NE Ski Blogger Summit – Page 3

March 4, 2011March 5, 20112010-2011 Season, Earned Turns, Jay Peak, March, NE Ski Blogger Summit

Jay Peak: NSBS Day 3

Beginning our last run back to Stateside Lodge, I saw the same scene repeating itself as we started down the flat top section of Montrealer: groups of skiers and riders posing for a picture with Jay Peak in the background. It’s something I have done myself in the same location from both sides of the camera. Groups can be expected to be doing this any time during a clear day. I skied past one group. And then another group. And another after that.

And then it hit me. Again. It needs to keep hitting me until it sinks into my thick skull that is so bent on personal experience. What we do as individuals matters less than what we do together with others. I’ve had epic days this season. Deeper powder days. But no days before nor days to come are a match for the past three days. There was something special happening.

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March 3, 2011March 5, 20112010-2011 Season, Jay Peak, March, NE Ski Blogger Summit, Powder Day

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder: Jay Peak–NSBS Day 2

Riding the Jet Triple Chair late afternoon, I asked aloud “why did I ever leave Jay?” Jay became routine. I had become a powder princess; loosing my edge. New areas I had never skied beckoned for exploration. I became a wanderer–visiting new areas and revisiting areas that I skied so long ago they felt new. My explorations were as fruitful as any novel experience. But they also gave me perspective on what I was missing… on what I turned away from for far too long.

Dropping into the Jay sidecountry was sublime. It all came flooding back to me—the many incredible untracked powder days past; the beauty of the widely spaced hard woods. Today was not the deepest by far but it was just as exciting and euphoric. I stopped and hollered; laughing hysterically with joy and amazement.

It was all the more special to share these experiences with my fellow blogging friends—who were equally blown away by the skiing. Harvey’s perspective that experiences common place to me are peak experiences for him weighs heavy on my mind. Such experiences should never be taken for granted. No matter how many times such things are experienced, they should never become thought of as common place.

March 2, 2011March 5, 20112010-2011 Season, Jay Peak, March, NE Ski Blogger Summit, Powder Day

Jay Peak Powder! NSBS Day 1

Approaching the lip of Upper Exhibition, I heard SBR start. I looked in his direction, shared a look, and knew it was on. It’s a special moment when two skiers connect, simultaneously decide to change plans, and drop into a line knowing that something special awaits. Who needs to ski the glades when there is boot deep untracked blow on a steep open pitch? A few conservative turns gave way to full on charging mode. And then the white stuff kicked up in The Flash and I couldn’t contain my wonderment.

It was a homecoming of sorts, charging hard in boot buckle deep untracked at noontime. I’ve clearly been away from Jay Peak for too long. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Perhaps we could have expected an inch or two at best and my leisurely start to the morning clearly indicated that I had no hope of a powder day. But Jay is a mountain of surprises.

You only experience the novelty of a new area once. That jaw dropping awe can only be relived through seeing the eyes of others experiencing it for the first time. It was like that today. I’ve skied all these lines before to the point of routine. But I saw them again almost for the first time today. And that was amazing.

More words to follow but I am spent for tonight. We’re just getting started.