Thread: East Coast Roll Call V---> SO MUCH better then all the other roll calls

How is Vermont's snow plow service? I want to go to Bolton tomorrow, but that access road scares me if it's going to be covered in snow by closing time

so hopeful about the weather. pow fri-sun????

re: Jay, i have mixed feelings. it has never been a regular stop (i actually think my few times there were all during my junior race days). but i've seen Stowe and Sugarbush change/evolve, Smuggs/MRG/Bolton stay the same. at Stowe this was all accompanied by rising lift ticket prices and a definite vibe change. will it be the same for Jay? i'll leave it to the (closer) locals to think about. part of me is glad i'm not super familiar with it's previous incarnation, as i won't have anything to compare it with when i do go now.

we all want "authenticity" in our ski experience, but someone out there has to come to VT (or wherever) and spend money. it can't all be locals, really. hopefully the (presumably) new legions of Quebecois at Jay behave themselves.

Originally Posted by thin cover

I agree with Laser, I think this is positive for Jay and the Northern vermont economy in general. I am not sure if most commenting here have seen the development first hand, but they have done a great job and it is a true resort experience now which lots of folks look for that are spending money,by doing this Jay has ensured that they are now a destination resort. And that water park is bad ass. This isn't just about development in a resort its also about advancing a very economically depressed area and give it a name on the map. Trails and run outs are not going anywhere, it still going to ski the same whether or not you choose to eat an awesome meal and sleep in a 4 star room at the base.

Vin- just going on what I was told. I am friends with his father whom I have skied and toured with him a bunch, hope we are talking about the same guy.

its a positive for J, its trickle down effect is minimal, and when all is said and done will be even less to the local economy, as a destination resort no one will need to utilize the local businesses. a real boost for an economically depressed area. it is true though, it does still ski the same, just costs $30 more a day than it used to.

I digress. probably just need a different colored lens for my glasses.

everyone ski "light" if your bouncing through the woods, still a bit boney under 2500' up this way

Originally Posted by caprice150

How is Vermont's snow plow service? I want to go to Bolton tomorrow, but that access road scares me if it's going to be covered in snow by closing time

plows here in VT are good, but can't comment on Bolton road specifically. snow is predicted to be heaviest from 8-12 so if you are leaving at the end of the day road should be plowed i'm thinking by that time.

Originally Posted by Vinman

He wasn't skiing in the woods. High speed groomer crash resulting in going off trail into trees.
either way be careful out there.

Macdad I build sticks also what are the specs and materials in those?

They are 194s, 154/123/137 with poplar cores, and cherry heartwood sidewalls. Normal layup, bases, vds on the edges, fiberglass(tri-ax), core with tip and tail spacers, fiberglass, cotton fabric, and top sheet. They have a constant rocker, which isn't to aggressive, and around a 20m turn radius, I forget what the core profile specs are, but tailored to be stiff in the rear, same as my last pair.
I met L8apx up at k-mart the day he tried his "blue grass rockers" and he turned my on to ski building, and skibuilders.com. Any pics of your builds?

As for being carful, it's overrated. I blew up my shoulder December 2010, on the first snow fall doing something awesome, and its projected to better in August of 2012. Small price to pay for being Rad.

Originally Posted by macdadmorgan

As for being carful, it's overrated. I blew up my shoulder December 2010, on the first snow fall doing something awesome, and its projected to better in August of 2012. Small price to pay for being Rad.

Word! 5678

Originally Posted by caprice150

How is Vermont's snow plow service? I want to go to Bolton tomorrow, but that access road scares me if it's going to be covered in snow by closing time

Bolton rd is dicey, don't attempt it in a mini-van, that's what you tend to see stuck on the way up! I'd recommend four wheel or all wheel but I also dumped my 4wheel in a ditch the other day!

Originally Posted by kingdom-tele

its a positive for J, its trickle down effect is minimal, and when all is said and done will be even less to the local economy, as a destination resort no one will need to utilize the local businesses. a real boost for an economically depressed area. it is true though, it does still ski the same, just costs $30 more a day than it used to.

