Date(s) Skied: 3/24/05 & 3/25/05
Resort or Ski Area: Stowe Mountain VT & Jay Peak VT
Conditions: Packed Powder, Machine Groomed, frozen granular and some ice as the day wore on.
Trip Report: drove with my seven year old daughter from Northern Jersey to Stowe on Wed, 3/23. First time ever to either of these legendary mountains! Took the "eastern" route: 84 East to 91 north to 89 north then 100 north. Took about 6 1/2 hours stopping for gas once and drive thru BK once as well. No traffic whatsoever except briefly around Hartford. Anyway checked into Stowe Golden Eagle Resort right on 108 for three nights. This place is great...clean, cheap ($80 a night including b-fast) and the breakfasts were fantastic. Great pool, hottub, etc. as well. Ate at Pie in the Sky twice and The Whip once. Both great! OK on to the skiing...
Skied Stowe on Thursday, 3/24. Woke up to bluebird skies and temps in the low 20's. After a hearty breakfast we had a ten minute drive up to the mountain and we parked in the first row at the Gondola. Seemed pretty empty but I realized that because we had coupons to use we had to walk down to the main Mansfield lodge. We left our skis and poles at the Gondola and hiked down and back. Spent the morning cruising most of the blues off the Gondola: Perry Merrill, Switchback, etc. Most runs were packed powder and groomed. As the morning wore on temps probably climbed to the low 40's and things started getting a bit soft...some mashed potatoes especially near the base. Around 11:15 or so stopped to have lunch at the Midway Base Lodge, Jose's Cantina. My daughter and I had our jackets off sitting outside on a picnic table having lunch...it just doesn't get any better than that!!! :lol: In the afternoon we went over to the Mansfield section and again stuck to most of the blue cruisers. Every chair was open except for the Lookout Double which wasn't needed. No lines at any of the lifts. Stuck with the Mountain Triple runs and the Forerunner Quad. Snow was a bit firmer here but by the end of the afternoon even that section was getting soft. We tried a couple of black diamonds and Nosedive in particular was VERY icy. Daughter let me have it after this run! Did not get over to Spruce, everyone I asked said since I had just one day, skip it. Ended the day around 3:30 or so and went to the Ben & Jerry Factory to do the tour and samples. Well worth it if you are in Stowe. Only a 20 minute drive. Then dinner, pool, jacuzzi and off to bed to dream of Jay Peak.
Impressions of Stowe: this mountain did not disappoint! Was proud of my daughter as she was able to easily ski any of the blue trails, but the mountain is so beautiful and the views were endless. We could see Mt. Washington and the Presidential Range in the distance. The trails are narrow and wind down the mountain which I love. Groomers seem to do a great job. I waited 37 years to ski Stowe and it was worth the wait!! The town is also great although you could certainly see that things are winding down.
Next day Jay Peak, 3/25. Dragged my kid awake at 6:15 (although I had been sleepless since 5:00 or so!) and left for Jay with a light snow falling. Forecast was for a front to pass thru with light accumulations. As we got nearer to Jay (took a little over an hour) snow got heavier and of course as we get to the parking lot and the snow stops! :angry: No worries. Had a free pass for myself I bought on eBay ($15) and my daughter's pass was $20. Got our tickets and were in the first Tram up the mountain. We felt like a herd of cattle in the tram and the top of the mountain was shrouded in fog and snow. Pretty awesome feeling stepping out of the Tram at 4000 feet and not being able to see much in front of you. Mist had turned to light snow and the first run defintely was great! Much windier than Stowe and they probably ended up with a dusting of snow. Again stuck to mainly blue runs and took the two quad lifts up and down most of the day. Ended up on the tram two other times: once with my daughter and her instructor (bought her and hour private lesson and bypassed the tram line once with them) and one other time where we waited for about 25 minutes. I did not realize that most Canadians are off for Good Friday so the mountain soon became PACKED. Stopped for lunch around 1:00 and ate in the main lodge cafeteria (again packed). We avoided the lines by doing the singles line all day and it moved pretty well. Stuck with the Green Mountain Flyer and Bonventure chair (both quads) and took the Triple up a couple of times as well. Conditions actually became a bit icy even on top as temps climbed into the high 30's and the sun tried to peek out. We did not hit many of the glades but could see people plunging in from all directions. Skied until the lifts closed (4:00) and drove straight south back to Stowe.
Impressions of Jay: again this mountain did not disappoint! Unfortunately picked a crowded day but by using the singles line was not a big deal. This mountain seems bigger than Stowe and honestly if I had to pick one that I enjoyed a little bit more it was Jay. My daughter actually preferred Stowe. Good grooming but by the end of the day Jay had bumps EVERYWHERE!
All in all an absolutely fantastic trip. It was very nice getting to ski both without having to worry about -20 wind chills!
I would have loved to ski through a legendary powder day at Jay but that's the price you pay for spring skiing! Both mountains are fantastic and I cannot wait to go back! Since I had a party to go to on Saturday night we left Stowe at 8:30 on Saturday to go back home. Took the "western" route home: 100 south to 89 north to 7 south, then 22A south to 4 then cut across to the Northway 87 south and then thruway to 84 then home. Was actually a little quicker, not as many miles and 22A is a really scenic drive, with the NY Adirondacks off to the west.
Just as an aside one of my favorite things about skiing is the OMG view of the mountain, especially if driving a great distance and you haven't been there before. Did not get to see Stowe that way Wednesday night (it was dark when we arrived) but got that view from the resort the next morning and had a great view of Jay from about five miles away on 242 I think it was. Although my daughter does not yet appreciate the first view of a mountain it really gets me going!
Lots of pics that I will try to post this weekend. Feel free to ask any questions and I will try to answer. Thanks.
