WINTER SPORTS IN THE JAY PEAK AREA
Click on desired sport for more information.
Winter is fun time. The first early snows of mid-November reveal parallel tracks of bear, moose and man along the hillside. Less ambiguous are footprints leading to deer runs along the wooded ravines and to the edge of deserted apple orchards.
Later comes ice-fishing, snowmobiling, dog-sled races, sleigh rides, ice skating and curling.
Winter is an aerial tram ride to the top of Jay Peak for superb down hill skiing and snowboarding, or a leisurely glide through woods and across meadows with good friends - ski touring. It is apres-ski: laughter, music and dancing, good cheeses and good wines. Winter is a wonderland, a white Christmas, or a time for sitting by the fire with a good book . . .
SKIING / SNOWBOARDING
JAY PEAK
"It's okay to be skeptical of Jay's seemingly outrageous snowfall claims. But it's not only okay to let said skepticism keep you from sampling the goods. Fact is, even if Jay takes a 'glass half full' approach to measuring storm totals, the resort still gets it deeper and lighter than any other Eastern area (any many Western ones, too).
Couple the copious pow with the best glade network West of Japan, and you've got the Steamboat of New England .....
Yeah, it's hard to get to..... But if you hit Jay right, you'll be too tired to care."
ADRENALINE
Pull up at the top of Beaver Pond, shoulder your sticks, and head straight into the woods. Three minutes of schlepping bring you to the crest of the head-high drops, and waist-deep stashes of the steeply gladed Beyond Beaver Pond.
ACCUMULATION
Can you say 'anomaly'? Savvy New Englanders know that when it's flurrying at Stowe, it's pounding at Jay, with at least 300 inches; late last March, the resort got two feet in as many days, blessing late-season powder fiends with face shots aplenty.
JAY PEAK - THE MOUNTAIN
Over 50 miles of skiable terrain, 385 acres, on two interconnected mountains
One of Vermont's tallest summits:
Base elevation: 1,815 feet
Vertical: 2,153 feet
Exposure: Northeast
Total trails: 76 trails, glades and chutes
Off-Piste skiing: 100 acres
Trail difficulty ratings: 20% novice, 40% intermediate, 40% advanced
Longest trail: 3 miles, Ullr's Dream
Hairiest trails: River Quai and Green Beret
Most Scenic: Vermonter
Loved by Learners: Interstate
Best Snowboarding: The Jet and Northway-Angel's Wiggle
Best Open Slope: Can-Am Super Trail, 150 feet wide,4, 000 feet long, 1,800 foot vertical
Best Glade for Skiers: Valhalla and Timbuktu
Best Glade for Snowboarders: Canyonland
Longest Glade: Everglade—1 1/4 miles
In November 2000, Vermont's only Aerial Tramway received all new tramcars and hanger systems. Also, the base and summit tram terminals were given a face lift to improve our guests' experience. The tram whisks 60 people at once to the summit in just 8 minutes!
For more information about Jay Peak, CLICK HERE
OWL'S HEAD
Rising majestically on the western shore of Lake Memphremagog in Quebec's Eastern Townships, Owl's head is about a 25 minute ride from most of the Jay Peak Area.The only ski area in the Eastern Townships with 2 quadruple high speed detachable quads.
THE MOUNTAIN
Greatest vertical in the Townships at 540 meters (1772 ft.)
4th highest vertical in Quebec.
43 trails with 85% snow making.
Longest snow park in the Eastern Townships with a new and improved ˝ pipe.
1/3 beginner runs, 1/3 intermediate runs, 1/3 advanced runs... Perfect for the entire family!
For more information about Owl's Head, CLICK HERE
SLEIGHRIDES
Phil and Karen's Sleighrides
143 Kennison Road, Westfield VT 05874
802-744-9928
Come join us for an old fashioned sleighride. Our team of Belgians, Charlie and Duke, would love to give you a peaceful and enjoyable ride through the open meadow or along a quiet road. Reservations only. Also available through area lodging packages.
