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I've been struggling with this write-up since Saturday night. I have no idea how to convey the mood of the day; you really had to be there. <BR> <BR>Howie and Jens had come up to do some riding. We got off to a leisurely start, but somehow made it up to Jay in what felt like record time. We pulled into the parking lot (also known as the mud pit) and started to unload our gear. Suddenly a van pulls in next to us and a friendly couple hops out. <BR> <BR>"Do you guys need tickets?" <BR> <BR>"It depends," I respond. I know I have a $25 ticket, and they both have discounted tickets for working in a shop. <BR> <BR>It turns out this couple had a better deal. Two full vouchers, free of charge. The ski gods are smiling upon us. After thanking them profusely, we head up to the lodge, stopping at the ticket booth on the way. I got to witness a Western New Yorker getting his way: He had forgotten his Holiday Valley pass, as well as his ASC All East pass, and still got a discounted ticket. (Note: If you're doing the season's pass deal, go to the service desk, they won't process those at the counter.) <BR> <BR>Up in the lodge, it felt like tumbleweed rolling around would have been appropriate. We changed into our stuff quickly and started to head out. All of a sudden I turn around and who's there? Todd and Nancy. We waited a few short minutes and our group of 5 was ready to hit the sun baked slopes. <BR> <BR>The Freezer might have well been called the Oven. The only thing keeping us cool on the way up was the breeze. Thermometers in the sun registered a whopping 70 degrees. Those in the shade spoke of 60 degrees. <BR> <BR>We started off with a cruiser down some perfect corn snow. A few little surprises (and one big one) later, we were down at the bottom once again. Run after run, we found perfect corn and great company. I don't pretend to remember what we skied in what order. I do remember that the Jet was nice and there were some _amazing_ telemarkers over there. Some with a high stance making quick short radius turns, some with a really low stance (knees whacking their skis every turn.) It was inspiring. <BR> <BR>Somewhere in there, we lost Nancy (Stay Right! was the motto of the day. Someone always went left.) No worries - Todd hopped over to the base of the Red chair and found her. We found the two of them at lunch. <BR> <BR>The other thing I found at lunch were my alpine boards. I had told Howie that I was going to bring up my alpine gear for some cruisers. Boy was that strange. We took a bit of a warm-up run off of the Tram so I could get used to my equipment. My first comment after making some turns was that it was much less work to make alpine turns on teles. I still feel that way. My alpine gear is just too heavy and restrictive. There isn't enough variety in turns; I feel like I'm cheating, and being cheated. Regardless of my alpine experimentation, I had fun on them. It felt like a new experience. <BR> <BR>Eventually we all decided to call it a day. The Jay Peak Management, however, had other plans. What we considered the end of our day constituted the beginning of the Apres Ski Party down on the deck. The Molson flowed freely from the tap while a great selection of tunes blared out of the speakers. <BR> <BR>Nancy decided that she needed one of the orange Jay Peak hats that were floating around. Down to the shop we went, only to find that the hats were a promotional item, and not for sale. Not to worry, though, attractive blondes can get whatever they want! <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/happy.gif" ALT="
"> Nancy somehow convinced the marketing director (I think) that she had to have a hat. He told us to wait a minute and he would be right back. Sure enough, he showed up with three hats (OK, so there were 5 of us, but it all worked out.) <BR> <BR>Back up on the deck people were starting to pack in, but somehow we ended up with a table. And here's where the day gets really funny. It was the same table we ate lunch at. The same loud Long Island woman (coincidentally also named Nancy) was there, talking, laughing, talking, having a good time. Did I mention talking? Quite a character, we all agreed. However, we all had smiles on our faces and reebs in our hands, so it was all good. <BR> <BR>Parents: The next section is rated PG-13. <BR> <BR>LI-Nancy was dead set on getting one of the prizes they were giving away. Howie ended up with the first T-shirt for knowing how much snow they got (does anyone not know?) "Know when to call in sick." was lettered on the front. <BR> <BR>That's OK by LI-Nancy, she wanted the Molson float; the thing you'd pull behind a motor boat for tubing. She was heard stating "I'll do anything for that; except get naked." The shovel races came, the racers didn't know how to work a shovel, but someone got a prize anyway. The women got to shovel race, and learned from the men. They actually started to slide. They brought out a limbo stick, too, but still the float was not <BR>the prize. <BR> <BR>Next came out the garbage bags and