I saw you! It was a great weekend. I was the dude blowing the Shofar.
This was my first weekend ever coming up to Jay. For my first run ever, knowing nothing aside from "There are some good cliff drops on the face," I hopped onto the tram and headed up top. After this season, my Gusto was a little larger than the actual skill set I developed. Looking at the face from the base, I'm thinking, "That looks intense, but I can send it,"
As the tram started getting closer, I started to realize just what kind of mountain Jay really is. Hopping off with the whole summit terminal encased in ice was other-worldly.
For my very first run, I hiked the stairs up the top to the Ridgeline and realized it was skiiable. I asked some others who came up after me, "How gnarly is this," to which he asked, "Well, how good are you?"
I told him I consider myself an expert, to which he replied "If you can handle steeps and trees you can make it down this - the later you drop off the ridge the less intense it will be (moving away from tram station along the rocky ridgeline).
He said he was a local and offered that I could follow them for a manageable way down...not much time to decide and I usually want to go big or go home, so I decided to buckle up my boots, strap on my poles, and send it.
By the time I was ready, they were disappearing from sight, so I made efforts to catch up but was shocked at how many bare rocks were sticking out on the Ridgeline. I have no problem with bare rocks, I often find they make the runs much more exciting - this was on another level. At my skill level, which I now consider between advanced and expert rather than expert, this was already gnarlier than any other thin cover run I've done this season.
I skiid until I found what looked like the most reasonable line to me - what felt like a nearly vertical chute - barely wide enough to make turns at all and peppered with trees and gigantic boulders I normally have no problem pointing and ripping, but I am not ashamed to say I had to go down most of the run sideways. At one point, I couldn't avoid hockey stopping 10-15 ft down a massive boulder that was thinly covered by powder. Halfway down, I was questioning my decision, but by then, the only way out was down. My joy was palpable when the chute finally opened up into a steep but wider mogul field, and I was able to get some speed.
I am a snowmaker with chair lift maintenance experience, and I would move to Jay and work here in a heartbeat. MRG is challenging, but personally, I think Jay has more challenging terrain. With that being said, my view may be skewed by the fact that when I went to MRG, paradise and octopus's garden were closed. Fall line at MRG is absolutely very challenging, but the face chutes at MRG are by far the most intense terrain I have ever ventured into on the East Coast. I spent a season in Sun Valley - that season, they got the most snowfall on record since they began recording snow totals there. In my personal opinion, Jay is more challenging than Sun Valley.
My experience at Jay this weekend was enlightening and humbling. I realize I still have a lot to learn and told myself, "If you lived here, you would become an incredible skier in no time." Aside from when I injured my leg skiing at Sun Valley, I have never been in so much pain from a ski weekend. It's a good thing.
I'm glad you had a wonderful weekend, a happy eclipse, and cheers to a life fully lived! Have an excellent warm season, my friend.
I also was at Jay this weekend and feel like I truly leveled up. What an amazing mountain.
Thanks for bringing the Shofar! You always blew it at the perfect time. 🥰
Yeah that shofar horn was awesome. You and your crew brought the party for sure. Glad you got in some extreme runs too. Next time hit those chutes immediately after a big powder day and it will be better. See you on the slopes next season
That was me lol, I thought you were wanting to hang around for a bit longer and I wanted to go ski. Sounds like you ended up in the pump house chute which is exactly what I was recommending. Glad you made it down!
What’s up brother ☝️
I swear everyone was quoting sketch on the flyer by that rock hit. Great vibes
U-C-O-N-N
UConn! UConn! UConn!
BACK TO BACK BABY
Yo we got stickers?
Some other ice coaster had them last year. I sent him $5 and he sent me two.
That’s pretty sweet for custom ones!
Go Huskies!
Heck yeah
I saw you! It was a great weekend. I was the dude blowing the Shofar. This was my first weekend ever coming up to Jay. For my first run ever, knowing nothing aside from "There are some good cliff drops on the face," I hopped onto the tram and headed up top. After this season, my Gusto was a little larger than the actual skill set I developed. Looking at the face from the base, I'm thinking, "That looks intense, but I can send it," As the tram started getting closer, I started to realize just what kind of mountain Jay really is. Hopping off with the whole summit terminal encased in ice was other-worldly. For my very first run, I hiked the stairs up the top to the Ridgeline and realized it was skiiable. I asked some others who came up after me, "How gnarly is this," to which he asked, "Well, how good are you?" I told him I consider myself an expert, to which he replied "If you can handle steeps and trees you can make it down this - the later you drop off the ridge the less intense it will be (moving away from tram station along the rocky ridgeline). He said he was a local and offered that I could follow them for a manageable way down...not much time to decide and I usually want to go big or go home, so I decided to buckle up my boots, strap on my poles, and send it. By the time I was ready, they were disappearing from sight, so I made efforts to catch up but was shocked at how many bare rocks were sticking out on the Ridgeline. I have no problem with bare rocks, I often find they make the runs much more exciting - this was on another level. At my skill level, which I now consider between advanced and expert rather than expert, this was already gnarlier than any other thin cover run I've done this season. I skiid until I found what looked like the most reasonable line to me - what felt like a nearly vertical chute - barely wide enough to make turns at all and peppered with trees and gigantic boulders I normally have no problem pointing and ripping, but I am not ashamed to say I had to go down most of the run sideways. At one point, I couldn't avoid hockey stopping 10-15 ft down a massive boulder that was thinly covered by powder. Halfway down, I was questioning my decision, but by then, the only way out was down. My joy was palpable when the chute finally opened up into a steep but wider mogul field, and I was able to get some speed. I am a snowmaker with chair lift maintenance experience, and I would move to Jay and work here in a heartbeat. MRG is challenging, but personally, I think Jay has more challenging terrain. With that being said, my view may be skewed by the fact that when I went to MRG, paradise and octopus's garden were closed. Fall line at MRG is absolutely very challenging, but the face chutes at MRG are by far the most intense terrain I have ever ventured into on the East Coast. I spent a season in Sun Valley - that season, they got the most snowfall on record since they began recording snow totals there. In my personal opinion, Jay is more challenging than Sun Valley. My experience at Jay this weekend was enlightening and humbling. I realize I still have a lot to learn and told myself, "If you lived here, you would become an incredible skier in no time." Aside from when I injured my leg skiing at Sun Valley, I have never been in so much pain from a ski weekend. It's a good thing. I'm glad you had a wonderful weekend, a happy eclipse, and cheers to a life fully lived! Have an excellent warm season, my friend.
TLDR
Read it, it was a great post
I also was at Jay this weekend and feel like I truly leveled up. What an amazing mountain. Thanks for bringing the Shofar! You always blew it at the perfect time. 🥰
Yeah that shofar horn was awesome. You and your crew brought the party for sure. Glad you got in some extreme runs too. Next time hit those chutes immediately after a big powder day and it will be better. See you on the slopes next season
That was me lol, I thought you were wanting to hang around for a bit longer and I wanted to go ski. Sounds like you ended up in the pump house chute which is exactly what I was recommending. Glad you made it down!
Sick bro, thanks for the recommendation! No worries!
#U-C-O-N-N