DOG SLEDDING
There's no more thrilling a way to enjoy our Vermont country-side in winter than behind the team a huskies mushing there way through our abundance of snow.
Dog sledding is available at the Eden Mountain Lodge in Eden Mills. Phone: 802-635-9070. Reservations are a must.
ICE FISHING
Lake Memphremagog is a great place for you to try ice-fishing.The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has provided some ice fishing safety tips that every person going out onto frozen bodies of water should observe.
Leave information about your ice fishing plans with someone before venturing out. Wear a personal floatation device, and do not fish alone. Always carry an ice spud or chisel to check the thickness and condition of the ice. Be extremely cautious crossing ice near river mouths, points of land, bridges, island, and over reefs and springs. Current almost always causes ice to be thinner over these areas. Avoid going onto the ice if it has melted away from the shore. This indicates melting is under way, and ice can shift position as wind direction changes. If open water is visible and the wind picks up, get off the ice! Waves from open water can quickly break up large areas of ice. Carry a set of hand spikes to assist you in getting onto the surface of the ice. Carry a safety line that can be used in the event someone falls through the ice. Leave you car or truck on shore. Every year several motor vehicles go through the ice on Vermont lakes, and many people have drowned as a result. If you are fishing in an ice house or fishing shanty be sure it has adequate ventilation to prevent deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Open a window or the door partway to allow in fresh air.
SNOWMOBILING
A 5,000-mile magical highway appears in Vermont each winter for snowmobilers. It crosses public and private land and makes some of this world’s most spectacular vistas of nature accessible to snow travelers.
Maps mark trail heads, snowmobile bridges, fuel, food and lodging stops. With a little planning, a full statewide tour awaits. Nature and the pleasure of your family and friends riding in tandem provide the fun, while towns and villages along the way supply additional amenities.
Visit the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers Site
and Order a Trail Map HERE
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING - SNOWSHOEING
Hazen's Notch Association
40 Miles of groomed and marked trails pass through mixed maple, birch and evergreen forest and across gentle, open meadows. There are spectacular views of Hazen’s Notch and numerous peaks over 3,000’ in elevation in the Jay Range and Cold Hollow Range of the Green Mountains which completely encircle the trail system.
Link to Snow Report
30 trails for all abilities provide loops of different lengths for classical cross-country skiing and/or snowshoeing. Trail difficulty is evenly divided between easy, moderate and difficult. While the majority of the trail network is groomed for traditional Nordic skiing, one can ski-skate for a short distance in a few places.
Snowshoeing Trails offer an ungroomed, pristine winter experience. 10 miles of specially designated trails provide a variety of beautiful routes for people who wish to see nature up close on snowshoes.
For more information on the Hazen's Notch Association, CLICK HERE
Photos Copyright - Rolf Anderson
... AND MORE
ICE SKATING ... at Gardner Park. Estimated opening date is December 15th, weather permitting.
Rink hours are:
Mondays - Fridays 3 to 5 PM & 6 to 9PM
Saturdays & Sundays 12 noon to 5PM & 6 to 9PM
... at the Montgomery Recreation Center, Rte. 118 just as you leave Montgomery Center. Details to follow.
WINTER INDOOR RECREATION
IN THE JAY PEAK AREA
Indoor Recreation Orleans County
400 Quarry Road
PO Box 558
Derby, VT 05829
TEL (802) 334-8511
FAX (802) 487-3073
Indoor Recreation of Orleans County is now open for business! Our 54,000 sq. ft. Derby, Vermont-based facility is humming with activity, and we hope you will visit us soon to see for yourself why the "buzz" is that "IROC is where the action is!" Bring the family for an afternoon of indoor skating or swimming … join your friends and neighbors for a walk around the track or work out in the fitness center... get your friends together for a pick-up basketball or soccer game … join in the multitude of activities that are available for young and old alike.
For more information, visit the IROC Website
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This is the Official Site of the Jay Peak Area Association, Inc.
Copyright 2006 - The Jay Peak Area Association, Inc.
E-mail at:info@jaypeakvermont.org
Page content copyright by James A. McKimm.