Big Jay

Once you get down into the minus 20s it doesn't really matter whether your talking Celcius or Fahrenheit, the more appropriate scale is the number of extremities one will lose to frostbite in the next five minutes. Jay Peak, straddling the Canadian border in northern Vermont, is renown for delivering the best snow in the East year after year. Unfortunately this weekend it's also delivering the kind of cold that would make any sane person snuggle back under the blankets for a SportsCenter marathon. But you didn't come to J00ster to read about sanity did you?

 

Jay Peak features the only aerial tram in the East. It also features the only opportunity to experience authentic arctic conditions without leaving the continental United States.

Bacon fat has superior insulating properties.

On the snow front Jay delivers with a solid base and some incoming freshies. But holy cow it's cold. Really, really cold.

Taking a glove off, even to snap a quick photo, is a life-threatening activity so let's fast forward to the best part of any ski day, the après action at Big Jay Tavern.

Frost Brewed Coors Light? Seriously, man up, out here frost is that dainty little coating of fairy dust you find on your wood pile in May; real men drink Polar Vortex Brewed Switchback IPA.

Looks like Jared has a fan club. Hang on, triple black diamonds and Big? Must have the wrong guy.

Day two dawns clear and, ahem, crisp. Where crisp in this case is a euphemism for the type of bone-penetrating cold most commonly associated with Robert Falcon Scott.

Still, there are uglier places to freeze to death.

"I'm just going outside and may be some time."

There hasn't been such a welcome sight on a frozen windswept plain since that still-twitching Tauntaun carcass.

Who would have guessed a humble ramen trailer in the middle of a icy parking lot deep in the northern reaches of Vermont would serve up some of the best miso-infused goodness this side of Nagano. Now if they'd just procure that sake license...

Looks like the locals are prepared for the cold. Watch and learn kids, in our first lesson we'll study the benefits of diversification. Here's the world's first ski-in/ski-out surf beach.

Après-surf!