Jay peak weekend crowds this season info

[tmcc71]

Hi, I havent made it up to Jay yet this season. I was wondering if anyone who is a local, or skiis there with any regularity could comment on the weekend crowd situation this season? I am weary to go this season because of the massive development that is taking place. In your experience, has the waterpark, ice rink, new hotels and development at stateside created large crowds/lift lines this season? Also, in the past I have always parked at stateside and based my day from there to avoid the disney scene at tramside. Is this still advisable or is stateside also disneyfied now? Any info or advice will be helpful and appreciated. Tim

ps. I will be staying in town and do not require lodging or ammenities at Jay......I am interested in the skiing only. thanks.

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

Weekend crowds are an issue anywhere you go, ya know? I don't think it's a holiday weekend so I wouldn't expect things to be outrageous.

Get an early start before crowds build then hit the singles line. Avoid the lodges at lunch and enjoy the 2-4 pm time frame as ppl tend to clear out. That's my SOP.

 

[fbrissette]

Jay is busy only on Saturday. On a busy Saturday, 10-15 minutes is the maximum you may expect to wait, the one exception being the tram where a 30-40 minutes wait is not uncommon. Unless you are skiing something off the ridge, there is not reason to take the tram anyway (beside the view).

Windholds on a Saturday can create a problem when the freezer is closed. If the freezer and the Bonnie are closed, it is much faster to skin up (or even walk) from a lower lift than to wait for the Jet.

 

[fbrissette]

Get an early start before crowds build then hit the singles line. Avoid the lodges at lunch and enjoy the 2-4 pm time frame as ppl tend to clear out. That's my SOP.

Yep. That's the way to do it.

I don't think it's a holiday weekend so I wouldn't expect things to be outrageous.

This week-end is the start of Quebec's school break, so you may as well treat it as a holiday weekend. The resort is fully booked from Saturday till the next week-end.

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

This week-end is the start of Quebec's school break, so you may as well treat it as a holiday weekend. The resort is fully booked from Saturday till the next week-end.

Oh I didn't realize this! Hope winds aren't too bad and all lifts are spinning.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I dont even think Saturdays at Jay are much of an issue, yet.

I do worry about what the future holds depending on how successful they are at attacking the PQ ski resorts. If they make additional inroads into Quebec, especially that metro-Montreal region, things could go south quickly.

 

[BenedictGomez]

one exception being the tram where a 30-40 minutes wait is not uncommon. Unless you are skiing something off the ridge, there is not reason to take the tram anyway (beside the view).

Here's what I dont understand.

Why doesnt Jay put in a small triple or quad just above where the Bonaventure Quad lets off to take people to the ridge?

There is fantastic terrain off the ridge, and probably 1/2 my days at Jay (since they're often weekends) I never ski it because I'm not waiting in a 25 minute tram line versus a 2 minute Freezer line. You do that just a few times, and you've seriously cut into your total skiing on the day. I'm not an engineer, so maybe it's not possible, but it seems like such a simple solution, and one which would increase skier satisfaction and alleviate some of the long tram lines.

 

[fbrissette]

Here's what I dont understand.

Why doesnt Jay put in a small triple or quad just above where the Bonaventure Quad lets off to take people to the ridge?

There is fantastic terrain off the ridge, and probably 1/2 my days at Jay (since they're often weekends) I never ski it because I'm not waiting in a 25 minute tram line versus a 2 minute Freezer line. You do that just a few times, and you've seriously cut into your total skiing on the day. I'm not an engineer, so maybe it's not possible, but it seems like such a simple solution, and one which would increase skier satisfaction and alleviate some of the long tram lines.

I think the main reason is that the trails from the ridge (and the Vermonter) cannot handle a lot of traffic. So adding lift capacity would rapidly become useless if you have to close the trails. There is obviously the problem with the wind but there used to be a double chairlift to the top a long long time ago.

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

I like when the tram isn't running. It keeps the vast majority of people off the ridge which currently isn't as filled in as it could be for the end of February.

