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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Jay Peak, Big Jay, VT
Trails
Trails: Long Trail, herd path
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, January 28, 2023
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parking lot was full when we arrived at 12:30-45 PM, but someone was leaving when we arrived so we could get a spot. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes:  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: None 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: We did a late start, because we decided at nearly 11 AM to go for a hike that day! Fortunately, Jay Peak is only one hour away from our home in Quebec and we didn't mind to end the hike with our headlamps since we knew that the trail for Jay Peak is quite easy. Very windy day, but the trees covered with heavy snow and ice were protecting us most of the time. Ski trails on top of Jay Peak seemed closed because of the intense winds, because we saw no one. At least, we had views, but we didn't stay very long on the icy summit.
We were very happy to see that the herd path to Big Jay was already broken by a couple of people with skis/snowshoes. Big Jay during winter is a must! Very easy to follow. A couple of avoidable blowdowns, that's about it. We didn't see any sign or canister on the summit though. Maybe it was covered with snow! There was a nice viewpoint near the summit. We met no one on Big Jay because it was late. We were the last ones on the mountain.
Unfortunately, the Long Trail was in awful shape when we were heading back to the car because of the numerous postholes caused by at least 3 barebooted people that we met while going up... Snow was incredibly deep. We don't understand why people are still hiking barebooted at this time of the year. They don't realize that their postholes can be dangerous for those in snowshoes or skis. It was hard for our ankles when we stepped on a posthole (we were trying to avoid them as much as we could, but there was so many!).
So, please, wear snowshoes to keep the trails in good shape for everyone!!!  
Name
Name: Violaine DH 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2023-01-29 
Link
Link: https:// 
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