Day #15, and it was one of my favorites! We got just over two hours of sleep and were out the door by 3:00am heading toward Jay for the sunrise service/free tram ride. I was shockingly awake for the drive, which is especially impressive considering I was abstaining from caffeine (I did not trust my bowels after two days of heavy, creamy pasta meals).
Jay Peak
Snow Report
Day 124a: Early Word (6:20a)
It's looking like a bright and sunny Easter here at Jay Peak with our Sunrise Tram Service finishing up, an All-day Easter Buffet at Alice's Table and an Egg hunt for the kiddos at noon over at the waterpark. That west wind is still existent but has diminished generously and should hopefully allow us to run most lifts today.
We'll see a high of 37 degrees and with lower temps at night causing the snow to re-freeze, the upper mountain conditions will continue to take on a frozen granular consistency this morning before that sun softens things up to more of a playful corn snow through the afternoon.
Confidence is increasing in a possible "long-durration" April winter storm that would hit us roughly Wednesday through Friday. The verdict is still out on how much snow we'll see and we don't want to jinx it, but things could get deep here at Jay once again next week.
Run 1: Tram - Northway - Goat Run - Queen's Highway
[2.02 mi, 7:25, 2100 ft, 35.2 mph max, 16.3 mph avg]
I landed to the parking lot right at 4:00am, which was a bit stressful because I hadn't parked Tramside since my very first day skiing over two years ago. I figured it out, went for a walk to scope things out, and decided I had a bit of time to sit in the car. I eventually got dressed and carried my gear over to the Tram around 4:30am, which got me in line to make it on the second Tram of the morning. I was joined by Emma's coworker/my new friend Elizabeth, which made for a fun morning of chit chats. Riding the Tram for the first time in the dark was not for the faint of heart - it truly felt like we were going to fall into the abyss every time we went past a tower, but thankfully we made it up in one piece. There was free hot chocolate and coffee, but tragically I forgot my Irish Cream... next year! We met up with Emma on the ridge to watch the beautiful, but cloudy sunrise, and then we had to wait until the service was over to ski down.
Following the service, we booked it out of the building to grab out equipment. There were just a few people ahead of us, which made for some really excellent skiing. The views were even more breathtaking than usual - the Northway from the top to the Flyer is really a lovely trail that gives you the "top of the world" feeling. I screamed "ARE YOU KIDDING ME" at the views numerous times. The curves on Goat Run that usually leave me humbled were simply a delight to ski down, and we took a pit stop at the Green Mountain Boys junction to say to Emma who was working very hard making sure the downhillers don't get into any mischief.
The second half of our run brought us to Queen's Highway and then back to the Tramside Base. I've never loved a run this much - only thing that comes close was skiing America at Saddleback, but this was just two miles of freshly groomed snow with literally no one else around (turns out many people hang out up top for a while before skiing down). Elizabeth and I went back and forth on whether or not we'd stay to ski some more, but the four hour drive home got me moving (I also pressured Elizabeth into coming to the Eclipse with us) - maybe I'll stop at Cannon since it's LITERALLY on the highway? I made a reservation just in case.............
Cannon Mountain
Mountain Report
"I tell you, we are here on earth to search for easter eggs at Cannon, and don't let anybody tell you different." - Kurt Vonnegut
Happy Easter Cannon Family! The Yeti took it upon himself to hide easter eggs all over the Tuckerbrook area. They are filled with ful little toys and easter stickers! Big kids, keep your eyes peeled for the golden egg! It could be hiding anywhere on the mountain and stuffed inside is a two-night stay at the Woodstock Inn & Brewery and two 24/25 Cannon Lift Tickets. The hunt is on as soon as the lifts are open! Don't forget, spring ticket rates are in full effect, adult tickets are just $79. See below for more details and pricing
The Groomers were out on 47 trails overnight. You can expect machine groomed, loose granular conditions across the mountain. Clouds will be clearing into the afternoon and temps are expected to reach into the high 30's at the base. So we expected surfaces to soften up towards the end of the day. Groomers have been working hard to get trails into the best possible shape after this weeks thaw/freeze cycle and each day the trails get a little better. For the best conditions get here early to enjoy the fresh crospy cords!
