Jiminy Peak Question - Ace of Spades

[zinger3000]

I've always been curious about the Ace of Spades trail at Jiminy Peak. It's designated as a Black Diamond trail, but it essentially runs parallel to the Grand Slam trail, a Low Intermediate trail. I don't normally ski Black Diamond trail, but I decided to give Ace of Spades a shot last night. It wasn't really that difficult at all for me. In fact, I tried it a few more times last night. However, I'm still reluctant to try trails such as North Glade and Upper Fox. Both trails seem to be a notch or two above my ability level - but both are designated High Intermediate, an easier rating than Ace Of Spades. Have any of you tried all 3 trails? Do you think Ace of Spades merits a Black Diamond designation? Do you think it's easier than North Glade and Upper Fox? Or is it all in my head?

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I've always been curious about the Ace of Spades trail at Jiminy Peak. It's designated as a Black Diamond trail, but it essentially runs parallel to the Grand Slam trail, a Low Intermediate trail. I don't normally ski Black Diamond trail, but I decided to give Ace of Spades a shot last night. It wasn't really that difficult at all for me. In fact, I tried it a few more times last night. However, I'm still reluctant to try trails such as North Glade and Upper Fox. Both trails seem to be a notch or two above my ability level - but both are designated High Intermediate, an easier rating than Ace Of Spades. Have any of you tried all 3 trails? Do you think Ace of Spades merits a Black Diamond designation? Do you think it's easier than North Glade and Upper Fox? Or is it all in my head?

I was there last night too. Conditions where sweet. Probably the best night I've had there in years.

As far as your question goes, if snow conditions are about the same, I think they ski about the same.

 

[Sparky]

North Glade is labeled a Blue/Black, Upper Fox is a Black, I think that if you labled Ace a Blue it would miss lead people inasmuch as the last pitch is a bit steep. Granted Ace does not fall in the same category as Whitetail, but I think you can say it falls in the Black range..

 

[Sparky]

I was there last night too. Conditions where sweet. Probably the best night I've had there in years.

Last night was one of the best I've ever seen.

 

[Stache]

I have always asked my ski school students "What is the difference between the hardest Blue Square and the easiest Black Diamond?"

Jiminy does something really nice in that they break the simple three ratings of Green Blue and Black into six different grades. There may still be arguments about which belongs where on the crosspoints.

http://www.jiminypeak.com/accounts/69/homepage/snowreports/

Stache

 

[Greg]

North (not a) Glade is pretty steep. Foxes are usually bumped up skier's right which can make it tough to navigate for a novice (since the groomed side is narrower). Haven't been in some time, but I remember Ace being easier than those two. I believe they also used to leave the left side of Ace ungroomed though. I think it also used to be a trail for the park so perhaps the black diamond rating is a leftover from that?

 

[Hawkshot99]

I've always been curious about the Ace of Spades trail at Jiminy Peak. It's designated as a Black Diamond trail, but it essentially runs parallel to the Grand Slam trail, a Low Intermediate trail. I don't normally ski Black Diamond trail, but I decided to give Ace of Spades a shot last night. It wasn't really that difficult at all for me. In fact, I tried it a few more times last night. However, I'm still reluctant to try trails such as North Glade and Upper Fox. Both trails seem to be a notch or two above my ability level - but both are designated High Intermediate, an easier rating than Ace Of Spades. Have any of you tried all 3 trails? Do you think Ace of Spades merits a Black Diamond designation? Do you think it's easier than North Glade and Upper Fox? Or is it all in my head?

The trail is much different than it looks. The pitches are much steeper than they seem, and much steeper than Grandslam. That is the course that we have our racing on, and Williams College a D1 race team uses for some of their training.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

North (not a) . Foxes are usually bumped up skier's right

I've gone there the last 3 Tuesday nites and unfortunately that has not been the case. I think they decided to groom that as flat as the rest of the place.

