What should I do on Sunday? Jay, Stowe or Bush?

[Patrick]

Hi,

My wife has an engagement in Montreal on Sunday, so I though I could take advantage of this opportunity to go skiing. Not really a surprise, I guess. :lol:

However I have a dilemma, where do I go?

Jay Peak which is 90 minutes from Montreal and I have a 2-for-1. They are talking about 10-15 trails and it probably their last day.

Stowe (2.5hr from MTL) - Free skiing on Sunday, some walking may be required.

Sugarbush (2.5hr) - A friend has a ski voucher (free skiing) and only the summit of Ellen with the great FIS will be open.

Jay:
+ closer to Montreal.
- terrain open seems pretty limited.
- no freebies.

Stowe:
+Trails open seem interesting - top to bottom
+ Free skiing
- some walking required (top to bottom)
- everyone has freebies - free skiing

Sugarbush:
+ Free skiing (for us)
+ Top skiing only (no walking and better coverage).
+ FIS
- Only the top.
- Pretty limited terrain

Now if only the weather can cooperate for Sunday. [-o<

Is there anyone outthere that I skied these areas recently?

 

[Jonny D]

In my extremely un-educated opinion, go for Jay. It's close and you have a 2for1, so you can take a buddy.

I'd also consider St-Anne, but it's too far for a day trip isn't it?
my 2cents.

 

[Patrick]

In my extremely un-educated opinion, go for Jay. It's close and you have a 2for1, so you can take a buddy.

I'd also consider St-Anne, but it's too far for a day trip isn't it?
my 2cents.

Ah yes, I didn't mention that after getting back to Montreal to pick the family, I have another 2 hour to drive to get back home in Ottawa. :shock:

Ste-Anne isn't too far for a day trip, but I don't have any coupons or deals.

Yes, I have a 2-for-1 for Jay, but I wouldn't pay a cent for lift-tickets at Stowe and Sugarbush, however I'm adding an extra hour drive to get there. But i've done worse before. :roll:

 

[Patrick]

I guess that the Jay option might no longer be an option...

It is another gorgeous day out there, sunshine all around! However the sun is taking all our snow away. We are down to 6 trails open for today with 2 lifts accessing those trails. The 2 lifts will be the Jet triple and the Metro quad. The Jet, Haynes, Montrealer, Angel's Wiggle, Harmony Lane and the Interstate. There are no trails connecting the 2 sides together, so keep that in mind when you park your car.


Conditions are spring all around with bare spots, ski or ride with care.

The forecasts for today is temps in the low 60's with lots of sun. Cloudy skies for tomorrow, and showers late Saturday night.


Tomorrow will probaly be last day of the 2005-2006 season so get your golf clubs ready.

Lift tickets are $38 for an adult and $32 for a junior.

 

[JimG.]

After that report from Jay, I'd go to Stowe.

 

[gincognito]

From the Jay Peak message board in response to my questions:

"We have the Jet and Haynes open top to bottom, and two beginner trails off the metro chair. Montrealer is open with some walking needed to get back to the Jet. There is no way to ski between Stateside and Tramside base areas.Informed speculation has tomorrow (Saturday) being Closing Day. I heard reports yesterday that the Face and some other HIKE-TO trails were do-able. Vermonter looks okay from the Montrealer. Weather forecast I heard this morning sounded like it will be nice in the morning Saturday, but cloud up with rain towards evening, and rain Sunday. At this moment we have four patrollers and five customers on the mountain - I got first tracks down the Jet at 9:45. I hope this answers any questions! - Russ Ford Jay Peak Ski Patrol"

Oh well, with a season's pass, I'll be there regardless.

d.

 

[Admin]

Good to hear that Russ is still out there. I worked with him in the mid-90s. He started a year or two before I left.

 

[salida]

What about Mt. Edward(o) the one up by lac st jean???

 

[Patrick]

What about Mt. Edward(o) the one up by lac st jean???

Too far....and Too Closed...

It's been closed for the past few weeks. Valinouet is closing tomorrow.

The list that I posted is the entire list of ski areas still running this weekend.

For next weekend the only still standing will be...

Killington
Bretton Woods
Ste. Anne

maybe or long-shots.

Mt. Comi near the Gaspe Peninsula
St. Sauveur
Sugarbush

 

[riverc0il]

I would vote Stowe. Only lift serviced 2000 verts on the East Coast now, I believe? I would certainly take 2000' verts over Jet/Haynes at Jay or up loading at the Bush. Though if Jet/Haynes are fully covered, you can at least have a good time for 2 hours on those trails without getting board 8) I may do Stowe depending on the rain reports, free is a great price! I will ski in light rain for free, not heavy precip though. I put me at 25% likely for Stowe on Sunday, not very likely given the current outlook.

 

[Patrick]

I'd also consider St-Anne, but it's too far for a day trip isn't it?

Actually, all thing being equal (distance and price). I would be a non-brainer.