I digress. probably just need a different colored lens for my glasses.

everyone ski "light" if your bouncing through the woods, still a bit boney under 2500' up this way

increased skier traffic is bound to trickle down in some capacity. I cant imagine there not being some sort of positive effect. Gas stations, grocers, local eateries. Again it is putting them on the map more, by that I dont mean everyone is going to be leveraging the resort facilities. There will still be the cheap skates such as my self who will crash at grunts and drink beers at the belfry, hopefully just more of them than normal. Hasnt all the construction and new job openings for the new resort facilities created jobs? Plus those Canadians like to spend money Forecasting this is like forecasting the weather this year, you dont know until it happens. I would be interested in revisiting this conversation in 2 years maybe. Not even sure why I am commenting since it really has no material affect on me. I just dont mind having those kind of facilities within a close drive is all. Over thanksgiving my brother in law took the screaming kids to water park and they came back beaming and thinking that north vt is the coolest place in the world, that aint a bad thing.

I just think its TGR and you have to feel compelled to take the counter point, try contacts instead of different lenses



Macdad- if you come north I would like to ski those, Vin makes some really pretty sticks also, I was supposed to test run a pair of his this week, but work got in the way, hoping this weekend I will get to it.

Thanks brother, can't wait for this snow! Spent monday at Stowe (cool, but icy and expensive), Tuesday at Bolton (fresh snow everywhere?? amazing terrain!) and today at Smuggs (not as good as Bolton, still awesome but 40 min from Stowe). Will be at Bolton tomorrow, will be nice to have fresh snow everywhere, without having to search for it.

All of the above are better than the poconos, I'm having to time of my life this week!

edit: ...shoot. I'm driving a Saturn Ion. Decisions decisions. I can take a shuttle from where I'm staying to Stowe, I wonder if that's the best option.

Originally Posted by From_the_NEK

I got burned out in four hours last Sunday Hoping for 6-8 over the next couple of day. That should get Burke to 75%.
East side glades, Dixieland, Rerun, Lower Powerline, Fox's Folly, and Ledges may be the only trails not able to open this weekend. IF we get the snow. The stupid forecasts keep wobbling all over the place.
At least LH has been consistent

Wildcat's done that to me for years. Two years ago when Wildcat got 4' in two days, I was thankful that the lift was running slow and there was a huge line because those 1200' vertical creek runs will wear your ass out. I think I did 18 that day which is my PR.

Forecast suddenly turned warm, WTF? Is this just NOAA being flaky or am I going to have to go to Canada?

Bolton twice? Might want to rethink those plans if you're at Stowe's doorstep. Sugarbush will take you an hour and be totally worth it too.

Originally Posted by macdadmorgan

Any pics of your builds?

rocker profile



top view


traditional shape and camber top

I just confirmed a few appointments up north for the end of my work week just in time for this storm. Convenient!? I like to think strategic! Maybe some turns tomorrow afternoon if worthy and certainly some early am skin on Friday before work. At the Kitty Kat across from George. Give a shout - Blue jacket, light gray pants, blue helmet, AT rig. Maybe Rog connection if he can get his shift covered. If it keeps snowing into Friday and we get closer to 18" or more than work will have to wait for at least part of the day. Maybe get lost in Northern VT on way home?!

Originally Posted by Vinman

top view

Is that book matched veneer? They look sick, what did you use to preserve the veneer?

Originally Posted by caprice150

How is Vermont's snow plow service? I want to go to Bolton tomorrow, but that access road scares me if it's going to be covered in snow by closing time

The roads should be passable but the stretch of 89 from Montpelier to Bolton coming north is notorious for getting sketchy very quickly when it is really dumping so take it slow if you are traveling during the storm. The access road is "usually" very well plowed/sanded but slide off's are not uncommon (mainly coming down the hill) and can back things up for a painful amount of time, inevitably on a pow day.

Hit Sugarbush for the first time this season today with low expectations and was very pleasantly surprised. I've had my issues with their grooming in the past but they definitely have done a great job blowing and keeping the coverage solid on the upper part of the mountain. We spent most of the day on Organgrinder, which was riding very nicely with plenty of coverage and an abundance of nice soft blown snow. Did one run down Paradise and although there are pockets up top with very nice natural the base in there is still not there, too many exposed landmines that are covered by a thin layer on the backside of the bumps. All in all, a good day and much better than expected.

Originally Posted by thin cover

Macdad- if you come north I would like to ski those, Vin makes some really pretty sticks also, I was supposed to test run a pair of his this week, but work got in the way, hoping this weekend I will get to it.

I will get in touch whenever I plan on heading north. What are your normal stomping grounds these days?

Originally Posted by macdadmorgan

Is that book matched veneer? They look sick, what did you use to preserve the veneer?

I guess you could call them book matched. Basically I do some jointing of the veneers. The epoxy impregnates the veneer in the press and they also get a skim coat of veneer on top while pressing. I use 3-4 coats of helmsman spar varnish over the veneer. They do scratch and chip but not much more than a plastic top sheet.

