Here’s what things looked like on Day 2. I didn’t even manage to get the camera out of my pocket on Day 1.

This may be another one of those scenarios where someone in our family disturbed an ancient burial ground or dug up a cursed idol or unleashed a malevolent spirit.  On our winter break trip to do our first college tours with Zoe, we thought we’d sweeten the deal a bit with a couple of days skiing.  We found a good deal at Jay Peak way up north in Vermont and planned to spend two nights there — with the potential for close to three full days of skiing, counting our arrival and departure days.

Things started out a little dicey right from the get-go, as we hit snow — rather than the forecasted rain — about 15 minutes from our house.  It was slow going for a while.  And then, miraculously, we crossed through Franconia notch and the snow disappeared and the sun came out.  (And, more ominously, the wind picked up.)  It was like we’d traveled to a completely different state.

Hurricane winds drive Bob into the trees – well, luckily not literally into the trees.

Day 1: Sleet

We reached Jay Peak, checked in, and were so excited to get skiing that we skipped lunch.  We were greeted with sleet, and the news that the upper mountain lifts — including the protected, indoor aerial tramway — were closed due to ice and winds.  Still, we stuck it out for a while, getting frozen to the slow-moving lifts on the way up and feeling any exposed bit of skin getting sand-blasted with stinging ice crystals on our way down.  We braved the “expert only” terrain on the biggest lift that was open, and managed to survive an unfortunate trail choice that led to huge, steep, icy moguls.  In the end, it was the icy water soaking through our mittens and ski pants that forced us to give up and head inside.  (Luckily, Jay Peak offers other diversions — see Lanie’s entry for more on this.)

Day 2: Blizzard/Bomb cyclone

Knowing the weather forecast was iffy, we roused the protesting kids in time to get to the lift opening at 8:30.  We knew there were high winds predicted, and were guessing we were not getting to the top again — but were looking forward to exploring more of the (non-

This was about when the lifts stopped running.

mogul) expert trails atop the several inches of snow that had fallen overnight and was due to be coming down throughout the day.

Things started out well.  We found some lovely intermediate-level glades trails which even Bob and I enjoyed and kept us protected from the gusts of wind so strong that they’d literally take your breath away.  (The kids always love the glades, but Bob and I don’t feel that the imminent threat of crashing into a tree really adds to our enjoyment.  However, these trails were not very steep, and best of all had a narrow, groomed path winding through the center, so you could enjoy the loveliness of the woods without the constant tree-terror.)

Then the curse returned.  The higher lift, accessible from a different base area, closed as soon as we reached it.  Sticking it out on the lower trails, conditions deteriorated to the point that we were almost getting blown back uphill, and sometimes had near-whiteout conditions.  We persevered only because the snow conditions were so awesome — fresh powder under our skis and more falling all the time.  When we stopped in the trailside bar for Vermont beer, hot chocolate, and a warming break, all the lifts got shut down — leaving us at the wrong base area and needing to take a shuttle back.

Day 3: Polar vortex

This was REALLY going to be our day.  Yes, we knew it would be cold.  But we’d strategized.  We could take the aerial tramway up and thus warm up between runs.  We would finally get to the top, and ski on the several inches of fresh powder that no one else had been on yet.  Get up early, kids!  Put on all the layers, pack up the bags, check out of hotel room, then head to the slopes.  Disregard the gusts of wind howling past our windows.

Looks pleasantly sunny, doesn’t it? Note the absence of exposed skin.

Even on day three, the best snow was off the trail and between the trees.

At 6:30 am snow report said all lifts would be running.  At 7 we found out there was no aerial tramway.  At 8 the expert lift was taken off the table.  It was almost as windy as the previous day, and about 20 degrees colder.  Still, we made an effort.  We went back to our beloved glades trails and found that even the conditions didn’t live up to our expectations, since all the snow had apparently been blown off the mountain the night before, leaving the trails like concrete.  Nadia and Lanie made it three runs before bailing out in favor of the water park; Bob, Zoe and I did an additional one before calling it a day.

Luckily, the good people at Jay Peak gave us two days of free lift tickets to come back in the future, so I was able to stop gnashing my teeth at the wasted money.  And we can’t wait to come back — based on the small amount we’ve seen so far, we think we’re going to love this mountain.

Last run of the day selfie