Wind = Natural crowd control! =)

A 10-15 minute hike from the top of the Freezer and you can still ski the ridge.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I think the main reason is that the trails from the ridge (and the Vermonter) cannot handle a lot of traffic. So adding lift capacity would rapidly become useless if you have to close the trails.

I think you could even stagger the capacity since trams arent arriving every 10 seconds like chairs are. But that could be their logic since it wouldnt be an engineering problem. You can see the area I'm talking about above the Bonny is pretty flat, as is an area atop the ridge.

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

I think you could even stagger the capacity since trams arent arriving every 10 seconds like chairs are. But that could be their logic since it wouldnt be an engineering problem. You can see the area I'm talking about above the Bonny is pretty flat, as is an area atop the ridge.

If a chair went in above Bonnie to the top of ridge wouldn't it ruin the Face and Tuckerman's chutes due to chair foundations needing to be installed and trees cleared?

The chair would have to stay on the North side of the tram, where the chutes are, because on the south side the ridge rises up then drops abruptly down to the flat area which is Vermonter. Seems like an engineering challenge as well as a space issue since there wouldn't be much room to off load.

I could be over looking something, I'm no engineer either, but it seems difficult to add another lift to the ridge.

 

[from_the_NEK]

There is VERY little flat terrain on the summit ridge.
However locating a double in a location like this may be physically possible. But it would be on wind hold A LOT and the summit terrain would get skied out extremely quickly.

Lift length = 980'
Vert = 445'

 

[skiking4]

I would hate if they did that. The best skiers don't ski the Tram because they'll man up on the Freezer or take all the other chairs for all their other stashes. Leaving the Peak with... meaning... Yeah.

 

[BenedictGomez]

the summit terrain would get skied out extremely quickly'

I dont think that's true necessarily. I just think it provides a non "death wait" option to get to the top on weekends (which is the time this would be useful). Make it a double rather than a triple or quad, and make it "Smuggler's Notch slow" all to cut down on capacity. I think it would be very useful.

I tend to ski the Freezer to hit numerous woods options that way, but it would be nice to be able to go from the Freezer to a lift that would let me hit Green Beret of Valhalla occasionally (which I never get to ski, due to my TAS (Tram Avoidance Strategy).

 

[from_the_NEK]

make it a double with only two chairs on it. Kind of like a mini-tram :lol:.

 

[jimmywilson69]

how about an incline plane,

 

[riverc0il]

Back on topic...

I've never found Jay to be overly crowded even on holiday weekends. With some caveats...

If the populace is powder starved and Jay gets a dump, it is crazy busy. If only Jay gets a dump and everyone else strikes out, it get can busy. If all lifts are down except for the Jet due to wind, it sucks. If it is only the Bonnie and Jet with no Freezer, it can be worth the wait but it will back up.

Otherwise, I've never found Jay too crowded even on Saturdays. Lift or snow conditions (or lack of good conditions in recent times or elsewhere) are primary crowd drivers. Just get there for first chair and you can get up to 2 hours of ski on or short lines before the resort goers get there or get out of bed.

Regarding Stateside, yes, you still want to base out of Stateside. Tramside parking improved with the parking deck but it is still a long haul if you don't get there early. Stateside has a LOT more parking now than it used to. The only building improvement is a new learning center, same old dumpy lodge. Always best to start Stateside unless you want to catch first tram if the ridge looks good.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Back on topic...

But this topic doesn't allow me to play around in Google Earth

I haven't skied Jay on a weekend or a holiday for several years but Riv's advice is sound.

Edit: and the inclined plane (funicular) while funny wouldn't be advisable since you can't ski under it.

 

[twinplanx]

make it a double with only two chairs on it. Kind of like a mini-tram :lol:.

A Poma would separate the men from the boys as well ;-)

 

[dmw]

I've never found Jay to be overly crowded even on holiday weekends. With some caveats...

I was curious about the Quebec school break - I'm planning on hitting Jay either Sunday and Monday or more likely Monday and Tuesday. I was thinking it would be quiet, but it sounds like it'll be fairly busy - but nothing close to a deal breaker worth changing plans over??