JAY, Vt. -
The tram at Jay Peak has been busy the past few days, carrying skiers and riders up to the best powder of the year.
"It's been great. Big powder. Unexpected," skier Les Merises said.
"I kind of know my way around-- got a few face shots earlier in the day," skier Bryan Frank said.
"We went from a brownout to a winter wonderland over the course of about 30 hours," said JJ Toland of Jay Peak Resort. "It's completely transformed the season for riding and skiing on groomers and manmade to knee- to chest-deep shots of powder in the woods and even on some trails."
As feet-- not inches-- of snow fell on the resort over the last week, skeptical skiers and riders left jaded from what was a mediocre season so far, came out to find proof of powder for themselves.
"Just, you know, blown away by all this snow. I didn't think it would be this much for sure," Merises said.
"It's fantastic," Frank said. "Just to let them run and not worry about not have to worry about hitting rocks and stumps-- they got some coverage here and it's all true (laughs) it's all true."
And of course, in what has been a tough season for ski resorts across the region this year, more snow means more business.
"We typically get about 400-500 calls a day in our central reservation center. Those numbers are running between 800-900 now, so there's a lot of pent up demand being released," Toland said.
If you've been waiting to see the glades this year, you're all set! In the past week, 56 inches of snow has fallen at Jay-- that's about a quarter of what they've seen all season.
"A lot of people have been jonesing to get out into the woods and head into the side country and it's just all 100 percent open now, absolutely beautiful," Toland said.
"The conditions are perfect; nice sunshine, fresh powder. It's awesome," skier Kelly Goulet said.
Winter has finally shown up in late February and it's the same thought in the minds of skiers and riders alike: "Better late than never. Good sugar snow out of the sky, maple syrup time-- couldn't be better!" Frank said.
Big snow all at once-- a nice stretch of powder days, long overdue.
