The week before Christmas is always uncrowded. Even when Christmas falls immediately after a weekend. Even when a foot and a half of snow falls in the past forty-eight hours. Call it the Christmas shopping effect: sleeper powder days when uninspired skiers and riders are busy prowling the malls instead of prowling for powder.
Despite Waterville Valley being the closest major mountain to my home, it is an area I rarely visit. My last trip to Waterville was in late November 2003. I still have yet to take the full measure of Waterville and ski all of its advanced trails. But I know enough about the mountain to know that what you see is what you get — which is why I usually travel the few extra minutes it takes to get to Cannon, where what you see is barely scratching the surface.
A surprise foot of fresh fell at the northern end of the Green Mountain Spine on Thursday. Friday was the powder day and I cleaned up the leftovers on Saturday. I had not skied in two weeks due to a toe injury that was still on the mend. But the powder was calling so I took a Snow Way prescription: take three vitamin I’s, wrap the toe, and pow me in the morning.
After loosing the first to open battle to Killington, Sunday River responded by offering significantly better terrain at a cheaper price for the Veteran’s Day weekend. While Killington offers two trails off North Ridge with hiking to download and a top to bottom route that “may require walking”, Sunday River has three and a half unique top to bottom runs in addition to a connector trail. Unfortunately for Sunday River, the snow condition quality did not match the route count quantity.
What is a Jay Day? It is one of those days when everything goes right. When you change your plans after assessing the situation and score some great turns. It doesn’t have to be the deepest day. It doesn’t have to be a foot of blower. It is one of those days at Jay that you don’t easily forget.
I left home this morning looking for more than a ski day. I was looking for perspective and I wasn’t expecting to find it. Halfway through a stay-cation intended to refresh and rejuvenate, I was feeling deep ennui. Something wasn’t right, my mind was out of sorts. Given that the previous two ski days didn’t help, I assumed this trip to Jay was just going through the motions. What else would I do all day?