 

[Greg]

I've gone there the last 3 Tuesday nites and unfortunately that has not been the case. I think they decided to groom that as flat as the rest of the place.

Really? That sucks. Jiminy really should offer one T2B bump run. Whitetail is perfect. It's lit, has a lift audience, and it really is no different than Jericho or Whirlaway so they can sacrifice it. Half groom it if they have to.

Are they still letting bumps form on Cutter? How about that traverse Mogul Thing?

 

[MrMagic]

last time i was there last year stupid mogul thing just had big snow making whales on it weak weak weak

 

[Hawkshot99]

North (not a) Glade is pretty steep. Foxes are usually bumped up skier's right which can make it tough to navigate for a novice (since the groomed side is narrower). Haven't been in some time, but I remember Ace being easier than those two. I believe they also used to leave the left side of Ace ungroomed though. I think it also used to be a trail for the park so perhaps the black diamond rating is a leftover from that?

They let bumps form skiers right of Fox in the spring. So far all year it has been entirely groomed.
Ace Used to be the park, but now with racing on the trail they would not allow bumps. Would be real bad to go off course and hit them with speed.
Mogul thing is mowed flat.

 

[Greg]

Mogul thing is mowed flat.

A mogul trail with no moguls? What a novel idea. :roll:

Oh well, Jiminy has a formula that works for them I guess.

 

[Hawkshot99]

A mogul trail with no moguls? What a novel idea. :roll:

Oh well, Jiminy has a formula that works for them I guess.

Yes they do. While I will admit is is very annoying how every trail here is groomed flat, and not much of a park either the place is always busy. They set attendance records last year, and on consecutive days this past weekend they had there busiest days ever.

They must be doing something right, but the place is not for everyone.

 

[Greg]

Yes they do. While I will admit is is very annoying how every trail here is groomed flat, and not much of a park either the place is always busy. They set attendance records last year, and on consecutive days this past weekend they had there busiest days ever.

They must be doing something right, but the place is not for everyone.

My father-in-law for one loves it. If I ever get more into this carving thing, I'll hit it up again someday.

 

[Newpylong]

Ace is definitely steeper than Grand Slam at the bottom. We used to race over there and the last pitch was good.

Has anyone skied John Hancock since it's reincarnation? I saw it has lights too now...

 

[Sparky]

Has anyone skied John Hancock since it's reincarnation? I saw it has lights too now...[/QUOTE]

John Hancock now has lights and snowmaking. I'm told the idea was to have another trail for the Green level skiiers. This wouild divert some of the traffic away from Left Bank. it has been made a little wider and more consistant in grade. I realy enjoyed the old trail, I felt it was more of the old style New England trail, nature snow and it followed theterrain of the mountain. However i have been on it with some Green/Blue level skiiers and they enjoy the new version. It still was some of the old style flavor, and I can see the need for the change, but I realy enjoyesd the old style. Does anyone know of any simular "old style" trails?

 

[zinger3000]

I'm glad that the John Hancock trail is now open for night skiing, because I pretty much get to Jiminy only for night skiing. (I go Tuesday nights after work for New York discount day, where a $39 lift ticket is only $16 with NY discount and Value Card). I don't know what it was like before, as this is the first season that I've skied the trail, but it reminds me of Roundabout at Berkshire East in terms of overall "feel." Oddly enough, both of those trails are at the same location on the trail map.

 

[Hawkshot99]

Ace is definitely steeper than Grand Slam at the bottom. We used to race over there and the last pitch was good.

Has anyone skied John Hancock since it's reincarnation? I saw it has lights too now...

I never skied the original, as I love Ace, and never weanted to skip it. I have recently skied John Hancock though and thought it was a nice fun trail. It would be a fun trail to ski down real quick taking the turns hard, if I wasnt scared to come around a corner and find a kid.
My biggest problem with Ace, and Hancock are the chair system. If I could get back to the 6-pack without hiking or taking the double it would be much better.