Another powder day: Jay Peak 2/24/09

[Sharon]

As I sit here in the passenger seat while Bubba drives my tired ass home, my quads twitch and my back aches and a kink in my neck, I realize that the Utards are a bunch of powderpuffs. I skied 12 days in Utah on perfect conditions and wide open spaces with only 2 minor hip-to-snow checks and only minor calf soreness. Four deep days in the tight trees and thigh deep powder and windy storminess of Jay Peak kicked my ass.

I know that Admin could not last more than 2 hours at Jay Peak (anymore), Skidog would not be able to turn those Goats around those tight trees and MarcC would know all the names of each locale on the mountain but would be hampered by the lack of cul-de-sacs, sidewalks and fine eateries. Powderpuffs, I tell ya. Skiing in Utah will soften the most hardened skiers.

This morning was colder and windier so the tram didn't run again, nor did the flyer. We started off the Bonnie in my favorite off-map stash, every turn untracked creamy wind topped soft snow. The best snow was to be found off the Jet, and was least wind affected out Timbuktu and beyond. The snow was thigh deep and there were plenty of fresh untracked shots to keep us coming back for more. After a number of laps there we were lured into the Dip as the prospects of more continuous, deep untracked lines were inevitable. A cell phone call mobilized Bubba to bring the Subie out to pick us up.

Bubba saw me ski the last pitch and said I looked tired. This trip I really skied myself into the ground and it was totally awesome.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I know that Admin could not last more than 2 hours at Jay Peak (anymore), Skidog would not be able to turn those Goats around those tight trees and MarcC would know all the names of each locale on the mountain but would be hampered by the lack of cul-de-sacs, sidewalks and fine eateries. Powderpuffs, I tell ya. Skiing in Utah will soften the most hardened skiers.

I saw this thread coming down Broadway.
:snowball fight:

Are there sidewalks in SLC?

 

[Admin]

I know that Admin could not last more than 2 hours at Jay Peak (anymore), Skidog would not be able to turn those Goats around those tight trees and MarcC would know all the names of each locale on the mountain but would be hampered by the lack of cul-de-sacs, sidewalks and fine eateries. Powderpuffs, I tell ya. Skiing in Utah will soften the most hardened skiers.

And that's a bad thing? How's that self-flagellation working out for ya?

This morning was colder and windier so the tram didn't run again, nor did the flyer.

And gee...you make it sound so enticing, too!

 

[Marc_C]

Are there sidewalks in SLC?

No. None at all. Just dirt and gravel since it's a barren, dry, brown, intensely commercial wasteland surrounded by suburban hell. Just ask Sharon and rfarren.

Sharoon, glad you had new snow and got in great skiing before the rain!

 

[Tony Crocker]

Four deep days in the tight trees and thigh deep powder and windy storminess of Jay Peak kicked my ass.

I usually have that same beat-down feeling after a day at Baldy. I never thought about it that much since I don't ski consecutive days there, but then this year I noticed the "dead legs" two days later at Mammoth.

Yes it's worth it, but I'll still take LCC.

Still no answer to my question of where lift shutdowns are least likely on Vermont powder days (among the areas with appropriate snowfall and terrain). This is a sincere question, as both Baldy and Mammoth are at least as flawed in this respect.

 

[Admin]

Still no answer to my question of where lift shutdowns are least likely on Vermont powder days (among the areas with appropriate snowfall and terrain). This is a sincere question, as both Baldy and Mammoth are at least as flawed in this respect.

Simple: in northern Vermont, generally speaking, the higher the terrain the worse the wind affect. Jay, Stowe, Smuggs, and Sugarbush are all very subject to wind holds, and the wind typically howls after bigger storms in the NE. Bolton and MRG less so. Burke less so, as it's lower elevation, but it's still pretty exposed to northwesterlies. Want to avoid wind holds in NVT? Ski Cochran's. :lol:

 

[rfarren]

Are there sidewalks in SLC?

No. None at all. Just dirt and gravel since it's a barren, dry, brown, intensely commercial wasteland surrounded by suburban hell. Just ask Sharon and rfarren.