the float was the prize. Great, we thought, no more foolish shovel races, they'll have garbage bag races - no one can screw that up. LI-Nancy headed up and became one of the contestants, along with two other guys. The garbage bags were handed out and they tore head holes. They were ready to go. Unfortunately, this was not a sliding contest. The winner was to be the one who could remove all of their clothing beneath the bags. We all laughed, LI-Nancy's friends all laughed, LI-Nancy's husband laughed. The two male contestants didn't stand a chance. Her clothes came off in a flash. The younger guy was a close second, and the older guy was still standing around with a deer caught in headlights look. To clinch the contest, LI-Nancy decided to flash the crowd. So much for not getting naked. <BR> <BR>Nancy eventually returned, fully clothed, with her Molson float. We all cheered her to take it for a victory ride. And with some help from a random girl, she did. Kind of. Jay needs a steeper hill in front of the deck. The shovels and the float just did not slide well. <BR> <BR>Finishing our beers, we decided to call it a day. Todd and Nancy were heading back to German Flats Road and we had to be back in Burlington. Besides, we had seen everything the day had to offer. <BR> <BR>Almost - while we were going our separate ways in the parking lot, someone mentioned MRG for Sunday. Howie and Jens actually started to consider it. Howie was considering an attempt at telemarking, Jens could rent alpine gear. We got as far as trying to find some decent rentals in Burlington but eventually realized that there was nothing for beginners to learn on. I suppose we could have skied the mid-station and just come down Bunny, but it seemed like a pretty monotonous day. Next year. <BR> <BR>Pictures to come, eventually.
"> Nancy somehow convinced the marketing director (I think) that she had to have a hat. He told us to wait a minute and he would be right back. Sure enough, he showed up with three hats (OK, so there were 5 of us, but it all worked out.) <BR> <BR>Back up on the deck people were starting to pack in, but somehow we ended up with a table. And here's where the day gets really funny. It was the same table we ate lunch at. The same loud Long Island woman (coincidentally also named Nancy) was there, talking, laughing, talking, having a good time. Did I mention talking? Quite a character, we all agreed. However, we all had smiles on our faces and reebs in our hands, so it was all good. <BR> <BR>Parents: The next section is rated PG-13. <BR> <BR>LI-Nancy was dead set on getting one of the prizes they were giving away. Howie ended up with the first T-shirt for knowing how much snow they got (does anyone not know?) "Know when to call in sick." was lettered on the front. <BR> <BR>That's OK by LI-Nancy, she wanted the Molson float; the thing you'd pull behind a motor boat for tubing. She was heard stating "I'll do anything for that; except get naked." The shovel races came, the racers didn't know how to work a shovel, but someone got a prize anyway. The women got to shovel race, and learned from the men. They actually started to slide. They brought out a limbo stick, too, but still the float was not <BR>the prize. <BR> <BR>Next came out the garbage bags and the float was the prize. Great, we thought, no more foolish shovel races, they'll have garbage bag races - no one can screw that up. LI-Nancy headed up and became one of the contestants, along with two other guys. The garbage bags were handed out and they tore head holes. They were ready to go. Unfortunately, this was not a sliding contest. The winner was to be the one who could remove all of their clothing beneath the bags. We all laughed, LI-Nancy's friends all laughed, LI-Nancy's husband laughed. The two male contestants didn't stand a chance. Her clothes came off in a flash. The younger guy was a close second, and the older guy was still standing around with a deer caught in headlights look. To clinch the contest, LI-Nancy decided to flash the crowd. So much for not getting naked. <BR> <BR>Nancy eventually returned, fully clothed, with her Molson float. We all cheered her to take it for a victory ride. And with some help from a random girl, she did. Kind of. Jay needs a steeper hill in front of the deck. The shovels and the float just did not slide well. <BR> <BR>Finishing our beers, we decided to call it a day. Todd and Nancy were heading back to German Flats Road and we had to be back in Burlington. Besides, we had seen everything the day had to offer. <BR> <BR>Almost - while we were going our separate ways in the parking lot, someone mentioned MRG for Sunday. Howie and Jens actually started to consider it. Howie was considering an attempt at telemarking, Jens could rent alpine gear. We got as far as trying to find some decent rentals in Burlington but eventually realized that there was nothing for beginners to learn on. I suppose we could have skied the mid-station and just come down Bunny, but it seemed like a pretty monotonous day. Next year. <BR> <BR>Pictures to come, eventually.