Jiminy Peak over the year’s

[highpeaksdrifter]

It use to be a nice little local hill like Brodie was. To me there wasn’t much that separated them. Over the years Jiminy has tried, and I believe successfully, become kinda a mini Tremblant. I really admire Brian Fairbank's as a businessman in the ski resort game. He is extermely innovative.

Has all the condo’s, hotels, restaurant’s, shop’s, etc. plus the money they’ve put into lifts, terrain expansion and snowmaking and now a wind turbine made it a better place?

I ski there Tuesday nites, but I wouldn’t go near the place on a weekend.

 

[Greg]

Like many areas, I think Jiminy's weekend crowding issues are exagerrated, especially on a Sunday. I've skied many Sundays there and learned to work the mountain in order to get in a lot of skiing with minimal waits. Mid-season when all lifts are turning, this approach on a Sunday worked well: Start early (duh), hit the mountain from skier's left to right. By the time you get to Whitetail, the six should start backing up (10:15-ish). Ride the Q1 and hit Jericho and Turkey. Take the Widow's quad up for the final morning run. Ski to Christiansen's. It should be around 11:15. Order a bleu cheese burger. Head out at noon. Ride the triple up. By your next run, you'll be in the lunch hour so the six should be tolerable (even a 10-12 minute wait is tolerable since the ride is only 5 mins). Maybe ride the Q1 or Widow quad for a few runs. By 2 pm, the line at the six should be nil. Of course, this approach only works if all lifts are spinning. If lifts are limited, just try to ride the quads as much as possible.

I like Jiminy. It's a great mountain to log a lot of vertical. The lifts are good, the base buildings are top notch and Christiansen's is a quality and relatively cheap option for lunch. Cool vibe in there too. Very aggressive snowmaking and is usually not far behind Snow or Hunter in terms of season opening. My only complaint is the lack of moguls.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Like many areas, I think Jiminy's weekend crowding issues are exagerrated, especially on a Sunday. I've skied many Sundays there and learned to work the mountain in order to get in a lot of skiing with minimal waits. Mid-season when all lifts are turning, this approach on a Sunday worked well: Start early (duh), hit the mountain from skier's left to right. By the time you get to Whitetail, the six should start backing up (10:15-ish). Ride the Q1 and hit Jericho and Turkey. Take the Widow's quad up for the final morning run. Ski to Christiansen's. It should be around 11:15. Order a bleu cheese burger. Head out at noon. Ride the triple up. By your next run, you'll be in the lunch hour so the six should be tolerable (even a 10-12 minute wait is tolerable since the ride is only 5 mins). Maybe ride the Q1 or Widow quad for a few runs. By 2 pm, the line at the six should be nil. Of course, this approach only works if all lifts are spinning. If lifts are limited, just try to ride the quads as much as possible.

I like Jiminy. It's a great mountain to log a lot of vertical. The lifts are good, the base buildings are top notch and Christiansen's is a quality and relatively cheap option for lunch. Cool vibe in there too. Very aggressive snowmaking and is usually not far behind Snow or Hunter in terms of season opening. My only complaint is the lack of moguls.

OK, I have no doubt what you say is true. It's just a very, very different place then it was 10years ago or so. I think I like it better now overall myself. The pros and cons are just very different.

The fact that you have to know how to work the mountain to stay ahead of the crowd says alot. It says that Jiminy has the skier visits to stay $ healthy, but the lodges will be crowded, the parking lot crowded, trails crowded and snow skied off fast.

 

[Greg]

OK, I have no doubt what you say is true. It's just a very, very different place then it was 10years ago or so. I think I like it better now overall myself. The pros and cons are just very different.

I started skiing Jiminy in the late 90's myself and indeed a lot has changed. The place does seem to be thriving.

The fact that you have to know how to work the mountain to stay ahead of the crowd says alot. It says that Jiminy has the skier visits to stay $ healthy, but the lodges will be crowded, the parking lot crowded, trails crowded and snow skied off fast.

I suppose you're right. I guess my point is it's no more crowded than many other places like it. Crowded lodges? Yup, although Crane is better with the new lodge open. I'm only in there to change so I can deal. I always eat at Christiansen's and try to get there early in the 11 am hour. Never anyone there, but once noon rolls around, watch out! Crowded lots? Oh yeah, but I know of a "secret" lot where I can almost always score a spot that is reasonably close. Skied off? I guess so, but I stick to the trail sides anyway. Jericho is normally still good late in the day. The <><> rating and ominous entrance scares off many folks, I think.

 

[Hawkshot99]

The fact that you have to know how to work the mountain to stay ahead of the crowd says alot. It says that Jiminy has the skier visits to stay $ healthy, but the lodges will be crowded, the parking lot crowded, trails crowded and snow skied off fast.

When I go to Jimney on Sat. I am working so many of these things are a bit different. The parking is horrible if you show a bit late, esspecially if you end up down Brodie Rd. and have to ride the trailer(that is a cold ride!). I get there around 8 and park front row. I dont use the lodges at all so wont comment there, but the cafeterias arent that bad, even when it is lunch time its not that bad of a wait. Christiansons is great, but gets very crowded at lunch time.. I love their Mile High Cheese fries.

Most of my skiing that I get to do on Sat. is from 3 or 4 on, so its not crowded, but the trails arent that bad. I am amazed at how well they hold up considering the number of people. The worst spot is West way as you come around the corner of the cliff, but I feel the trails hold nice.

 

[wintersyndrome]

That sound is my arteries Hardening

 

[marcski]

When I go to Jimney on Sat. I am working so many of these things are a bit different. The parking is horrible if you show a bit late, esspecially if you end up down Brodie Rd. and have to ride the trailer(that is a cold ride!). I get there around 8 and park front row. I dont use the lodges at all so wont comment there, but the cafeterias arent that bad, even when it is lunch time its not that bad of a wait. Christiansons is great, but gets very crowded at lunch time.. I love their Mile High Cheese fries.

You must be young....(or perhaps I'm old...)I could never eat that and then ski these days....

Jiminy is a good little hill. Big Con is they groom the hell out of the place, its smooth as a carpet. Also, a lot of the runs are straight down the fall line...or at least feel that way. Few undulations or other natural terrain features on the trails. I get bored there pretty quickly. I'll usually buy a 4 hour pass, ski straight and go home. And yes, Greg as a result of the overgrooming, no real moguls anywhere.

However, Jiminy is very nice. It's clean, infrastructure is new and relatively user friendly. I do agree with the parking complaint listed above, but I'm out early these days, so I usually get into one of the closer upper lots. I do ride the Q1 when its crowded. I ski hard, the ride time is not bad, that lift is less than a 1000' vert. I also ski the Willow's lift in crowded times.

Major Pro: They do a top notch job in snowmaking. Literally few, if any, mtns do a better job, period. They were opened later than, I believe every mtn in southern vt. last year. Plus, I can get there in about 2:07. For me, its definitely one of the best, closest options for a 1000' vert hill.

 

[nycskier]

Me neither. Fries like that, greesy piazza kills my day on the slopes. I usually stick with power bars, nuts, chocolate, good jerky or a very meaty sandwich!

Once at Whistler I had the best miso udon soup. The really hit the spot!

 

[JimG.]

Once at Whistler I had the best miso udon soup. The really hit the spot!

Big "soup for lunch" guy here. My staple.