I have an extra Groupon Smuggs lift ticket voucher if anybody wants one at a low price. Bought two, but didn't realize how far Smuggs was from Stowe. Used one today, handed it to the lift ticket lady and she printed a lift ticket out for me, super easy. I'm able to send it in an email, so it's super easy. Bought it for $39, will sell it for $30.

Will probably be at Stowe tomorrow. I enjoyed it on Monday, though I thought it was a little icy. Tomorrow will probably be a more fair view of it due to the better conditions. Will probably hit Bolton in the morning on my way home tomorrow, ooorrrr just extend my stay one night and go all day.

<-- What is this? Looks like Bill Murray

the riding is redounk right now. my new bike is stoopid fun. 140mm Kashima fork, what? 67 degree tapered head tube, what? 15mm through axle, what? still not sure this event is going to pan out. either way, i'm getting back on ski's tomorrow for the first time in like a month or more. oh-key-moe is what it sez on my pass. first chair in my new FT, First Chair's. my new touring boot. woot!

Originally Posted by radam

Magic mags... who'll be there on Sunday from the Saratoga/Albany area? Trying to find a ride back for my fiancee so I can stick around through Monday.

PM sent...

vinman, those sticks look sweet nice work...

Will be flying back East on Saturday, but have to drive my truck back up to Northern VT on Sunday from NJ. Hoping this storm isn't a dud.. Will most likely be riding somewhere on Monday for left overs.. Its been waaay to long since I've seen or touched any kind of snow that isn't man made.

Been making the best of the desert in the mean time... Enjoy the POW everyone.....

MILDCAT TOMORROW..............AND FRIDAY IF IT DOESN'T TURN TO RAIN.

mounting skis now, mmmmmmmmmmarker! headed up tonight. probably skinning at o dark 30 before patrol pivot skids mindlessly on the trail to the right and left before the masses get any fresh. oh wait, at an inch an hour, could be refills

look for the best fucking skier on the mountain making bouncy pow turns down the mountain, pom pom and all.

if i'm lucky i'll last 2 hours...............or 7

have fun y'all, SNOWIN? WE'RE GOIN!!!!!

rog

Macdad- smuggs, bought a house this summer up here. So final resting place I hope.

High anxiety- I know a spot that wont be touched yet if you don't mind an hour drive.

Caprice- I will take that ticket if it's not claimed yet.

Lynch- if you do a north vt drive by you know who to call. Plus your gear is still here.

Originally Posted by icelanticskier

if i'm lucky i'll last 2 hours...............or 7

rog

I hear you only last 5 minutes . . . zing! Sorry but you served it up kidd! See ya tomorrow and Friday am for sure.

Everyone enjoy and be safe!

Originally Posted by thin cover

increased skier traffic is bound to trickle down in some capacity. I cant imagine there not being some sort of positive effect. Gas stations, grocers, local eateries. Again it is putting them on the map more, by that I dont mean everyone is going to be leveraging the resort facilities. There will still be the cheap skates such as my self who will crash at grunts and drink beers at the belfry, hopefully just more of them than normal. Hasnt all the construction and new job openings for the new resort facilities created jobs? Plus those Canadians like to spend money Forecasting this is like forecasting the weather this year, you dont know until it happens. I would be interested in revisiting this conversation in 2 years maybe. Not even sure why I am commenting since it really has no material affect on me. I just dont mind having those kind of facilities within a close drive is all. Over thanksgiving my brother in law took the screaming kids to water park and they came back beaming and thinking that north vt is the coolest place in the world, that aint a bad thing.

I just think its TGR and you have to feel compelled to take the counter point, try contacts instead of different lenses

To TC and everybody that commented on this, thanks for paying attention, especially in light of the weather forecast. The craziest thing about what is going on at Jay is how FAST everything is happening. As a longtime (and I mean long) skier there, it is hard to wrap my head around it. I tend to be on TC's side on this one: there will be trickle down. People go for drives, people need supplies and not everyone will stay at the resort, or want to. Though I do feel bad for the small hotel/B&B operator who may feel that the blood is being sucked out of them.

For me the biggest issue is what is going on on the slopes. I just hope that in two years we aren't calling for a delegation of mags to ski-lock themselves to the old-growth yellow birch trees in the Dip, Corona and the Orchard. Remember, if you want to save a place, sometimes you have to tell people about it. Save the Orchard!