The East Coast Gathering 2012 March 15th-18th Vermont - Page 5

As awesome as the Tahoe Gathering was, I'm hoping the East Coast Gathering will rock!

Please post pics often and plenty! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirquerider 

Bump!  This gathering is coming right up.  I hope you get the same great snow we enjoyed in Tahoe.  Who's going?

I'm going to be at MRG on Thurs the 15th and Stowe on Friday the 16th, will gladly guide anyone around either area from terrain that is the easiest groomer to steep woods , whatever anybody would like.

Should be a fun event if the snow catches you like it did for those of us at Tahoe.  I have never skied MRG or Stowe.  One of these days, I need to change that.

Be sure to let others know where you will be staying for the event. http://www.epicski.com/t/111128/official-gathering-hotels#post_1442314

I haven't heard of any after-skiing activities, so feel free to make suggestions.

So is the plan still MRG --> Stowe --> Jay Peak --> Stowe?

What's the drive time between Stowe and Jay Peak like (i.e., accounting for winter road conditions)?  I've only approached Jay from I-93 / 91.

Barring a complete meltdown over the next week I am in for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and am still planning to guide at Jay.  Kevin, t's about an hour between Jay and Stowe.

Still trying to work it out around family obligations. Will be the lowest-level skier in the bunch, so will definitely need guiding, esp at MRG and Jay, never been. Heard that the Hydeaway is good value for lodging.

I'll try to make Sat/Sun. (Stowe/Jay)

Any source for lift ticket deals?

Someone here mentioned $49 tix for Jay at Gear Exchange in downtown Burlington.

If anyone in the group belongs to a ski club Stowe is having ski club appreciation days next week (Mar. 14-17). 1day tic. $43, 2 day tic. $64, 3 day tic. $96, 4 day tic. $120. Must show valid ski club membership card to get special pricing.

I'm not sure if Stowe is offering a special St. Pats day lift ticket price this year. Last year I think they sold tickets for $39 on St. Pats day. This year the 17th is on a Sat. & I can't imagine them reducing prices on a Sat. Other areas are offering special pricing for St. Pats day on Fri. the 16th which is one of the days you have planned for Stowe. Maybe you guys will luck out with special pricing that day. I'd think someone in your group should know.

Sugarbush is offering $30 lift tickets for Mt. Ellen only everyday for the rest of the season with the exclusion of Fri. Mar. 16 when tickets at Mt. Ellen will be $17.

Anyway have a good time. I'll be in the area with a small group of friends the end of next week & we plan on hitting Jay & Stowe a couple of days. I'm not sure which days we'll be at either Stowe or Jay but it would be nice to run into you.

I'd come to the east coast gatrering in a minute but I'm at the Tahoe gathering.

I'll hang around Tahoe for the next 2 weeks afterward. Philpug & Trekchick ran a great

gathering. They ordered up snow & we had to deal with weather/chain problems. Better

than semibulletproof hardpack the previous week!

Yesterday had 8 inches of snow at Northstar.

You guys have a great time!

John  (in MD usually -Tahoe now)

I have the Stowe discount.

Wonder if Mad River will make it.

yeah i am interested in an estimate as well.  i would be coming from cincy but my exams end wed of that week.  would love to go skiing out there.  i have a descente jacket free with a free day of skiing at jays peak.  was wondering what the rest of the trip would cost?

Hotels - count for $80-100/night near Stowe (I can't find anything cheaper). Stowe ski tickets are $88/day (could be a bit cheaper through liftopia). MGR through Liftopia is currently $30. Plus food/drinks obviously...

Quote:

Originally Posted by mx22 

Hotels - count for $80-100/night near Stowe (I can't find anything cheaper). Stowe ski tickets are $88/day (could be a bit cheaper through liftopia). MGR through Liftopia is currently $30. Plus food/drinks obviously...

If you're willing to drive a bit, you can definitely stay for cheaper down in Montpelier.  It's about a 30 minute drive to Stowe, probably 1.5 hours or so up to Jay.  Not sure what's in Morrisville (next town north of Stowe); you might be able to find something cheaper up there as well.

Quoted rates sound about right for the village of Stowe though.

Once you have your Stowe RFID card go to http://www.stoweonestore.com/eStore/ to reload it.  You can reload it for cheaper than the window rate (I just looked; there's a one-day $69 ticket on there).