Marc, you forgot the roaming pigs and goats, the perma-smog, and that everyone drives 8 wheeled suvs. :lol: :lol: :lol: :wink:

 

[Marc_C]

Are there sidewalks in SLC?

No. None at all. Just dirt and gravel since it's a barren, dry, brown, intensely commercial wasteland surrounded by suburban hell. Just ask Sharon and rfarren.

Marc, you forgot the roaming pigs and goats, the perma-smog, and that everyone drives 8 wheeled suvs. :lol: :lol: :lol: :wink:

Oh, and cougars that eat your pets and children.

 

[Admin]

Oh, and cougars that eat your pets and children.

They're only at Deer Valley.

 

[rfarren]

Oh, and cougars that eat your pets and children.

That made me laugh out loud. :lol: :lol:

Oddly enough, I have a family friend who lives near Provo in a town called Payson. Her backyard literally is a mountain, and her family dog was just chilling back there when it was indeed eaten. I'm not sure if it was a cougar or a coyote, but it was for sure eaten. :shock: 8-[

 

[BigJay]

Hell yeah! Tuesday was one of the deepest days in a long time!

We got second chair off the bonnie... took first tracks on Can-Am... Pumping out big turns... dropping what's left off the rocks up top... Oooohaaaa!

Moved over to tripple and hit them all... Jet was amazing in the afternoon with the drifts and pumps on rider's left... Getting a couple feet in the air between the powder bumps... big soft landings...

They closed the bonnie for half hour to clean up the cables on the tram... so we climbed up to timbuktu while it was fresh... Second track down... hucked myself off the big drop on the right... landed in waist deep snow... virgin the rest of the way down... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Everglade was magic as well... So deeper and lighter then expected... Timbuktu still had great untouched lines at 3PM... Everything off the jet kept well through the day. We wanted to hit the tram but so were 5000 people as well... so we stuck to chairs... Freezer was broken again...

I was so beat at 3:30PM after riding non-stop (15min lunch break) all day... couldn't carry on!

To sum things up, they need to fix the engine on all 3 upper mountain lifts: Triple, Bonnie AND the new Flyer... So forget to water slides plan for next summer... Focus on the skiing Jay Peak! I don't think anyone will venture in Northern Vermont to lock themselves in an indoor pool... Winter OR summer... It's all about outdoors up here!

 

[Sharon]

First run of the day in my secret stash

The sun came out and I was able to get a few pix from the Jet side
Timbuktu

Hazards: this guy wiped out and got both skis caught on the two trees with his head downhill in the fluff. He needed assistance

Plenty of fresh snow out on the western flanks

Mike's first time in The Dip

End of an extraordinary weekend

 

[Harvey]

Awesome awesome photos... they sure make it fun for me.

 

[Patrick]

\/ \/ \/

Needed a snorkel yesterday...skied totally away from Jet and the crowds. First tracks on the first run off Bonnie...DEEEEEPPP!!! Did that 3 more times afterward.

This morning was colder and windier so the tram didn't run again, nor did the flyer.

Tram ran...it just started late. Guess who made it to the first tram and made it out of the gate first? Geez, some people climbing were pissed when they saw me come down.

Still no answer to my question

Sorry, I need to prep my skis for tonight's ski race at Fortune. :wink:

 

[Sharon]

\/ \/ \/

Needed a snorkel yesterday...skied totally away from Jet and the crowds. First tracks on the first run off Bonnie...DEEEEEPPP!!! Did that 3 more times afterward.

Did it take 2 lift rides to get there? (before the Tram started up?)

We watched the summit and tram all morning from the Bonnie and Jet and there was no action. I very much wanted to ski Valhalla before I left, but that didn't happen, though I cannot complain. I skied plenty of deep snow all morning, and all weekend for that matter. I missed the clusterfck that occured when they closed the Bonnie to de-ice the tram cables. I was blissfully skiing out the Dip at that time and winding down my long weekend. Took 7 hours for us to get home on dry roads. I tried to drive for a while, but my quads were spasming. Thankfully I had my endurance driver with me (the guy who drove across the country in 4 days through snowstorms).

 

[Patrick]

Did it take 2 lift rides to get there? (before the Tram started up?)

Metro to Bonnie then push to powder and repeat. :mrgreen: