“We call it breeze!” yelled a ski patroller, commenting on the bone-chilling bitter wind at the top of Jay Peak. “And we call it severe-weather-please-stay-home in NYC. Gee, a forecast did not say anything about the breeze!” I thought, trying to adjust my gear and shield myself from the blustery Jay Peak weather. It was an arduous task; warming huts are not sprinkled all over the resort, leaving me with just one option – to suck it up and actually wish for more wind to bring the mysterious Jay Cloud.

Jay Cloud

It is the Jay Cloud and abundant snowfall that make this corner in northern Vermont so special. Is it cold and windy there? Yes, but as long as the wind brings the Jay Cloud and a foot of powder, there should not be any complaints. Normally, you don’t drive for seven hours – that is, if you live in NYC – to simply hang out at the top of Jay Peak resort. You endure a 377-mile road trip to catch fresh snow, then ski or snowboard the famed backcountry surrounding the Jay Peak ski resort.

Advanced or intermediate skiers and snowboarders will find plenty of options regarding where or what to ski. There are numerous glades and black diamonds, as well as blue trails. You can take Northway, an intermediate-difficulty trail, from the top of Jay and ski down to the base. Or you can step it up and turn to Deliverance; ranked among the most difficult, it guarantees to deliver plenty of adrenaline. At Jay Peak, you can also book a lesson to explore little-known backcountry terrain, or learn how to ski deep powder by enrolling in powder clinics.

With that said, having total control of your skis or snowboard will allow you to try numerous challenging trails and glades; however, beginners will also have a great time exploring the gentle green trails. There are many easy ways to explore Jay Peak ski area. My beginner friends have no problems mastering first turns on wide and gentle Interstate and Harmony Lane. Served by the “E” lift, these and some other green trails are a good match for newbies; those looking to make the next step should also stick around because there are Moon Walk Woods and Bushmaster beginner glades on which to practice sharper turns.

The best part for the beginners is that they only have to pay for the lower mountain access if they want to stay on green trails. (Beginner zone tickets cost $29 during the 2008/2009 ski season which was a good ski deal) Or, your can sign up – please note that prices and programs are from last season – for the Jay Peak Three Step program and get a free beginner zone season pass after completing three days of instructions.

Mountains views from Jay Peak resort in Vermont

My first visit to Jay Peak resort was a couple of years ago and, back then, amenities were basic and down to earth. That changed when Bill Stenger took over and implemented a couple of innovative programs to revamp Jay’s image. If you visit Jay Peak’s web site – which was totally overhauled – scroll down and you will see a link to the EB5 Visa program that grants green cards to foreign investors. According to Vermont Business Magazine, foreign investment totaled $17.5 million over the last year and was used to finance new hotel construction. In addition to the new hotel, there are currently many other construction projects initiated by the management: an indoor water park, a skating rink, a day spa, and restaurants, with a total projected cost around $110 million.

I truly believe all these projects will make Jay Peak mountain resort a much more rounded Vermont ski vacation experience. It is certainly helpful to have options when Mother Nature is in the mood for rains in mid-February. And yet, it is the Jay Cloud and the hope for unexpected snow that makes people consider a long drive and harsh weather. Where else in Vermont do you have a ski resort that averages 300+ inches of snow?

On my first visit to Jay, flurries began about two hours after we pulled into the parking lot. Soon enough, the snowfall intensified, making visibility extremely low; by 4:00 p.m., we had at least two feet of fresh snow. I had a hard time trying to stop smiling along the way – the earlier forecast had called for a half an inch of snow…I guess that did not take the Jay Cloud into account.

Tags: Jay Peak, Jay Peak Hotel, Jay Peak resort, Jay Peak Vermont, ski resort review, ski vermont, Vermont ski resorts, vermont skiing

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