Jay Peak Resort

Jay Peak

The big mountain next door

By Benoît Gagnon

The last time I had been to Jay Peak was about 10 years ago—until I returned last winter with my good friend Jean-Nicolas (that’s actor Jean-Nicolas Verreault, just so you know!).

The mountain was as impressive as ever, and I will attest that it has indeed aged like a fine wine. Open since 1957, the resort continues to deliver the most snow accumulation in eastern North America. The proof? Last year, the mountain was hit with 491 inches of the white stuff—or, if you prefer, 1,247 centimetres or 12.47 metres. No matter how you calculate it, that’s A WHOLE LOT OF snow.

Jay Peak offers 78 runs and some pretty cool glades. The night before our arrival, 24 centimetres of fresh snow had fallen and we couldn’t wait to hit the slopes with our boards.

We started off the day by warming up on the long Vermonter run before making our way back up to the summit to have a little fun on Face Chutes and Tuckerman’s Chute.

If you happen to be at Jay the day after a storm, it’s normal to head right for the summit. But, just so you know, there is also a fabulous Plan B you’ll want to consider: hop on the Jet Triple Chair and then alternate between Timbuktu and Kitz Woods. You can thank me when you see me at the resort…

The après-ski action is hopping, and the service is excellent no matter where you decide to go.