Jay, Vermont — It may not seem like it based on all the snow that Jay Peak gets, but snowmaking is a pivotal part of the Vermont ski resort’s operations.
Making snow allows Jay Peak to be one of the first to open in the Northeast, and one of the last to close (typically in May). To continue its growth, Jay Peak has replaced a snowmaking pipeline from four decades ago.
Yesterday, Jay Peak revealed the comprehensive snowmaking project that’s underway at the Vermont ski resort. The Queen’s Highway trailis seeing its snowmaking pipe replaced, which dates back to the 1980s. Jay Peak replaced around 2,600 feet of pipeline with 12-inch pipes, an improvement over the prior 10-inch setup. This will lead to a 20% flow increase from Tramside towards the Stateside and beginner areas. In addition, twelve new hydrants have been added to the Queen’s Highway beginner trail. This means that Jay Peak will have better snowmaking production on Queen’s Highway and the areas that the pipeline connects to. While Jay Peak admits that it’s not the flashiest project, it will diversify Jay Peak’s early-season offerings, which will appeal to less experienced skiers and riders.
Since Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. took over Jay Peak in 2022, they’ve invested in improving Jay’s snowmaking network. Before last winter, they purchased a couple of fan guns, which are used to make for better snow coverage at Jay Peak’s base areas.
This ultimately puts Jay Peak in a stronger position in case it takes a while for the Jay Cloud to take effect.
Image/Video Credits: Jay Peak Resort
