Black or Tenney?

[St. Bear]

I'm looking to either go to Black or Tenney on Sat 2/14. My concerns are price, distance from Manchester, and intermediate runs.

Obviously it's been a while since any mountain in NH has gotten snow, so everything is going to be tracked out. I'm thinking that an extra half hour in the car can get us a mountain that is tracked out less. Is this sound logic? I like Black for the tougher terrain, but there will be a couple people in my group that will stay primarily on the greens and blues. I'm trying to put myself in their shoes, but I don't know if the lack of snow will effect easy groomers or just the tougher terrain.

 

[deadheadskier]

Both areas rely heavily on natural snowfall. Tenney's exposure is better than Blacks for maintaining snowfall. I don't think driving an extra hour is going to yield a better product at Black and I'd imagine that most of Black's expert terrain is pretty beat up right now.

Tenney does have far better cruising terrain than Black. If you were going following a dump, I'd say Black without question. Given the current conditions, I'd say Tenney.

I haven't been to Tenney in a couple of weeks, but all throughout January, even many days after natural snow, the grooming has been superb.

 

[tcharron]

Black. At least THEIR chairlifts work. :-D

 

[deadheadskier]

While you're making your comment toungue in cheek I'm sure, the lifts at Tenney have been fine all year once they got them inspected late December

 

[riverc0il]

I like Black WAY better than Tenney for cruising. I like Black better than Tenney straight across the board, really. Tenney has a little bit more vertical and acres but I think Black has much better terrain, character, and charm to their groomed trails. Also, much cheaper and a better value. Tenney for closeness to Manchester and more acres. Black for the superior mountain, cheaper price, and better value.

Conditions may be an issue and would be the deciding factor. I don't know how either area fared. DHS notes the exposure difference. However, sometimes worse exposure areas that are prone to get more sun exposure could turn out better during mixed events. Depends how things panned out. I would call both places, ask for a report, and probe for details.

 

[tcharron]

While you're making your comment toungue in cheek I'm sure, the lifts at Tenney have been fine all year once they got them inspected late December

Hence the smiley. :-D Sorry for the lack of a disclaimer.

 

[deadheadskier]

I like Black WAY better than Tenney for cruising. I like Black better than Tenney straight across the board, really. Tenney has a little bit more vertical and acres but I think Black has much better terrain, character, and charm to their groomed trails. Also, much cheaper and a better value. Tenney for closeness to Manchester and more acres. Black for the superior mountain, cheaper price, and better value.

Conditions may be an issue and would be the deciding factor. I don't know how either area fared. DHS notes the exposure difference. However, sometimes worse exposure areas that are prone to get more sun exposure could turn out better during mixed events. Depends how things panned out. I would call both places, ask for a report, and probe for details.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but having skied Black twice last year and Tenney 4 times this year, I'll stand by my statement that outside of expert terrain, the skiing at Tenney is superior. The cruising runs are almost double the length, have far more consistent pitch and have almost the exact same character as those at Black. Black really only has a couple of cruising runs, the rest of the mountain is pretty well either flat beginner terrain or the nice steeps. I'd put the viable intermediate cruising terrain at more than double the acreage of Black. Black is only six dollars cheaper as well, so the difference in price isn't something to write home about.

I'm not saying I like Tenney better than Black, because I don't. However, if I were an intermediate skier, the choice would be pretty simple to make for me.

 

[Danaxxmiller]

10E no doubt!

 

[riverc0il]

We'll have to agree to disagree, DHS. I find Tenney to be a complete clusterF of criss crossing trails which, IMO, seriously takes away from the mountain's character. The trails, IMO, have little character because they do not feel unique. They feel like a spider web of cross cuts. At least at Black, you know you would be skiing the same 12 cruisers all day. When I go to Tenney, I can't even remember which trail I am on. Just my personal opinion there.

But hey, I am biased. I live 15 minutes from Tenney and it is the last mountain I ever think to ski. I rate it very poorly in NH.... so StBear should take my bias into consideration when considering my comments.

 

[billski]

Black will be less tracked out and has spectacular views.

 

[Highway Star]

............so everything is going to be tracked out................

Oh, really?












(understatement of the year.....lol)

 

[deadheadskier]

We'll have to agree to disagree, DHS. I find Tenney to be a complete clusterF of criss crossing trails which, IMO, seriously takes away from the mountain's character. The trails, IMO, have little character because they do not feel unique. They feel like a spider web of cross cuts. At least at Black, you know you would be skiing the same 12 cruisers all day. When I go to Tenney, I can't even remember which trail I am on. Just my personal opinion there.

But hey, I am biased. I live 15 minutes from Tenney and it is the last mountain I ever think to ski. I rate it very poorly in NH.... so StBear should take my bias into consideration when considering my comments.

Funny, when I ski Tenney, I think of it as a larger version of Black, minus the steeps. Both mountains have issues with criss crossing trails. At most mountains, such a layout bothers me. At Black or Tenney it doesn't because there's so few people to contend with, actually makes them both ski bigger than they are as you can link upper to lower this and thats.

Truth be told, I'm probably not the best person to ask for constructive criticism about certain areas in general. I'm definitely a HUGE glass half full guy and can find something to enjoy almost everywhere I ski.

Honestly, I'm only a hater of one mountain and that's Killington. It really has very little to do with the skiing either. It's my perception that numerous assholes ski there, the poster child of which has blessed us with his presence in an asshole way in this very thread.

 

[St. Bear]

Thanks to everybody for the info and opinions. I think we're leaning towards Black for two reasons. First is price. Second, I was surprised to see that Tenney only had a couple beginner trails on the mountain. For the beginning/intermediate skier in the group, I feel that she would have a much more enjoyable time if she were able to mix in some greens on the actual mountain with the intermediates. I don't know her actual ability level, and I'm trying to error on the side of caution.

 

[hammer]

Just wondering...any reason why you didn't consider Ragged?

 

[St. Bear]

Just wondering...any reason why you didn't consider Ragged?

Very simply, price. We can get college tickets at Black for $25, Tenney for $39, and Ragged I think is $48. I love Ragged, I skied there last year and had a blast, but at almost half the cost of Black I can't justify going there.

 

[frozencorn]

Student ID used to be $25 at Wildcat too. Now, since it's been a long time since I've done this (and never, mercy me in the years actually following school), I'm unsure if they do it anymore. Can't find it on their site.

 

[eatskisleep]

Wildcat is $55 with a student ID... Ripoff

 

[riverc0il]

Wildcat is $55 with a student ID... Ripoff

But you next day is only.......

!!!!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Considering how cheap student season passes are, it doesn't surprise me that mountains would increase their student day ticket rates.

 

[frozencorn]

Wildcat is $55 with a student ID... Ripoff

Wow. I'm surprised by that considering how cheaply you can ski that place otherwise.

 

[St. Bear]

Considering how cheap student season passes are, it doesn't surprise me that mountains would increase their student day ticket rates.

What I find really frustrating, from my selfish point of view, is that student season passes are only valid for full time college students. I understand why they do that, but as someone who's getting their MBA at night, it's a great value that I can't partake in.