Jay Backcountry - not the question you might expect

[GrizzlyFD]

OK, so Jay has been getting more and more skiers recently (not good or bad, but just stating a fact). More than in years past and it seems the backcountry goods are being devoured at an alarming rate. The dip is skied out in a couple hours and big jay, while a bit of a trek, is heading in that direction as well. (Over the valentines day weekend, I saw a LINE of skiers coming out the return!) ok so there was a storm but still...

So recently everytime on the drive up 242 and heading down the dip I stare across the valley up at Gilpin Mt and wonder is the skiing any decent up there. It's not that steep, but probably has a decent amount of snow, lightly treed at the bottom at least, and the exposure is pretty good (due north to north west (steepest) to west). Plus another peak domey's dome lies a little further south with some possible runs. Rarely see any lines down either (though domey's is a little far off the access rd.

Any thoughts?

Not lift accessed which is a necessity now that the lift accessed stuff is trashed so fast, and

 

[BigJay]

Ok, i could go into details but my guess is that you won't get many answers... but many hits...

Domey's Dome is pretty far... but it's a lot of fun... I've made a trip there in January and was bashed by some angry locals... Gilpin is good but it's pretty "rocky" so you need a good base in order to enjoy.

Jay as many nice out of bounds stuff but you have to do all the hunting yourself... Or you ask around with locals... I know the guys from First Trax do regular touring around the area... Don use to post some reports. Check out his website or drop him a line:

http://www.firsttrax.net/

I can send you more info but through PM or e-mail.

Enjoy the snow!

 

[J.Spin]

Gilpin is a pretty popular place for backcountry trips. The skiing is nice, but what probably makes it even more popular is that the access is great. With the current snowpack, there should be plenty of fun lines in there. I don't have too much experience in the area, but I do have an online report from Feb '01 with a few captured stills from the video cameras that should give you a general idea of what the skiing is like for the typical lines that head back down to 242:

http://www.jandeproductions.com/2001/18FEB01.html

The sidecountry on the other side of 242 sees a lot more traffic of course, because of the ease with lift access and car shuttle. On the day we were skiing the Gilpin side, there were other folks there as well, but skiers were just pouring down off the Jay Peak side. Like you pointed out though, that's often the difference between sidecountry and backcountry terrain.

J.Spin

 

[BigJay]

LOL!

The JPG of Gilpin has been in my computer for a while... I've never connected the dots! Small world sometimes! Gilpin is fun... but there is other options in the area that are further away from the road... so there is way less traffic!

 

[GrizzlyFD]

Thanks J.Spin that helps a lot. It looks like the path taken though isn't on gilpin but on the smaller mountain to the north, nonetheless the skiing looks pretty nice in there. Probably be trying gilpin maybe another mt close by :wink: or big jay. Here's hoping to a good tr to come!

 

[J.Spin]

Thanks J.Spin that helps a lot. It looks like the path taken though isn't on gilpin but on the smaller mountain to the north, nonetheless the skiing looks pretty nice in there.

Glad to help. Yeah, I'm not exactly sure if that smaller peak to the north has a name or not (I couldn't find it on any of my topo maps), or if it's just part of Gilpin. BigJay or other Jay Peak locals might know the details. In the topo map I attached below, we started our hikes at the notch, which has the red "+" sign on it, and my best guess was that it was part of Gilpin.

While I was looking up the Gilpin Mountain map, I checked out Domey's Dome and Buchanan Mountain to the south (see second attached topo map) and at least from a terrain perspective it looks like there is some fun ski terrain in that area. I'm sure I'll explore out there at some point, although I tend to go to the Jay Peak area when they get snow and nobody else does, or maybe they are the only ones staying north of a rain snow line. Depending on the weather patterns, they can sometimes hit that base depth for backcountry skiing before everyone else to the south. Those are the days when Jay Peak's magical location is even more pronounced. Have a fun trip and send a report!

J.Spin