Hike Jay/Big Jay or ski Jay Peak? Friday 19th Dec

[whichway]

I've found a carpool buddy to get up to Jay on Friday. However, it's only the 2 of us so far, so he's solo skiing and I'm solo hiking. We'd both vastly prefer company...

Anyone? There are a few more seats in the car and, for hikers, extra ASODs for descent!

 

[mookie]

should be great conditions up there, a little storm today and another one expected for friday!
have fun!

 

[whichway]

should be great conditions up there, a little storm today and another one expected for friday!
have fun!

The skiing should be great, but I'm not sure I'll find my way to Big Jay (and back) without a bit of guidance, esp. if it's snowing

 

[mookie]

i would suspect the trail will be broken with todays fresh snow! skiers and riders should be heading over to big jay to take advantage of the fresh white stuff. hopefully you follow the right tracks! if you followed ours from two weeks ago you would have gotten off the herd path a few times!

 

[Jay H]

Either way, I did not find the bushwack to Big Jay hard at all. It's a fairly defined herdpath. You can really follow the orange fencing, in fact. And in any case, the col is fairly defined, just don't drop off the sides..

Jay

 

[mookie]

provided you can see the col.......

 

[peakbagger]

I noticed a posting somewhere (most likley GMC) that there i snow a gate at the begining of the path to Big Jay. If the gate is closed, the area is closed to backcountry skiing (not sure of how its enforced. So the question comes up, if you are out hiking and want to go over there and the gate is closed can you still hike over there?

 

[mookie]

yes,
they just want you to stay off the area where those morons cut down trees to make a ski trail. i am not even sure if the no skiing rule is enforced, just a recommedation maybee?

 

[Jay H]

yes,
they just want you to stay off the area where those morons cut down trees to make a ski trail. i am not even sure if the no skiing rule is enforced, just a recommedation maybee?

Yup, I think there is a discussion here somewhere, they don't mind you hiking out to Big Jay, it's that illegal cutting of trees that was a big hubbub that pissed off a lot of people. Check the NE Q&A, there is a thread on this somewhere with some good history/info on Big Jay.

As far as seeing the col, as a bushwacker, Big Jay is certainly one of the easier whacks in the NE, herdpath notwithstanding. It's pretty steep so if you find yourself going down insane drainage, then you're probably not headed in the right direction. Having said that, I wonder if there is a load of ice on the summits of Jay/Big Jay now?

Jay

 

[mookie]

nothing but snow up here in the mountains jay

 

[David Metsky]

The cut is definitely off limits to skiing, it's the enforcement that is the tricky part. But otherwise the land is open to ski and boot travel this year thanks to negotiations by the GMC and other interested parties.

http://www.greenmountainclub.org/news.php?id=153

 

[mtnpa]

The cut is definitely off limits to skiing, it's the enforcement that is the tricky part...

Can't bust Metsky if ya can't catch Metsky

 

[David Metsky]

Can't bust Metsky if ya can't catch Metsky

Metsky raised funds and volunteered hours to rehabilitate the cut; Metsky ain't skiing it.