Runs 1-2
Run 1: Peabody Express Quad - Easy Link - Big Link - Middle Ravine - Lower Ravine
[1.16 mi, 3:29, 1378 ft, 34.8 mph max, 19.9 mph avg]
Run 2: Peabody Express Quad - Easy Link - Big Link - Middle Ravine - Lower Ravine
[1.04 mi, 3:11, 1312 ft, 32.8 mph max, 19.6 mph avg]
Well, as expected, I couldn't resist stopping in for a few runs at Cannon. It also perfectly split up my ride from Jay Peak to Boston. Thankfully, I knew my way around the base area now, so I pulled in, used the bathroom, suited up at the car, and got right on the slope! I got right to it from the Peabody Express Quad, hidding Easy and Big Links, Middle Ravine, and Lower Ravine. I'm not sure if its just becuase I was on day three of skiing or the conditions were better, but I felt like I was doing a MUCH better job at it! Also I was cruising faster than usual, which felt very fun. Also, less death cookies. I was delighted to see no lines or crowds, either!
Runs 3-4
Run 3: Peabody Express Quad - Cannonball Quad - Tramway - Middle Cannon - Rock Garden - Mickey's Margin - Gary's
[1.57 mi, 5:42, 2198 ft, 27.5 mph max, 16.5 mph avg]
Run 4: Zoomer Triple - Mickey's Margin - Lower Cannon
[0.54 mi, 2:27, 571 ft, 24.1 mph max, 13.3 mph avg]
For my third run, I ended up deciding to go big! I took the Peabody to Cannonball Quad all the way up - it was snowing up top! Also quite windy, but not as bad as Friday. I flirted with hitting the Slalom or Upper Ravine, but decided to stick with a trail that I knew, especially since I knew I'd see a great cloud-less view of Mt. Lafayette! The Tramway skied very well, and I enjoy how wide it is. From there, I last-minute decided to conitnue all the way down Middle Cannon, Rock Garden, Mickey's Margin, and then dreaded Gary's, who I overall felt better about, but still not thrilled. This was a fun, long run - getting as close to a tippy-top to tippy-bottom as I could. Note for next time - with my current skills, I could have gone to the bottom of the Tuckerbrook Area to lose a few more feet of elevation. Technically the Mittersill Base is lower, but there's no direct downhill connection from the Cannon Summit.
Run #4 was a non-glamorous run from the Zoomer Triple to Mickey's Margin to Lower Cannon - I cut off of Mickey's too early, went over a sheet of ice, and then a patch of bare ground, which landed me on my bottom. Getting back up, I started to skid until I sat down again. Not glamorous! Thankfully, not damaged either. Just humbled.
Runs 5-8
Run 5: Peabody Express Quad - Cannonball Quad - Taft Slalom - Upper Ravine
[0.76 mi, 3:21, 909 ft, 23.6 mph max, 13.7 mph avg]
Run 6: Cannonball Quad - Upper Ravine - Middle Ravine - Lower Ravine
[1.65 mi, 4:59, 1998 ft, 29.2 mph max, 19.9 mph avg]
Run 7: Peabody Express Quad - Cannonball Quad - Tramway - Big Link
[0.63 mi, 2:26, 932 ft, 25.8 mph max, 15.5 mph avg]
Run 8: Cannonball Quad - Taft Slalom - Upper Ravine - Middle Ravine - Lower Ravine
[1.71 mi, 6:08, 2057 ft, 31.3 mph max, 16.7 mph avg]
Runs 5-8 were all from the summit and all VERY fun! #5 was an exploration lap of Taft Slalom and the lower Upper Ravine. Taft was FUN. Wide, just steep enough, with EXCELLENT views - I could even see where I started my day at Jay from here! The lower stretch of Upper Ravine was fun and easy, but definitely get some speed toward the end as it flattens out a bit. Run #6 explored the full Ravine trail. Upper Ravine was a little intense in the amount and frequency of curves, but could be fun on a second try. From there, the Middle and Lower Ravines were just as fun as they were before.
My penultimate run was to revisit the Tramway down to Big Link - I forgot that I do not care for the steepness nor iciness of Big Link... And my final run was a super fun run of Taft Slalom to the Ravines. My heart wanted to keep going, but the "Sunday" of it all pushed me back to my car to pack up shop and head home. This was a VERY fun, fulfilling weekend of skiing and friendship - and I'm SUPER excited for the eclipse next weekend!
End of Day Stats: 9 Runs, 11.09 miles, 13,458 feet, 35.2 mph max, 0:39:58 skiing, 1:46:12 elapsed.
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