Jay VT 2/14, Sutton PQ 2/15 &16 and Burke VT 2/17

[Talisman]

Valentine's Day at Jay was, well cold and breezy. The fresh snow during the week wasn't evident until deep in the glades. The groomed trails were a melange of wind pack, forzen granular and some scratchy spots. Timbuktu, Canyon Lands, Beaverpond and Buckwoods held some powder, but the glades were getting worked hard by the nuts who were out in the deep freeze. <BR> <BR>Sutton was spectacular but quite cold (-25 F with no wind chill) and this kept the crowds down considerably. The snow on the groomers was packed powder and granular with some powder in the tighter glades or the trees between the blue and green trails. Sutton has a fleet of vintage Tucker Sno-Cats that appear to be used daily to groom the sous bois and more modern equipment for the open pistes. <BR> <BR>Sutton has a wondeful network of trails that trail maps don't do justice to and is hard to discribe. The trails 'chain' together so it is effortless to hop from one trail to the woods to another trail to another glade all on one run. No travereing toget around the mountian. There are seriously steep and narrow chutes, glades (sous bois) for all abilities and wonderful views. <BR> <BR>I stayed at the Auberge des Appalaches which was great! The rooms was on the small side, but fantastic food, good service, shuttle bus to the mountain and good views of the mountains. The smoked duck wing appetizers with Grifon Rousse beer for apres ski can't be beat. <BR> <BR>Burke had almost no one skiing in the morning and copious fresh poweder in their glades shown on the trail map. Some of the steeper bump trails had thin spots with granite, dirt and stumps sticking out. There were some nice bump trails, but the glades were exceptional with many fresh lines. Birches, Throbulator. Mountain Marsh and Caveman glades had plenty of powder. <BR> <BR>The ride south was tough in the Southern VT snow storm. Should be more powder for the weekend.