AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge: Jiminy Peak

[Greg]

Sally Johnstone from Jiminy Peak also agreed to take the AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge! This is your chance to get official answers to your ski-related questions direct from a Northeast ski resort representative! Please post some suggested questions in this thread and I'll select ten to present for official responses.

As always, please be respectful of Sally and keep it civil. Also, please refrain from asking specifics about skier visit numbers, financials, demographic information, etc. Jiminy Peak, as a privately held company, needs to be discrete about certain information.

Ask away!

 

[Greg]

As one of my favorite and most-visited mountains, I have a few questions:

1 - What impact has the addition of the Berkshire Express 6-passenger lift had on Jiminy Peak? Have you received positive feedback on the lift? Without getting into specifics, has it proven to be a good investment?

2 - Does Jiminy Peak plan to add any additional terrain? If yes, where? Are there any other improvement plans for the 04-05 season?

3 - The groomers tend to leave sections of certain trails ungroomed which results in some nice moguls areas (e.g. skier's right on the Foxes, skier's right on North Glade, etc.). Are there any plans to expand this approach to other trails?

4 - Some Northeast mountains use standard grooming equipment to "make" very evenly spaced mogul fields on intermediate terrain. Does Jiminy Peak have the capacity to do this and is it something you've considered?

5 - What is the status on Brodie Mountain? Does Jiminy Peak still own it? Is it possible to interconnect the two mountains? If yes, is this something that has ever been considered?

 

[jimme]

1. On January 28th, 2004 there was around 8" of fresh snow on the mountain during a good storm. At times it was snowing the hardest I have ever seen, yet the snowguns were blowing snow on some trails. Why does Jiminy blow snow during a snowstorm?

2. Where is the snow measured for the snow reports?

3. I noticed some trees being cut just to the left where the feeder trail off the six-pack meets West Way. Will this be a new ski trail?

Thanks!

Jimme

 

[MrMagic]

does jiminy plan to expand its night skiing ?

why did jiminy decide to go with a six pack rather than a high speed quad ?

 

[Joshua B]

How many brochures and trail maps do you print each year? Is it sad when hundreds of these items are seen in your trash cans or on the ground after every day of skiing?

 

[Greg]

I shipped these off to Sally:

1 - What impact has the addition of the Berkshire Express 6-passenger lift had on Jiminy Peak? Have you received positive feedback on the lift? Without getting into specifics, has it proven to be a good investment? Why did you decide to go with a six pack rather than a high speed quad?

2 - Does Jiminy Peak plan to add any additional terrain? If yes, where? Are there any other improvement plans for the 04-05 season?

3 - The groomers tend to leave sections of certain trails ungroomed which results in some nice moguls areas (e.g. skier's right on the Foxes, skier's right on North Glade, etc.). Are there any plans to expand this approach to other trails?

4 - Some Northeast mountains use standard grooming equipment to "make" very evenly spaced mogul fields on intermediate terrain. Does Jiminy Peak have the capacity to do this and is it something you've considered?

5 - What is the status on Brodie Mountain? Does Jiminy Peak still own it? Is it possible to interconnect the two mountains? If yes, is this something that has ever been considered?

6 - On January 28th, 2004 there was around 8" of fresh snow on the mountain during a good storm. At times it was snowing the hardest I have ever seen, yet the snowguns were blowing snow on some trails. Why does Jiminy blow snow during a snowstorm?

7 - Where is the snow measured for the snow reports?

8 - I noticed some trees being cut just to the left where the feeder trail off the six pack meets West Way. Will this be a new ski trail?

9 - Does Jiminy Peak plan to expand its night skiing?

10 - How many brochures and trail maps do you print each year? Does it seem worth it when hundreds of these items are seen in your trash cans or on the ground after every day of skiing?

 

[Greg]

Sally's responses are in:

http://skiing.alpinezone.com/articles/challenge/response.htm?resort=jiminy

This thread is embedded in the page to allow for comments on her responses. Thanks Sally!

 

[Joshua B]

I thought her responses were very professional and forthcoming. Lots of upgrades this off-season!

 

[Greg]

I hope the potential for Jiminy to offer man-made mogul fields materializes next season. I skied a number of man-made mogul runs on blues this season at Loon and it was a blast. It really helped me to improve my bumping skills. I think the intermediate pitch, coupled with evenly spaced bumps will help others to improve and be less intimidated when they find themselves in a natural mogul field. (Fingers Crossed)

Interesting point about them having limited grooming time though...

 

[jimme]

Thanks Sally! I'm really excited about the new trails and reopening of "The Annex" as I used to use it to get to the base from White's. I was baffled when the snowguns were on during a storm as it was negatively affecting the natural snow on Wild Turkey, but at least I now know why. I've been a Widow White's fan since I started skiing Jiminy and can remember some pretty good weekend lines. While the chair ride might take longer, it stills serves some good runs! It's a nice break from the zoom of the six-pack; keep it spinning!

I hope the potential for Jiminy to offer man-made mogul fields materializes next season. I skied a number of man-made mogul runs on blues this season at Loon and it was a blast. It really helped me to improve my bumping skills. I think the intermediate pitch, coupled with evenly spaced bumps will help others to improve and be less intimidated when they find themselves in a natural mogul field. (Fingers Crossed)

Interesting point about them having limited grooming time though...

I got my "bump lessons" my last ski day of this season at Killington. Met some old buddies who are much better than myself so I was "forced" to ski moguls most of the day. The soft corn snow helped me a lot. I posted my last ski report on SJ as AZ is now focusing on hiking and I thought a lot of people could stand to see a positive report on "The Evil Empire".

'till next season,

Jimme :beer:

 

[Greg]

I posted my last ski report on SJ as AZ is now focusing on hiking and I thought a lot of people could stand to see a positive report on "The Evil Empire".

No need to feel this way just because the season is winding down. Post away!!!