Skiing Jay Peak

Skiing Jay Peak

Saturday, April 26th, 2025

Runs: 13

Distance: 13.15 miles

Elevation: 13,156 feet

Max Speed: 28.4 mph

Avg. Speed: 13.7 mph

Moving Time: 59 minutes, 27 seconds

Total Time: 4 hours, 46 minutes, 28 seconds

Time for another silly day at Jay! It was the day of the Ski Patrol Banquet and weather was looking dismal! I drove seperately from team patrol since we'd be spending the night at the Hotel Jay and I'd be driving home the next morning from the mountain, but we arrived at the same time, and I followed them into the patrol room like a puppy dog looking for it's mom (in this case, my mom is a pass for the day). Patrol went on about how silly conditions were, and more importantly that there was no way back to Tramside from the Flyer, Bonnie, or Tram. The only way to get to and from is via Queens Highway/Perry Merril. It was also supposed to rain for the 69th weekend in a row... classic! Once they went out for trail check I went up to the fully empty Bullwheel to slowly boot up.

Snow Report

April 26th | 7:40am

7/9 spinning today, Village Chair and Stateside carpet are closed. To no one's surpise, the Saturday trent of crappy weather continues. Rainy and windy today, but the forecast looks like winter's going to dig deep for one more last-second half-court short to bring accumulating snow for Sunday. TK's final installment for the 24+25 season has all the details. Our groomers are out there working thei rmagic and keeping what they can together, but it's a race againt the clock (and the weather) for skiable terrain, so come get it while you still can.

A few operations updates to pass along. Beginning Monday, operations will be out of Stateside base only as weather and terrain permit. On Monday, ticket prices will drop to $59 for all ages if purchased onsite, or $49 if purchaed online. Closing day for Rusch Park will also be on Sunday.

Runs 1-2

Run 1: Taxi Quad - Queen's Highway

[0.72 mi; 2:31; 525 ft; 27.4 mph max; 17.2 mph avg]

Run 2: Metro Quad - Interstate

[0.60 mi; 2:17; 505 ft; 26.2 mph max; 15.6 mph avg]

My first plan of attack was to get over to Tramside to hit the Tram so I could ski my beloved Vermonter before the season ends. The silliness started by watching patrol knock over a snowmobile, and then the gates at Taxi weren't working because "they plugged it in wrong." Queen's Highway was slushy and fun with just a few death cookies hiding about. The lower stretch was visually dysmal but skied completely fine, with a few new bumps, too!

The Tram wasn't open yet (not even the queue), so I hopped on the Metro for lap #2, which was down Interstate. Interstate mostly had good coverage, except for one bottle neck to make things exciting! Afterwards, the Tram was open, and I was the first (and only) person on!

Runs 3-4

Run 3: Tram - Vermonter - Angel's Wiggle - Paradise Meadows

[1.63 mi; 7:52; 1,808 ft; 27.9 mph max; 12.4 mph avg]

Run 4: Bonaventure Quad - Northway - Angel's Wiggle - Hell's Crossing - Paradise Meadows

[1.44 mi; 5:10; 1,378 ft; 24.6 mph max; 16.8 mph avg]

It was so silly having the Tram all to myself. After a stupidly busy season, I was one of what felt like a dozen skiers on the mountain. It was EXCELLENT. It was WINDY, too. From the top, I walked down to where the snow started and had a great run down Vermonter, which was still a little scrapy. No views, sadly, because the cloud ceiling was low, but I had a good time! My legs were cooking, though. I look forward to one day actually remembering how to ski properly right away instead of taking 3-5 laps to pull it together. From Vermonter, I went down Angel's Wiggle to Paradise Meadows, which was actually in fantastic condition (I remember last year it was NOT in great condition this weekend). 

Run #4 was up the Bonnie and down a similar way, just over to Hell's Crossing, which was in less-than-stellar shape, but still nice. I followed this down to the Jet, which comically still had no line (the lifties were sitting in the shack it was so un-busy.

Runs 5-7

Run 5: Jet Triple - The Jet

[0.72 mi; 3:27; 1,168 ft; 24.0 mph max; 12.5 mph avg]

Run 6: Jet Triple - Haynes - Mont l'Entripede

[0.75 mi; 3:38; 1,168 ft; 27.3 mph max; 12.4 mph avg]

Run 7: Jet Triple - Derick Hot Shot - Haynes - Mont l'Entripede

[0.79 mi; 4:59; 1,142 ft; 25.2 mph max; 9.5 mph avg]

Run #5 was down the Jet, which because of the rain, was MUCH scrapier/icier than I had wanted. #IceCoast, I guess... I did make it down fine, and got a PR on Strava, so that counts for something, I guess! My next run was down Haynes and Mont l'Entripede, which was in a similar glacial state with a few bare patches. Run #7 was bold. I had a fantastic time on Derick Hot Shot with Sarah a few weeks ago, and I knew it wouldn't be in as good a shape, but oof. It started with a massive dirt patch and ~6 feet of snow on the edge to wiggle down, and the bumps were only soft for the top 2", the rest of them were completly frozen. Not fair! My skis did pop off after poorly navigating a bump, but I did NOT fall! I quickly bailed and worked my way down Haynes and Mont l'Entripede a second time at the first opportunity. Next season, Derick... Next season...