Thanks for RFID card tip, luckily I kept my card from the last time I skied:)

ditto on the rfid card... kept mine too,  Thx.

If anyone has a season pass from another ski area Jay offers tickets for $55. Jay also uses the RFID system.

I can't confirm this but I heard Stowe will be $35 on Sat for St. Pat's if you wear something green.

My friend is taking advantage of the ski club appreciation days at Stowe. He's staying at the Trapp Family Lodge. The deal, pay for 3 nights the 4th night is free.

Just throwing this out there for those going.

Doesn't look like I'll be meeting you. My groups plan puts us skiing Stowe Thurs. & Jay Fri.

The Old Stagecoach Inn in Waterbury has rooms for $90 a night. AND they have the best breakfast I've ever had!! <30 mins to Stowe and MRG, plus the inn keeper is an MRG passholder.

lol anyone from the cincy area heading up and want a tag a long?

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinF 

So is the plan still MRG --> Stowe --> Jay Peak --> Stowe?

 

What's the drive time between Stowe and Jay Peak like (i.e., accounting for winter road conditions)?  I've only approached Jay from I-93 / 91.

Josh Matta..Josh Matta to the white courtesy phone. 

IS everything still in order for dates, times, meet points ect? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinF 

What's the drive time between Stowe and Jay Peak like (i.e., accounting for winter road conditions)? 

Let's call it 1 hour 30 minutes.

My season's done due to shoulder surgery - not ski related- but I wish you all a fantastic time and can't wait 'til next year

hey so here we go.....

Day 1 MRG 

first meeting place 

9:00 am at the Basebox. I personally will be booting up in the upper most level.

Lunch

12:00 Bird's Nest

Apres Ski

starting at 3:30 cabot has free fondue on the deck of the Bird's Nest sounds like a great way to end the day.

Dinner is yet TBD

notes all of MRG lifts start in the same spot. If you do meet up right away you can easily find us here. 

Day 2 Stowe 

First meeting spot at

 8:00 am Forerunner Quad base

Second Meeting Spot for those who are not early risers.

10:00 am Forerunner Quad base

Lunch

12:30pm Spruce camp - The Great Room

Apres Ski

starting at 4:30pm The Matterhorn

Dinner -

7:30pm - The Crop Bistro

Day 3 Jay Peak

not going to be there who is stepping up?

Day 4 -Stowe 

First meeting spot at

 7:30 am Forerunner Quad base - yes the earliest lift opening in the USA come on out and enjoy a uncrowded stowe. Best time to ski.

Second Meeting Spot for those who are not early risers.

10:00 am Forerunner Quad base

Lunch

11:30pm Spruce camp - The Great Room

Apres Ski

starting at 4:00 pm The Matterhorn

Dinner -

7:30pm - Frida's 

some more notes 

its looks to be solid corn skiing everyday. Solid refreezes overnight followed by warm (mid 50) and sunny skies. sunday it could rain and trust me when I say this the rain is better than the ice. 100mm ish skis will be your friend in the afternoons with a good spring structure and warm weather wax. 

MRG base is going to be quite thin. but with that said that is part of the fun about that place. I would try to bring skis you care about least here. As phil says "'all my skis are rock skis"

Stowe's base is quite strong. Even in the wood which may or may not be skiable the day of the gathering have great coverage. Just hoping the corn cycle pans out and we can ski some sweet stuff in the second best condition that exist after powder...Corn snow.

Jay - is an unknown to me right now any reports?

any questions just aks them in this thread.

The Birds Nest lodge is at the base of the Birdland chair.  Why would we meet there for a morning start.  Everyone has to go to the main lodge and it won't be crowded

When at MRG, please take Catamount Bowl to Lynx to Beaver..it is one of my favorite combos there. 

I am still coming Thursday - Saturday and am available to guide at Jay.  Basewise,  Jay is doing well and should be close too 100% open assuming it does get warm enough for some nice spring skiing it has the potential to be a very fun day.

THey are holding an extreme skiing competition Saturday 3/17 so that should be fun to watch but I'm afraid they might have a couple of their best runs closed off for the competition.  There is a band called The Kind Buds playing for happy hour.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Jones 

The Birds Nest lodge is at the base of the Birdland chair.  Why would we meet there for a morning start.  Everyone has to go to the main lodge and it won't be crowded

 

The baselodge is just called the Basebox, right? Is that what you meant Josh? Do you want me to edit the location for you?