the morning firmament finally softening and the sun setting. It's about lingering in the alpenglow of early evening.

It is not for everyone. It is not good for novices. It is not good for the weak of thighs, the faint of vertical, or the skier who has trouble pointing their skis down the hill. It helps to have fatter skis, or at least fatter shovels. It uses different techniques, but they are worth learning. You must learn to ski at least medium size bumps, as they form fast, or at the least, big wet slush piles.

Each year we conduct the spring rush, and each year we get a few more converts. Spring skiing is more dependable. All you need is a lift and temperatures above 40; one is bolted down and the other has to happen eventually.

It's great that Sugarbush and Jay have both opted to make the effort to stay open one more weekend, and make no mistake, it is an effort. Both are great choices. Choose one of them.

Well said, but I'd throw Sugarloaf into that mix, too. :razz::beer:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Spring skiing is not about trail count. Spring skiing is not about bus rides on organized tours. Spring skiing in and of itself is "worth the effort."

Spring skiing is about short sleeves on the chairlift, soft piles of snow yielding beneath every turn, it's a form of a powder day that never gets tracked out. It is the only time of year when the skiing can get better with more traffic. It's warm, it's wet, and paying for it is legal. You know its a good day when the mogul top explodes and corn snow hits you in the face. There is a radio/Ipod playing at the chairlift. Water bottles are buried in the snow by the maze. You know its a good day when there is food and music outside. This is a time for ski enthusiasts, and we all share that bond. Many of us know each other. Everyone is smiling.

Lift tickets and lodging is cheap. It isn't about how many runs you get in. It's about that magic period between the morning firmament finally softening and the sun setting. It's about lingering in the alpenglow of early evening.

It is not for everyone. It is not good for novices. It is not good for the weak of thighs, the faint of vertical, or the skier who has trouble pointing their skis down the hill. It helps to have fatter skis, or at least fatter shovels. It uses different techniques, but they are worth learning. You must learn to ski at least medium size bumps, as they form fast, or at the least, big wet slush piles.

Each year we conduct the spring rush, and each year we get a few more converts. Spring skiing is more dependable. All you need is a lift and temperatures above 40; one is bolted down and the other has to happen eventually.

It's great that Sugarbush and Jay have both opted to make the effort to stay open one more weekend, and make no mistake, it is an effort. Both are great choices. Choose one of them.

:beer:

 

[kcyanks1]

Spring skiing is not about trail count. Spring skiing is not about bus rides on organized tours. Spring skiing in and of itself is "worth the effort."

I don't know where you live, but I figure it is not in NYC without a car. I went to Sugarbush last weekend. I rented a car, drove over 12 hours myself. And it was totally worth it. I did the same last year for Sugarbush's closing day, the first weekend in May (well, my brother was with me that time). And it was worth it then too, even though I knew it was supposed to rain as I drove up. And three other years, I went to Killington in May, including one year driving 3.5 hours each way to ski in the rain on 1 trail. But how many times a year can I do that type of thing?

Whether I go skiing anytime of course depends on what I have to do to get there. But I generally will go at least once during the very-late season regardless what I have to do to get there. I agree that open trails matter much less in the spring, in that I would not likely do what I did this past weekend, and what I did last May, if the same conditions were occurring in February. But if more is open would I be even more willing to do so?
Of course. And how does that not make sense?

My actual point was really the opposite the way you took it. I was trying to say that I am as happy and willing to ski in May as I am in March. But I noted some differing factors, mainly, the increased difficulty of getting there (it is also more expensive). Are you saying that just completely irrelevant, to be ignored?

<snipped>

It's great that Sugarbush and Jay have both opted to make the effort to stay open one more weekend, and make no mistake, it is an effort. Both are great choices. Choose one of them.

I agree it is great both are opening, and I'd love to ski again this year. But can you really say that my driving time, rental car cost ($90+/day from NYC, not counting gas), is irrelevant? That just makes no sense. In any case, I just don't see this weekend working for me because of work, and I wouldn't know until last minute if I could go. The same thing happens plenty midseason as well.

 

[thebigo]

well said mr moose

and thanks jay, we were on the fence for this weekend but i called jay this afternoon and got a room with breakfast and two days of lift tickets for less than most mountains charge for a couple of tickets midseason

immediately lifted our spirits, if youre on the fence give them a call

 

[win]

Just ski or ride somewhere this weekend and tell ten friends what a great time you had.

Ski the East!

 

[kcyanks1]

mister moose, sorry if I went a bit too crazy in response to your post. I just think it's not as simple as you are making it out to be, whether in February or in May. Maybe "effort" wasn't the best word, as expense probably matters more, and having others to ski with is important too (which is what made last Sunday so great), but I think everything (including effort) matters for any ski trip, but even considering everything I'm still happy to go to ski one fun trail in questionable spring weather. I guess I'll stop there before I say too much again.

 

[jerryg]

Just ski or ride somewhere this weekend and tell ten friends what a great time you had.

Ski the East!

That is awesome. Thanks for the your efforts, Win, Steve, and anyone else spinning the lifts this weekend!

 

[JPTracker]

We'll be open Saturday and Sunday with The Jet Triple accessing The Jet and Haynes trails. $39 will actually get you a two-day Adult ticket; $29 for a two-day Junior ticket. BBQ and music right at the base of the Triple (no walking back to Stateside lodge) We're also going to take your contact info when you buy your ticket and, at the end of the day on Sunday, will be pulling a name from a proverbial hat to win an actual 2009-2010 Jay Peak Season Pass.

That's what I got.

From Win's post

The best form of flattery is imitation.

Sugarbush will be open Saturday and Sunday will the Valley House chair running. The bumps on Stein are for sure. We will be pushing snow around the next two days to also try to get a path down Upper Snowball to Spring Fling.

A two day ticket will be $39 and $29 if you bring a 08/09 season pass from another area.
We too will be collecting contact information for a drawing at 5pm on Sunday to win an All-Mountain season pass for next year. All who buy a ticket that day or who present a valid Sugarbush season pass or Sugarcard are eligible to win.

The weather in looking up and we are looking forward to our own "Run of the Rose" down Stein's.

Steve,

Are you going to match there offer of including Season Pass holders who show up in the drawing?

 

[BigJay]

Are you going to match there offer of including Season Pass holders who show up in the drawing?

...or Pass Holders who will buy BBQ instead of bringing a lunch?

Trying to convince a bunch of people to make the drive instead of going to St-Sauveur... but the pool and hot tub at the bottom of the slope is tempting...

But seriously, i'll be there Saturday! (probably not on sunday... real busy..)

 

[Steve@jpr]

Yeah SP holder's can register at the Stateside Retail shop.

From Win's post



Steve,

Are you going to match there offer of including Season Pass holders who show up in the drawing?

 

[win]

Love it, Steve! Have a good weekend!