Jay Peak is not convenient for most people, which is one of the reasons it still works. It sits far enough north that the weather can feel like its own country, and when the storm track lines up, Jay can make the rest of the East feel like it is playing for second place.
The mountain is at its best when you are chasing snow, trees, and a little bit of weirdness. The glades are the point. So is the fact that the resort can feel remote, cold, and fully committed to winter when lower-elevation places are dealing with mixed precipitation.
The risk is that Jay is a long way to go for an average day. Wind, lift holds, visibility, and the simple fact that not every storm delivers can change the value fast. This is a mountain to pick when the pattern supports it, not just because the name sounds snowy.