Runs 8-9

Run 8: Jet Triple - Montrealer - Catwalk - Angel's Wiggle - Paradise Meadows

[1.11 mi; 4:26; 1,135 ft; 28.4 mph max; 15.0 mph avg]

Run 9: Taxi Quad - Queen's Highway 

[0.91 mi; 5:48; 538 ft; 27.6 mph max; 9.4 mph avg]

After my next ride up the Jet, I stopped in the patrol shack to dry off and play some Bananagrams with Emma and Patrol Sarah. At this point in the day, it hadn't rained too much, but it was aggressively misty out. Thankfully, I was not cold when outside, and the patrol shack was HOT. I hung up my gear to dry and smoked them in our game. I also called the hotel to ask when the earliest check-in time would be, and got a series of rude responses. I first called the Jay Peak reservations number. I said something along the lines of "Hi! I'm skiing right now and spending the night for the ski patrol banquet. I just wanted to ask if you'd know when the earliest I could check in would be?" and her response was along the lines of "well, check out was 46 minutes ago, so a while." I said "that makes sense! Thank you! Is there a number I can call to contact the front desk directly?" and she said "no" and hung up. Not nice! I know it was a silly question, but come on!

...also there was a number for the front desk. Thankfully, the ski patrol shack has every extension available. I called and was met with a similar level of dismissive sass, but was offered to do a "soft check-in," so when the room was ready we could get right there. I'm not saying we deserved special treatment for ski patrol, but they could have been nicer...

Anyway, after winning Bananagrams and failing at phone calls, I got back to skiing! It was raining a bit more now, and I was pretty soggy after Run #8, which brought me down Montrealer, Angel's Wiggle, and Paradise Meadows (the last of which I Strava PR'd). I went back on the Taxi to Queen's Highway so I could do my soft check-in!

Run 10

Run 10: Tram - Northway - Paradise Meadows

[2.05 mi; 9:34; 1,821 ft; 25.9 mph max; 12.9 mph avg]

The soft check-in was a nicer experience than the phone calls, but he was still annoyed that I was there. When I asked for a second parking pass he said "I guess, why not!" in a very upset tone. Not sure what that was all about... I also had no way to transport the parking passes back to our cars in a dry manner, but I was NOT going to ask the front desk for any more favors. I took the emergency plastic ponco out of my pocket and wrapped up the parking passes before heading to the Tram.

This was going to be another Tram ride for one until two others joined, and then Patroler Jess joined, too! I love Jess. She's one of the lead volunteers and I decided last year that she was one of my best friends (she cheered me on as I cried skiing down Haynes). We chatted the whole ride up which was just a delight. At the top, she went into the patrol shack and I deicided I'd hit the full Northway. It was raining proper now, which was a solid bummer. Emma had also mentioned that there was some walking required for upper Northway... I thought she meant skating. Nope. I skied off the tippy top (ROUGH condition) and had to pop off my skis at the mixing bowl top shack to walk to the Bonnie before continuing my trip down. I followed this group of maybe 20 year olds who were NOT ready for the conditions. The Lower Northway wasn't in too bad of a shape, just a little scrapy, which was welcome after my past experienes. I had another great run off Paradise Meadows, and then back to the Jet to rejoin my patrollers.

Runs 11-13

Run 11: Jet Triple - Montrealer - Northway - Purgatory - Angel's Wiggle - Paradise Meadows

[1.13 mi; 4:21; 1,135 ft; 28.2 mph max; 15.6 mph avg]

Run 12: Taxi Quad - Queen's Highway

[0.75 mi; 3:04; 525 ft; 24.9 mph max; 14.7 mph avg]

Run 13: Metro Quad - Perry Merril Ave - Chalet Meadows

[0.54 mi; 2:18; 315 ft; 23.2 mph max; 14.1 mph avg]

Just kidding! I was sopping wet at this point and wanted to start wrapping up my day. I followed Montrealer down to Purgatory, which skied surprisingly well, and then down to Stateside to catch the Taxi for a final Queen's Highway. I was WET wet. My final run for the day was up the Metro and down Perry Merril/Chalet Meadows, since I hadn't skied them yet for the day. Team patrol had wrapped up by this point, so we all changed and met in the patrol room to get the slideshow ready!

We eventually drove over to Tramside and Patrol Sarah was able to check into her room, which had a wonderful balcony overlooking the Tramside area. Our room still wasn't ready... We made some pregame drinks and wandered over to the International Room to help set up, but they had just finished... oops! Emma went to check again and the new person at the front desk said "I'm so sorry I don't know what's taking so long, let me find you a clean room" and we had a room! The room was big with a balcony over the parking lot, it was perfect! We spent the next couple of hours showering, drinking, taking photos, and getting ready for the party!

The banquet was so much fun (80s Prom themed!) and I truly just love celebrating people's achievements, even if I have no idea who they are. Emma pregamed a little too intensely, so I had to give her a "come to Jesus" talk and she went on water for over an hour (I am proud of her!). The night continued, dancing ensued, and really a great time was had by all! Both Emma and Patrol Sarah's dresses ripped throughout the night, which made for a very funny walk back to the room, if you know what I mean.

The next morning was NOT great. I got advil from the CVS vending machine downstairs, Sarah puked a few times, and Emma did not wake up until it was time to leave. We somehow made it down the mountain to the Jay Village Inn for a brunch where we just giggled at how much we were suffering, followed by a longgggg drive home. This was such a fun, silly weekend! Oh, and a fun thing to add, it snowed ALL DAY at Jay once we left. It flurried on our way to the JVI, SNOW snowed during brunch, and it didn't turn to rain until I was almost in New Hampshire - crazy! Silly!

Map of Jay Peak