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Jay Peak Ski Resort, Jay, Vermont |
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Skiing for serious skiers: that's Jay Peak, the big Northeast Kingdom ski area with lots of natural snow, a 2153 ft (656 m) vertical drop, 8 lifts, 76 downhill trails, and Vermont's only aerial tramway. |
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Snow and slope are why you drive to Jay Peak (3968 feet, 1210 meters)—an average of 30 feet (355 inches; 9 meters) of snow per ski season, the most snow in eastern North America! Vertical drop is another reason to come: 2153 feet (656 meters), among the highest in Vermont. Just in case, there's also a high-efficiency snowmaking system covering 80% of the slopes just to guarantee good conditions, but in fact Jay Peak prides itself on being "unfake, unfancy and unpretentious:" real skiing for real skiers. Jay Peak's 76 trails are 20% beginner, 40% intermediate and 40% advanced, and thus suitable for all skiers, but biased toward the skilled and experienced. To have a Jay Peak lift ticket on your ski jacket is to class yourself with the pro's and near-pro's. By the way, Jay has 24 distinct gladed runs, more than almost any other New England ski resort. The trails are served by eight lifts, including Vermont's only aerial tramway, three quads, a a triple chair, a double, a T-bar and a "moving carpet." Naturally, not everyone coming to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom will be an expert skier (note the T-bar and the Moving Carpet), so Jay Peak is in fact a well-rounded ski resort with trails, lessons and programs for skiers of all abilities. For snowboarders, there are four terrain parks, including two for novices—so it's a great place to learn the sport, and also to try every trick you ever learned—and some new ones. Want to speak French? Fully 50% of Jay Peak's skiers come from Canada for the same reason Aemricans come: great snow, great slopes, real skiing for real people. Jay's international ambience is fun, especially for kids who have yet to travel outside the USA. The Hotel Jay has free Wifi for people (like me) who simply must have a fast Internet connection along with their aprés-ski collation. Distances (map) to Jay Peak from... Montréal: 85 miles (137 km, 1.5 hours) Burlington VT: 70 miles (113 km, 1.5 hours) Boston MA: 230 miles (370 km, 3.5 hours) Hartford CT: 250 miles (402 km, 4 hours) New York City: 371 miles (597 km, 6.5 hours) Jay Peak Ski Resort
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Below, US and Canadian flags celebrate Jay Peak's biggest groups of skiers.
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