I would vote Stowe. Only lift serviced 2000 verts on the East Coast now, I believe? I would certainly take 2000' verts over Jet/Haynes at Jay or up loading at the Bush.
(...)
I may do Stowe depending on the rain reports, free is a great price! I will ski in light rain for free, not heavy precip though. I put me at 25% likely for Stowe on Sunday, not very likely given the current outlook.

What I'm worried about Stowe, is the bottom part. The bottom of Whiteface was definitely marginal last week, as bad if not worst than Bunny at MRG on April 1st.

Although I have a FREE voucher for Sugarbush and Stowe is FREE + closer to Montreal, I actually thinking of going to Ste-Anne regardless (3hrs away) primarily because of the forecast. I saw that RAIN is forecasted at Stowe-Bush at 80% for Sunday. Not good, I am willing to ski in the rain for a third time in April?

Ste-Anne has also over 2000' vert skiable although I would be paying for a liftticket.

Snow conditions would definitely be better at Ste-Anne and current forecast for Sunday in Quebec City is sunny with 20% chance of rain. So Am I willing to drive 40 minutes further and pay instead of skiing for free?

Ste-Anne ski report? 37 of 64 trails open. I've always said that Ste-Anne has the best spring skiing this time of year. :-k

This week at Ste.Anne or next? Or this week free skiing in Vermont and Ste.Anne the following week?

 

[jsul185]

I skied Stowe on Wednesday April 19th. They have the four runner quad operating, the gondy is closed. Centerline to Hayride was a great bump run with easy access to the quad. Liftline to National was a nice run, all bumped, and nose dive to cliff trail was a nice runs you just have a short walk to the quad. I believe the cover at Stowe was very thin and not worth a long drive. I am skeptical as to how the coverage will hold up from Wednesday to Sunday.

I skied Killington Thurs and Friday. It was 60 degrees, Super star was all bumped per usual for the spring. Two great days, three counting Stowe. Superstar has never been in such bad shape. Superstar will not be open past Sunday the 23rd ( in my opinion). If K's stays open past Sunday the only open trail will be Bittersweet which is not worth skiing (my opinion).

A lifty who was scanning every person on every run explained to me asc is trying to get a head count on the number of skiers. I understand this web site has had ongoing discussions on this topic. There were a few hundred skiers on the hill today, several barbaques, and a alot of smiles. I'm glad I made the trip because the season is over way too early.

Plenty of time this summer for the Kmart discussion. Get out there and ski while you can. Good luck Sunday Patrick and remember the old adage, a bad day on the hill is better than a good day at work.

 

[riverc0il]

A lifty who was scanning every person on every run explained to me asc is trying to get a head count on the number of skiers.

this is crazy. an example of a company fulfilling their own self fulfilling prophecy. don't blow a ton of snow, shot for earlier closings, and when word gets out that conditions suck, rigerously conduct studies to prove no one is showing up instead of looking at the root cause: bad weather, customers disatisfied with the season having a generally impression that it sucked (hardly, imo), and not blowing a huge amount of snow like in previous years. of course numbers are going to be down.

 

[Patrick]

Everything is pointing me away from Vermont tomorrow.

Weather channel: 80% chance of rain
Weather underground: 100% chance of rain

The odds were better in Whiteface last Saturday (40%) and I still got wet, maybe it can be the other way around this week?

The only thing that kept me still considering Vermont is the FREE ticket and the shorter drive.

From what I read in sven's report and from jsul about Stowe is that a free ticket at Sugarbush might not be out of the question, especially with the downloading. How much mud and dirt can my ski take this month? Although the vert will not be there, I won't have to deal with the marginal conditions at bottom at every run.

Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-

:roll:

 

[Anthony]

Patrick , Take a look at the weather maps and radar images . if you head south to VT you will be going directly into the rain and it looks like it is going to be a heavy rain day tomorrow driven by high winds as there currently is a large front stretched out from the southern shores of the great lakes heading in a north east direction. Best bet would be Quebec city area as you might be ahead of the rain as it moves east . Then again it might move rapidly down the St. Lawrence valley and rain you out . I would call ahead to see if they even bother to spin the lifts. Good luck

 

[Patrick]

Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe-Sugarbush-Ste.Anne-Stowe- Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne-Ste.Anne

Thanks Anthony, I saw the forecast this morning, just rechecked now. Looks like I'm heading to Quebec City tomorrow morning and have to pay for my liftticket. 8) :roll:

Trying to leave for Montreal in the next hour.

 

[kcyanks1]

Jay closed today I think, so if that wasn't already eliminated, it should be now. I'm not familiar with the Quebec areas so I can't give an informed recommendation, but it seems like Stowe could be a decent option if you were to head to VT.

 

[riverc0il]

wow, jay charged $38 for skiing two trails yesterday! unless you count one trail off the metro quad, which i don't :wink: kmart had much more vertical and terrain for the same price on a high speeder and stowe was only like $7. doubt they sold many lift tickets at jay yesterday! some days, i wonder what these guys are thinking when they set their lift ticket prices...