PICS NOW POSTED IN GALLERY!
Resort or Ski Area: Stowe Mountain VT & Jay Peak VT
Conditions: Packed Powder, Machine Groomed, frozen granular and some ice as the day wore on.
Trip Report: drove with my seven year old daughter from Northern Jersey to Stowe on Wed, 3/23. First time ever to either of these legendary mountains! Took the "eastern" route: 84 East to 91 north to 89 north then 100 north. Took about 6 1/2 hours stopping for gas once and drive thru BK once as well. No traffic whatsoever except briefly around Hartford. Anyway checked into Stowe Golden Eagle Resort right on 108 for three nights. This place is great...clean, cheap ($80 a night including b-fast) and the breakfasts were fantastic. Great pool, hottub, etc. as well. Ate at Pie in the Sky twice and The Whip once. Both great! OK on to the skiing...
Skied Stowe on Thursday, 3/24. Woke up to bluebird skies and temps in the low 20's. After a hearty breakfast we had a ten minute drive up to the mountain and we parked in the first row at the Gondola. Seemed pretty empty but I realized that because we had coupons to use we had to walk down to the main Mansfield lodge. We left our skis and poles at the Gondola and hiked down and back. Spent the morning cruising most of the blues off the Gondola: Perry Merrill, Switchback, etc. Most runs were packed powder and groomed. As the morning wore on temps probably climbed to the low 40's and things started getting a bit soft...some mashed potatoes especially near the base. Around 11:15 or so stopped to have lunch at the Midway Base Lodge, Jose's Cantina. My daughter and I had our jackets off sitting outside on a picnic table having lunch...it just doesn't get any better than that!!! :lol: In the afternoon we went over to the Mansfield section and again stuck to most of the blue cruisers. Every chair was open except for the Lookout Double which wasn't needed. No lines at any of the lifts. Stuck with the Mountain Triple runs and the Forerunner Quad. Snow was a bit firmer here but by the end of the afternoon even that section was getting soft. We tried a couple of black diamonds and Nosedive in particular was VERY icy. Daughter let me have it after this run! Did not get over to Spruce, everyone I asked said since I had just one day, skip it. Ended the day around 3:30 or so and went to the Ben & Jerry Factory to do the tour and samples. Well worth it if you are in Stowe. Only a 20 minute drive. Then dinner, pool, jacuzzi and off to bed to dream of Jay Peak.
Impressions of Stowe: this mountain did not disappoint! Was proud of my daughter as she was able to easily ski any of the blue trails, but the mountain is so beautiful and the views were endless. We could see Mt. Washington and the Presidential Range in the distance. The trails are narrow and wind down the mountain which I love. Groomers seem to do a great job. I waited 37 years to ski Stowe and it was worth the wait!! The town is also great although you could certainly see that things are winding down.
Next day Jay Peak, 3/25. Dragged my kid awake at 6:15 (although I had been sleepless since 5:00 or so!) and left for Jay with a light snow falling. Forecast was for a front to pass thru with light accumulations. As we got nearer to Jay (took a little over an hour) snow got heavier and of course as we get to the parking lot and the snow stops! :angry: No worries. Had a free pass for myself I bought on eBay ($15) and my daughter's pass was $20. Got our tickets and were in the first Tram up the mountain. We felt like a herd of cattle in the tram and the top of the mountain was shrouded in fog and snow. Pretty awesome feeling stepping out of the Tram at 4000 feet and not being able to see much in front of you. Mist had turned to light snow and the first run defintely was great! Much windier than Stowe and they probably ended up with a dusting of snow. Again stuck to mainly blue runs and took the two quad lifts up and down most of the day. Ended up on the tram two other times: once with my daughter and her instructor (bought her and hour private lesson and bypassed the tram line once with them) and one other time where we waited for about 25 minutes. I did not realize that most Canadians are off for Good Friday so the mountain soon became PACKED. Stopped for lunch around 1:00 and ate in the main lodge cafeteria (again packed). We avoided the lines by doing the singles line all day and it moved pretty well. Stuck with the Green Mountain Flyer and Bonventure chair (both quads) and took the Triple up a couple of times as well. Conditions actually became a bit icy even on top as temps climbed into the high 30's and the sun tried to peek out. We did not hit many of the glades but could see people plunging in from all directions. Skied until the lifts closed (4:00) and drove straight south back to Stowe.
Impressions of Jay: again this mountain did not disappoint! Unfortunately picked a crowded day but by using the singles line was not a big deal. This mountain seems bigger than Stowe and honestly if I had to pick one that I enjoyed a little bit more it was Jay. My daughter actually preferred Stowe. Good grooming but by the end of the day Jay had bumps EVERYWHERE!
All in all an absolutely fantastic trip. It was very nice getting to ski both without having to worry about -20 wind chills!
I would have loved to ski through a legendary powder day at Jay but that's the price you pay for spring skiing! Both mountains are fantastic and I cannot wait to go back! Since I had a party to go to on Saturday night we left Stowe at 8:30 on Saturday to go back home. Took the "western" route home: 100 south to 89 north to 7 south, then 22A south to 4 then cut across to the Northway 87 south and then thruway to 84 then home. Was actually a little quicker, not as many miles and 22A is a really scenic drive, with the NY Adirondacks off to the west.
Just as an aside one of my favorite things about skiing is the OMG view of the mountain, especially if driving a great distance and you haven't been there before. Did not get to see Stowe that way Wednesday night (it was dark when we arrived) but got that view from the resort the next morning and had a great view of Jay from about five miles away on 242 I think it was. Although my daughter does not yet appreciate the first view of a mountain it really gets me going!
Lots of pics that I will try to post this weekend. Feel free to ask any questions and I will try to answer. Thanks.
PICS NOW POSTED IN GALLERY!
