The last ski day for me in 2006/07...

[JimG.]

is going to be 4/29. I'll be in Shelburne, VT on Saturday for soccer games with my oldest son, then we'll hit an open ski resort on Sunday for our last turns of 06/07.

I considered going back to Mt. Washington, but the driving and logistics (I'll have my 13 year old with me and it would be his first Tucks trip) are just too much for me to make it a viable option. Wildcat removes the logistics, but the driving is the same as Mt. Wash. Stowe is the closest resort to Shelburne that will be open. Jay is an option, but then I'm heading North to start the day and adding to my drive home. Sugarbush and Killington are on the way home and offer the best options regarding post skiing drives. Whiteface is an option too.

I want the most open terrain and best snow conditions...I understand that Spring has finally arrived and that it looks like it will be pretty warm and maybe a little rainy. I will ski somewhere.

Where would you recommend I go? My only concern is terrain and snow conditions.

 

[kcyanks1]

is going to be 4/29. I'll be in Shelburne, VT on Saturday for soccer games with my oldest son, then we'll hit an open ski resort on Sunday for our last turns of 06/07.

I considered going back to Mt. Washington, but the driving and logistics (I'll have my 13 year old with me and it would be his first Tucks trip) are just too much for me to make it a viable option. Wildcat removes the logistics, but the driving is the same as Mt. Wash. Stowe is the closest resort to Shelburne that will be open. Jay is an option, but then I'm heading North to start the day and adding to my drive home. Sugarbush and Killington are on the way home and offer the best options regarding post skiing drives. Whiteface is an option too.

I want the most open terrain and best snow conditions...I understand that Spring has finally arrived and that it looks like it will be pretty warm and maybe a little rainy. I will ski somewhere.

Where would you recommend I go? My only concern is terrain and snow conditions.

If driving isn't a concern then I'd probably go with Jay, assuming you like trees. They've gotten the most snow and will probably have the most still open. Otherwise SB and Killington would be good options since they are on the way home and both should have some nice spring terrain. If Castlerock somehow makes it to the weekend, I'd go with SB.

 

[pepperdawg]

Coverage was still decent (awesome) at Killington Yesterday......

 

[JimG.]

If driving isn't a concern then I'd probably go with Jay, assuming you like trees. They've gotten the most snow and will probably have the most still open. Otherwise SB and Killington would be good options since they are on the way home and both should have some nice spring terrain. If Castlerock somehow makes it to the weekend, I'd go with SB.

You've pretty much tapped into my thinking...I'll go for the extra driving if Jay has a significant terrain advantage. But I need more feedback from locals there to make that commitment.

Stowe is an easy choice because it too had great snow and has some of the best terrain in the east and it is very close to where I'm staying Saturday. But both these choices need local feedback because I won't sacrifice back end driving if alot of lifts are closed limiting the terrain available.

Then I'm better off at Sugarbush or Killington.

 

[JimG.]

Coverage was still decent (awesome) at Killington Yesterday......

A firm vote for K...thanks.

 

[kingdom-tele]

jim - coverage at jay is still great, with a good corn cycle this week (finally cooled off last night) it should be great both on and off trail, the usual rock bands are poking through on river quai and green beret, that being said though, i don't think it would be worth driving by other resorts just to ski jay, unless your dreaming of a couple lines in particular, you'll get the same snow further south

 

[JimG.]

jim - coverage at jay is still great, with a good corn cycle this week (finally cooled off last night) it should be great both on and off trail, the usual rock bands are poking through on river quai and green beret, that being said though, i don't think it would be worth driving by other resorts just to ski jay, unless your dreaming of a couple lines in particular, you'll get the same snow further south

This is the detail I'm looking for.

I consider the extra driving north mostly because of temperature...it looks like it will not drop to or below freezing from Stowe south after Thursday. Perhaps I'm optimistic to think it will be different at Jay.

I would love to ski a few tree shots and it seems Jay and Stowe would be best for that, but I'm again giving the advantage there to Jay.

I may PM you later in the week for more feedback. Thanks!

 

[riverc0il]

kingdom-tele has good thoughts on the issue. i think stowe may be the best of options. though i have not been to jay since the last powder day and haven't been to stowe in over a week. all of these areas are going to suffer from substantial melt out this week and i think stowe would do the best out of the lot with base area snow. my general impression is that stowe holds snow better than jay in the spring, though that is from very limited experience during this time of the year. jay will definitely have more tree options, so if you want to get in some trees, jay might be the ticket. whereas stowe has continuous drop and vertical. tough call. if you want bumps, bush was really good on sunday, particularly heaven's gate for bumps, i doubt castlerock will make it.

weather permitting, i am going to make an attempt on earned turns this weekend. weather not permitting, i will be at jay either saturday or sunday so keep me posted if you end up at jay as i may be in the neighborhood.

