This blog was started back in 2007 when we noticed that there were some discrepancies between what the mountain was reporting and what we were seeing "on the ground." After skiing at Jay Peak the last two days, all I can say is "the more things change, the more things stay the same."
For example, today, the Jay Peak web site is reporting this:
"Home of the most snow in the east? I think so, over five feet of snow has fallen since mid-November and with the 5-7" we picked up over the past 24 hours, it's now very close to six feet." If I am not mistaken, this is what is known as "magical thinking." I'm not going to deny the snowfall amounts, as there have been
well-documented accounts of huge powder dumps in Vermont recently. Unfortunately , the part missing from the equation is that not all that snow is still on the ground. Some of it melted in early November. A lot of it got washed away in the big rain event last week. I can only assume that most of the snow that was falling as I drove to Jay on Monday got blown away into hard-to-reach (read: closed) parts of the mountain. As usual, and to give the Jay snow reporter his due, it
was snowing pretty heavily as I left the hill yesterday.
In spite of all that, we still managed to have fun and get some nice runs in. Conditions were fast and carvy (is that a word?). And also as usual, even with a brief two-day visit, there is much to report. Here are a few pictures to set the scene and you'll just have to wait for the detailed report coming later. I have to admit, it was too cold for taking pictures on the lift or most places on the hill.
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| It was a cold morning at SBR HQ to start the trip |
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| From our extensive fleet of four-wheel-drive vehicles, I chose the Snowbaru. |
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| Some people start their drive in the city, I start in the moose-infested hinterland. |
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| Jonny Jay hiking across the tundra to protect his new bases |
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| The Prophet Brothers take a break. It would have been a good day for those RC4s. |
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| Someone else's tracks on the River Quai. Typical of closed runs: snow on the edge, grass/rocks in the middle. |
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| It is 2:42, -12 C, time to hit the 242 - I'm done. |
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| Snazzy recycled tables in the Locker Room lend themselves well to spreading out. |
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| It was a little blustery on Wednesday, even the Jet was on wind delay. |
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| I should have taken the scenic route home... |
What is the report for the trees? I know you are rehabbing the knee and probably did not venture off groomed runs but did you get a sense of how much is currently skiable? Debating options for this weekend. Hoping VT comes through with some more natural tomorrow to make a drive up there worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteI'm also curious about snow cover in the woods. If it's been windy, at Jay or say Whiteface, the snow has to be somewhere right? Love the solo shot of Jonny.
ReplyDeleteHow was the Northwest Passage
ReplyDeleteI think the trees could be pretty good, as long as you ski carefully and avoid the protruding hazards. I was peering at various glades from the Freezer (eg. Expo Glade) and they looked quite snowy and inviting. There were a few positive reports on the TGR EC Stoke thread regarding tree skiing on Wednesday. If the snow comes as forecast and the wind dies down, it will be game at Jay. Northwest Passage had tracks leading into it. I was tempted for a moment to follow but quickly regained my sanity.
ReplyDelete