Jiminy Peak - Hancock, MA - Review

With 1,150 feet of vertical, Jiminy isn't one of the giants of the East. But really, how many people actually ski a thousand or more vertical feet at once without stopping for a little break? By those standards, Jiminy is just fine. If you want to bomb it top-to-bottom, you certainly can. If you want to stop and admire the view, go right ahead.

Like most smaller resorts, Jiminy has something for almost everyone in the family. And that holds true day or night. Jiminy is big on night skiing.

This is a very beginner-friendly, kid-friendly mountain with good learning terrain. There are long winding trails from the top (Left Bank in particular) that novices can handle. Because everything filters down to a single base area, you can let your kids explore without worrying that they may end up miles away.

Intermediates also are treated very well at Jiminy with West Way, Fox, and John Hancock, which is as long and winding as the famous signature. The new "Mogul Thing" is perfect for learning to ski bumps.

The steeper slopes, old favorites like Whitetail and Jericho, can keep almost anyone awake and aware. Only the hardest of the hard-core won't find at least a brief thrill on Jiminy.

Even non-skiers are treated well here with the Mountain coaster and a separate tubing area at Snowy Owl (formerly Brodie Mountain). These provide an adrenaline rush without a learning curve.

Jiminy is one of those resorts where you can park the car when you arrive, not start it again until you leave, but still feel like you have plenty of options for fun. The bustling timeshare and hotel business keeps the place feeling lively -- maybe a little too lively -- when weekend crowds arrive. If you can, get there midweek and ski early mornings when the snow is fresh and crowds are small. Things will pick up when the after-school set arrives.