 

[kingdom-tele]

27 this morning at the house so imagine summit temps went into the teens last night, same on tap for tonight, looking more and more like a warm up with rain on the way with temps likely not getting below freezing friday or saturday - sounding like it might be a bit manky in the woods, we were planning on tuckermans trip this weekend but may defer to the backup - the caledonia triathalon - skin and ski burke, canoe from the dam in east burke to lyndonville, and finally end up at trout river for 16 oz curls

 

[riverc0il]

how's burke looking for cover these days? i had been debating some post work turns this week but can't see the damn frontside of the mountain from lyndon and have been too lazy to drive around for some recon.

 

[kingdom-tele]

honestly riv i couldn't tell you, my buddy drops the boys at daycare everyday and still reports white, how much? no idea, enough to make it count though.

 

[JimG.]

kingdom-tele has good thoughts on the issue. i think stowe may be the best of options. though i have not been to jay since the last powder day and haven't been to stowe in over a week. all of these areas are going to suffer from substantial melt out this week and i think stowe would do the best out of the lot with base area snow. my general impression is that stowe holds snow better than jay in the spring, though that is from very limited experience during this time of the year. jay will definitely have more tree options, so if you want to get in some trees, jay might be the ticket. whereas stowe has continuous drop and vertical. tough call. if you want bumps, bush was really good on sunday, particularly heaven's gate for bumps, i doubt castlerock will make it.

weather permitting, i am going to make an attempt on earned turns this weekend. weather not permitting, i will be at jay either saturday or sunday so keep me posted if you end up at jay as i may be in the neighborhood.

I'll keep you posted. But after seeing powderfreak's Stowe report from yesterday, I'm leaning in that direction; I've narrowed my choices to Jay and Stowe so it'll be one of those two.

 

[JimG.]

27 this morning at the house so imagine summit temps went into the teens last night, same on tap for tonight, looking more and more like a warm up with rain on the way with temps likely not getting below freezing friday or saturday - sounding like it might be a bit manky in the woods, we were planning on tuckermans trip this weekend but may defer to the backup - the caledonia triathalon - skin and ski burke, canoe from the dam in east burke to lyndonville, and finally end up at trout river for 16 oz curls

That's the weather as I see it too.

Stowe was looking good yesterday with more than a few tree shots available. And if it warms up and the woods get manky, Stowe is the better choice for me regardless so I'm leaning in that direction. Looks like either Jay or Stowe will have snow in the woods, it'll just be a matter of whether I want to deal with less than great snow conditions.

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

 

[MikeTrainor]

I think last Saturday at Wildcat was it for me. I have commitments the next two weekends.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

The Bush's plan for this weekend

"reopening this weekend. Here's the plan: the Valley House double is scheduled to start spinning at 8 am on Saturday and Sunday and we will be skiing and riding on Spring Fling, Snowball, Stein's, and Coffee Run. It's been a gorgeous week up here at the 'Bush with plenty of sun and we are expecting the weekend to be a bit cloudy, but with temps in the mid 50s--the perfect weather for spring skiing and riding".

I think I will ski on Sunday just for the heck of it. The Bush made a ton of snow on the above trails to ensure good spring coverage so though limited in number it should be a fun day to be out there.

 

[kcyanks1]

The Bush's plan for this weekend

"reopening this weekend. Here's the plan: the Valley House double is scheduled to start spinning at 8 am on Saturday and Sunday and we will be skiing and riding on Spring Fling, Snowball, Stein's, and Coffee Run. It's been a gorgeous week up here at the 'Bush with plenty of sun and we are expecting the weekend to be a bit cloudy, but with temps in the mid 50s--the perfect weather for spring skiing and riding".

I think I will ski on Sunday just for the heck of it. The Bush made a ton of snow on the above trails to ensure good spring coverage so though limited in number it should be a fun day to be out there.

I'm sure those trails will have great coverage.. Disappointing to see that Heaven's Gate and Castlerock didn't make it (no surprise on Castlerock from the TRs from last weekend, though). Not SB's fault, of course. It is May. But after having great mid-winter conditions on 4/15 at SB, and great spring conditions at Killington last Saturday, I guess I was trying to stay very optimistic.

 

[riverc0il]

"reopening this weekend. Here's the plan: the Valley House double is scheduled to start spinning at 8 am on Saturday and Sunday and we will be skiing and riding on Spring Fling, Snowball, Stein's, and Coffee Run. It's been a gorgeous week up here at the 'Bush with plenty of sun and we are expecting the weekend to be a bit cloudy, but with temps in the mid 50s--the perfect weather for spring skiing and riding".

surprised they do not have bravo and heaven's gate open. certainly enough snow on heaven's gate and jester to the valley traverse could get people back down the mountain. cats could push some snow down to the bravo area from valley double. probably not enough expected traffic to justify the expense and i am sure they were anxious to let some employees go to cut costs.

 

[riverc0il]

with a 50% chance of rain, I am likely skipping the rock pile in favor of one last weekend of lift serviced at jay peak. can't blame you if you pick stowe, but if you head up to jay, let me know. jay is down to only 39 trails... jay doesn't hold snow as well as stowe. just the other day jay was reporting 90% open.

 

[kingslug]

Man it poured today! Did VT get it as bad? Cross Bronx expressway under 5 feet of water! My bosses car has 2 feet of water...in it! What a mess.

 

[riverc0il]

Occasional rain, certainly didn't pour around here.