staying at jay. day trip to sutton, owls head, or orford?

[ono]

we're gonna be staying in montgomery village (10 miles south of jay peak) and looking at options for new years weekend.

we know that we're hitting up jay, and probably smuggs (half hour south of our house) but looking north of the border, i'm intrigued.

i know that orford is pretty popular/good skiing, but can be relatively crowded compared to sutton. don't know much about owls head, though. sutton does get more snow and is closer than orford to jay peak. we've got 3 or 4 days to ski up there over the busy weekend. anyone got any good rec's?
my list of places we'll most likely ski on the trip:

1. Jay- almost definitely
2. (tie) smuggs- know and love this mountain. worried 'bout crowds/no snow.
2. (tie) sutton- not sure if it's worth a day- does it take longer to get tracked out? anyone
4. owls head- don't know anything about this place. closer than orford
5. orford- heard good things, but further than all the others- worth it?

 

[BigJay]

Well... of course, you have to ski at Jay!

Owl's Head is cool... but doesn't have exciting and appealing terrain for me... I really like Sutton... sort of an MRG... Old school lifts... The lodge on top is pretty coool aslo. The skiing there is a lot more fun... Terrain varies a lot... Not as much snow... but still more then plenty!

Of all your choices, i would stay south and avoid Orford... I just doesn't snow there compare to Jay, Owl's head or Sutton! I've never been to Smuggs.. (even tough it's so close! I should visit there this season if it ever snows)

Every new year, a couple of friends get together and we start climbing Sutton at 10H30PM at the bottom of chair no2. We get to the top of the no5 by 11H45. Once there, we wait until midnight and pop the champagne bottle! After the celebration, we open our bike lights and ride down the mountain so that we get the first run of the new year. We've been doing it for at least 4 years now... This year i think we'll try Owl's Head!

 

[Patrick]

1. Jay- almost definitely
2. (tie) smuggs- know and love this mountain. worried 'bout crowds/no snow.
2. (tie) sutton- not sure if it's worth a day- does it take longer to get tracked out? anyone
4. owls head- don't know anything about this place. closer than orford
5. orford- heard good things, but further than all the others- worth it?

My list of favorite from your list are:

1) Smuggs - increbible when the snow is there, we are still waiting so... :roll:
2) Jay - definately
3) Orford - however the best trails are all natural and need good snow - unless the snow starts seriously accumulating, I wouldn't bother this New Year unless the weather changes.
4) Sutton - What Big Jay said, however he's a snowboard, what the hell does he know about MRG. :lol: :wink: Least say that it's a more commercial MRG without the vertical and the constant pitchs. But regardless, it's a fun place.
5) Owl's Head. Also real close and great views. Quietest of the gang I would say, fun terrain, but easily the least favorite of the bunch.

However I think that Big Jay is right on what he's saying, especially that you're talking how just a few weeks away??

Well... of course, you have to ski at Jay!

Owl's Head is cool... but doesn't have exciting and appealing terrain for me... I really like Sutton... The skiing there is a lot more fun... Terrain varies a lot... Not as much snow... but still more then plenty!

Of all your choices, i would stay south and avoid Orford... I just doesn't snow there compare to Jay, Owl's head or Sutton!

About being tracks out... you're talking about the Holidays and Sutton is only 60 minutes from Montreal. You will find crowds here too.

 

[steve@jpr]

Sutton and Oroford for sure. Both cool spots and stet to what both Patrick and BJ say. Sutton has great glades and Orford is great if the snow flies.

 

[BigJay]

4) Sutton - What Big Jay said, however he's a snowboard, what the hell does he know about MRG. :lol: :wink: Least say that it's a more commercial MRG without the vertical and the

...hey! I'm a person! :lol:

But don't worry... i can ski anything too... I get out on skis 3-4 times a year... I can telemark too... but lack of practice and equipement makes it hard! I was suppose to buy some tele gear this season... went for the splitboard instead...

Wouldn't it be funny to get on the lift at MRG with splitboard in ski mode? :lol:

I'll visit MRG with telemark this season... if it ever snows...

 

[Patrick]

...hey! I'm a person! :lol:

:lol:

One of my numerous brain cramps. :wink: Sorry.

I didn't know you slided on snow by other means, that why I joked about your knowledge of MRG. I accidently filmed two snowboaders at MRG two years ago, I was filming my daughter top to bottom run (the only filming of the day) and she passed two boaders sitting on the edge of the trail. It wasn't until my wife told me if I saw them and saw the film that I noticed them. :lol:

 

[Spensar]

Owl's Head is also only $15 Canadian on Tues. and Wed. all winter.