Oncoman
Active member
A very easy 2 pks hike by my standards, completed in 3¾ hrs. Started at 11h20 and was on the summit of Jay one hr later. After a 10 min. pause to admire the scenery I headed off for Big Jay expecting a rough bushwhack. From the summit of Jay, it seemed pretty thick.
Well, I was on the summit of Big Jay in slightly less than one hour later. There is a herd path following the ridge line which seems to be very well travelled even in winter, making for very easy travelling. A real stampeded trail I would say. It starts from an opening in the ski fence on the descending slope off the summit of Jay where the northern AT continues on, just before the downgoing ski trail curves to the right away from Big Jay. There are 2 bands of white paint on the water pipes used for snow making located alongside the fence. The herd path diverges left from the AT, in the direction of B.J., in less than 50 yards from the fence. You can't miss it.
Still 1 to 2 ft of snow on the ridge but well hardened and plenty of boot tracks to follow. Impossible to sway off herd path. Minimal blowdown and only a few spots of wet bog from the melting snow. Signed the log book, which seemed quite recent with only 4 or 5 entries, took a 15 min. pause to eat & rest and then raced back to my car, which I reached at 15h05.
No good views on top of Big Jay, but it offers an excellent opportunity for serving as a confidence builder to anyone planning to migrate to bushwhacking eventually.
Pierre
Well, I was on the summit of Big Jay in slightly less than one hour later. There is a herd path following the ridge line which seems to be very well travelled even in winter, making for very easy travelling. A real stampeded trail I would say. It starts from an opening in the ski fence on the descending slope off the summit of Jay where the northern AT continues on, just before the downgoing ski trail curves to the right away from Big Jay. There are 2 bands of white paint on the water pipes used for snow making located alongside the fence. The herd path diverges left from the AT, in the direction of B.J., in less than 50 yards from the fence. You can't miss it.
Still 1 to 2 ft of snow on the ridge but well hardened and plenty of boot tracks to follow. Impossible to sway off herd path. Minimal blowdown and only a few spots of wet bog from the melting snow. Signed the log book, which seemed quite recent with only 4 or 5 entries, took a 15 min. pause to eat & rest and then raced back to my car, which I reached at 15h05.
No good views on top of Big Jay, but it offers an excellent opportunity for serving as a confidence builder to anyone planning to migrate to bushwhacking eventually.
Pierre
