Ragged Mtn 2016-17 Season Thread

[xwhaler]

Figured Ragged deserves it's own thread!
I'm looking forward to being a passholder there this season. Anyone else get in on the low $ pass there?
Despite a low tide winter last yr what they made snow on was in fantastic shape and deep even later in March when most areas were cooked.

Some pretty exciting news to come out of Danbury last week!

http://www.newenglandskiindustry.com...hp?storyid=478

[Smellytele]

pretty sad they couldn't get a 350k loan without the government...

[xwhaler]

I'd rather have the focus be on the positive that they are getting a loan and what could become of Ragged with this significant project rather than turning it political.
We have enough threads already on AZ that devolve into political arguments.

Whether we agree with the source of the loan is definitely up for debate but I'd like to know what folks think about the project itself.
Ragged is working hard to grow their brand and cheap passes and a significant snowmaking expansion definitely gets my attention.

[Jully]

I'd rather have the focus be on the positive that they are getting a loan and what could become of Ragged with this significant project rather than turning it political.
We have enough threads already on AZ that devolve into political arguments.

Whether we agree with the source of the loan is definitely up for debate but I'd like to know what folks think about the project itself.
Ragged is working hard to grow their brand and cheap passes and a significant snowmaking expansion definitely gets my attention.

Agreed. I also elected to pick up the cheap pass this year, so I'm pretty excited as well. I'd be even more impressed if they get it completed for the start of the season, but I'd suspect that this is even more paving the way for Pinnacle / future development.

[becca m]

yup - I got a cheap pass last spring - it's local for me and it's not my only season pass I will get my money's worth but when I want some steeps, I'll be elsewhere. I like their woods and they have good coverage... but when only the groomers are in play, you have to be creative to make it fun, like, practicing switch, working on tricks, and practicing other snowsports you aren't as good at like tele .

[yeggous]

I thought about that pass, but could not justify a fourth pass on top of the Peaks Pass, Jay, and MWV Sampler pass. I love Ragged. If I wasn't basing out of my ski club in North Conway, then I definitely would have grabbed that pass to ski from home. A Ragged and Wachusett or Crotched combo would be a winner.

[MG Skier]

The only reason I didn't ski there was due to the lack of water/snow. A few years back their glades were a blast. Lets hope mother nature does her part too.

[Jully]

I thought about that pass, but could not justify a fourth pass on top of the Peaks Pass, Jay, and MWV Sampler pass. I love Ragged. If I wasn't basing out of my ski club in North Conway, then I definitely would have grabbed that pass to ski from home. A Ragged and Wachusett or Crotched combo would be a winner.

I looked long at the Peaks pass, but opted for Ragged instead with then an extra couple hundred dollars to use to ski around with. Definitely took a gamble on the woods being in play, but I have hope.

[Smellytele]

I looked long at the Peaks pass, but opted for Ragged instead with then an extra couple hundred dollars to use to ski around with. Definitely took a gamble on the woods being in play, but I have hope.

I have skied there 7 or 8 times and the woods have never been open. I need to hit it when they are.

[deadheadskier]

I'd say in average year, the Ravine trees (main routes, not all) are open for about five weeks. Early February to Mid March. Other stuff like Devils Den much more frequently, but they are short. Fun, but short.

The snowmaking pond improvement project will be huge for Ragged. In my two years having a pass there my biggest complaint was slow early season terrain expansion. They appear to have addressed some of that in recent years with system upgrades, but the bigger pond should really guarantee a decent amount of terrain open for Xmas and MLK. Hopefully Birches gets in the regular rotation for snowmaking. It would make for a fun groomer and take some traffic away from Newfound Ridge and other main face slopes. Birches and Lower Sweepstakes are basically the same trail. As all natural trails they never get enough traffic to form good bumps. If lower Sweepstakes gets all the traffic for those wanting ungroomed, maybe that changes. Lord know Ragged and all of NH for that matter, could use more and better bumps.