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April 5, 2024April 25, 20242023-2024 Season, April, Jay Peak, Powder Day

Jay: Early April is the New Early February

Yet again, this seems so familiar. The main-event uncrowded powder day at Mad River Glen the day before followed by over exuberant crowds and a slightly disappointing overnight snow total at Jay Peak. My ascent up route 242 was halted for 20-minutes while emergency vehicles tended to a spin out.

That is an usual thing to happen on Route 242 half-an-hour before opening. Part of the reason I arrive early is first tracks, but the other part is avoiding vehicle issues on Route 242. But the fun wasn’t over yet. When I got to the Stateside entrance, a truck going in the opposite direction spun out twenty feet in front of me.

Unlike the last storm, Jay Peak did not receive super massive crowds. But crowds were still way more than what the overnight snow totals justified. This was the day after the storm, not THE day. But today was still good and there was still a half foot plus of of super dense untracked.

It would all be mank by the afternoon, so I skied hard for the first few hours. While in the Orchard, myself and a few Quebecois’ers found the most sublime untracked snow on the mountain. Creamy and surfy, but only for about 100 feet. It was just the right aspect at just the right elevation. One of the other skiers bellowed “OH LA LA!”.

Indeed.

April 4, 2024April 25, 20242023-2024 Season, April, Earned Turns, Mad River Glen, Powder Day

MRG: Boom! Where Is Everyone?

This feels familiar. Just like two weeks ago, a massive multi-day storm dumped a ton of snow on Vermont. Mad River was the place to be again, but not many people showed up. When I arrived, the power was out (reminiscent of the big storm last month). I came prepared for wind hold, but touring skis are also good for power outages.

I skinned up a dreamly landscape with variable surfaces. The wind was absolutely ripping at the very top of Upper Antelope. But, things were eerily quiet below the 20th hole traverse. After warming up in the Stark’s Nest, I dropped into Fall Line seeking shelter from the wind.

I considered skinning back up, but I was concerned that power could be restored and the lift could start running at any minute. So I opted for some big wide open turns on the mellow intermediate pitches of the mid-mountain, ending my run with perhaps the best run down Waterfall that I have ever had.

Sure enough, when I arrived at the Basebox, the word was that powder would be restored within a half hour. I gear changed and got ready for the lift-serviced part of the day.

Feeling more comfortable with conditions, I wasted no time in dropping into Paradise and enjoying the super dense and heavy new snow. Some thin coverage still lurked underneath. But I did not see too much need for caution.

I started working over some of my favorite rabbit holes. The Single never had more than a five-minute wait), so I was finding untracked lines throughout the entire day. The race was still on, though. The race was not against other skiers, but rather the clock, as the temperature was turning and a misty mank could arrive at any moment.

I was spent long before that moment happened. I wish I could have gone to closing bell, but the morning ascent and heavy snow put bullets in my legs sooner than usual. Hard to believe how few people showed up for such an amazing day.

March 24, 2024April 25, 20242023-2024 Season, Jay Peak, March

Jay: Outrageously Crowded

The biggest multi-day snowstorm of the season wrapped up last night, but did not leave Jay the final foot that was expected. Overnight snow totals were a dusting to an inch, a total bust. But the word was out, the biggest storm of the season just hit Northern Vermont. And everyone too afraid to drive yesterday showed up today.

Lift lines quickly extended out past the queues and would soon form lines that I have only seen once before at Jay. For a meager inch on top of tracked up junk snow, it wasn’t worth it in the slightest. The crowds were over represented with decidedly lower level skiers. It was amateur hour. It was a shit-show.

When the lift line queues over flowed, I took off. But I had to push through hoards of folks still trying to get to the lifts hours after opening. The ticket line queue looked to be as long as the lift line queue. Leaving the Jet lot, cars were packed everywhere and still cars were trying to come in.

Employees were standing in the middle of Route 242 trying to direct traffic coming both ways. With all lots full, cars were being directed to the employee parking lot, busing guests back to the lodges. By the time I got home, JPR had long since posted an announcement online that there was no more parking, don’t come to the mountain.

All that for a dusting to an inch. Unbelievable.

March 23, 2024April 25, 20242023-2024 Season, Mad River Glen, March, Powder Day

MRG: More More More

Rumors of the season’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. While many skiers have called it quits due to a lack luster winter, the season is just starting to ramp up. Off map woods are back in business and ready for action. Crowds were minimal and it snowed hard all day.

After digging out from a foot and a half of snow, I slowly slid my way down to Waitsfield. It was the most challenging descent of Route 17 that I have ever had, averaging 5-10mph and still slipping despite Blizzaks and AWD. Route 100 to I-93 was a crawl. Snow was falling faster than the plows could handle it.

An astounding multi-day storm and a fabulous day of skiing.

March 21, 2024April 24, 20242023-2024 Season, Earned Turns, Jay Peak, March, Powder Day

Jay: No Lifts, No Problem

I knew the wind would impact lift operations. So, I brought my touring gear and I fully expected to use it. Upon arrival, the wind was howling and it was bitterly cold. The lifts would never run.

Today was a rare resort touring day when I took the full measure of risks and consequences before I started skiing. Moving was required to keep the cold at bay. An injury would likely result in frostbite.

Due to the wind, conditions were variable from hard pack groomers to thigh deep bottomless untracked. It was challenging to figure out where to go, given so much of the mountain was bare ground and thin coverage before the storm. I started up Northway and decided to start with Can Am skier’s right.

Jackpot! Boot to knee deep untracked, and a bit of shelter from the wind. Very nice. I skinned back up via to Northway and headed to the top of the Jet. I opted to ski the Jet where I found thigh deep drifts in between groomed hard pack. It was worth dealing with the intermittent groom as the dense powder was insane when I hit a drift.

It was so nice, I decided to head back up and ski Haynes. It was very similar with a bit less drifting but more consistent powder and fewer groomer breaks. My legs were getting tired and I knew that I only had one more run left. I headed back up Northway to the top of the Bonnie and dropped into Deliverance.

As usual, the trees are the best on wind blown powder days. I rarely ski Deliverance as its narrow upper sections get skied off really quickly most days. But today, I had it all to myself and it was sensational. The last three months have been brutal, no doubt. But knee deep days don’t happen every season. This surely makes up for things, at least a little bit.