Black Mountain, NH CLOSED

[2planks2coasts]

I kind of expected that this was the path they would take. Mogensen is on record as saying that he thinks many smaller ski areas should be converted to coop ownership. I wish them the best going forward. Will def try to use my Indy days there this season.

 

[deadheadskier]

The email I got says, "Transfered ownership." Does that mean no financial compensation for the Fichera's?

Be curious to see what the math figures are to make the place self sustaining as a Co-op.

Definitely need to get back there this season with my kids who haven't skied there yet. Still feel the place will always be on thin ice and in danger of closing.

 

[Smellytele]

Is Doug the son? Or is he the owner now?

 

[Newpylong]

Doug is the son and probably the most ski area savvy person I can think of for his age, if not period, in all of New England. If the budget is there, no one can bury that place in snow like he can.

 

[jaytrem]

The email I got says, "Transfered ownership." Does that mean no financial compensation for the Fichera's?

Be curious to see what the math figures are to make the place self sustaining as a Co-op.

Definitely need to get back there this season with my kids who haven't skied there yet. Still feel the place will always be on thin ice and in danger of closing.

During the meeting they said something like they acquired the operations and are working on the real estate.

 

[eatskisleep]

Doug is the son and probably the most ski area savvy person I can think of for his age, if not period, in all of New England. If the budget is there, no one can bury that place in snow like he can.

I'd count on the tide turning just to see him on the board. Fingers crossed.

From Black's site:

 

[Smellytele]

Doug is the son and probably the most ski area savvy person I can think of for his age, if not period, in all of New England. If the budget is there, no one can bury that place in snow like he can.

Thought he hadn’t even talking to his father for a few years?

 

[Newpylong]

He's done a lot of pro bono work to help keep them afloat but yeah other than that he has not been involved the past 5 or more years.

 

[urungus]

From Storm Skiing https://www.stormskiing.com/p/indy-pass-acquires-black-mountain

Mogensen announced a number of immediate improvements to Black Mountain: gateless RFID; snowmaking enhancements that will expand the system to the summit and double last season’s snowmaking output; two basically new groomers, including a winchcat for grooming steeper terrain; a new learning area; new rental equipment; and better food. The ski area will open Dec. 20 and close April 6, and will operate every Thursday through Monday. The double chair will run to the summit “every single day we’re open, as much as possible,” Mogensen pledged.

Nice to hear they are working to make summit access more reliable with snowmaking and a pledge to always run the summit double. I had wanted to go to Black last year in case it was my last chance, but every time I checked the summit double was not running

 

[Zand]

Yeah having only the triple open most days was kind of a deal breaker for me. The one time I went was the day after a 2 foot Nor'Easter and the double was still closed (which was not clarified until about 30 mins before opening, so I was most of the way there when they posted it), so it was a long ride for 800 vert of rather uninteresting terrain. Would love to check the place out with the double running.

 

[jaytrem]

One other thing that was mentioned was they plan to be very involved with and welcoming to the uphillers. There was quite the "falling out" between Fichera and Ski the Whites a couple years ago. I for one hope he is no longer around the place. From what I observed first hand, his actions can only push customers away.

 

[jimmywilson69]

So is this a second mountain Indy Pass is saving?

 

[urungus]

So is this a second mountain Indy Pass is saving?

This is the second consecutive year that Indy has “saved” Black but I can’t remember any other mountains ?

 

[EPB]

One other thing that was mentioned was they plan to be very involved with and welcoming to the uphillers. There was quite the "falling out" between Fichera and Ski the Whites a couple years ago. I for one hope he is no longer around the place. From what I observed first hand, his actions can only push customers away.

I heard the issue with the up hillers was that they actively detracted from Black's ability to serve paying customers by taking up valuable/limited parking spaces and bringing their own booze. While my knee jerk was to feel the same way you do, it sounds like those Ski the Whites guys might have behaved like myopic leeches.

 

[Newpylong]

Smart move cutting the schedule back. They literally were lighting money on fire mid-week.

 

[jaytrem]

I heard the issue with the up hillers was that they actively detracted from Black's ability to serve paying customers by taking up valuable/limited parking spaces and bringing their own booze. While my knee jerk was to feel the same way you do, it sounds like those Ski the Whites guys might have behaved like myopic leeches.

Oh I didn't say the Ski the Whites guys were not part of the problem. The incident that I witnessed was John berating paying customers, one in particular. When I spoke with a patroller about it, he hinted that it was not a one-off thing. Okay, there's a couple that's never coming back, there's a group that's never coming back... Every time I mention Black to my kids, that says something like "Oh yeah, the place with the crazy guy yelling at people". Not a good way to keep your customers.

 

[jaytrem]

This is the second consecutive year that Indy has “saved” Black but I can’t remember any other mountains ?

Hickory along with some help from Unofficial Networks. Made it for opening day. Might not have been the best conditions of the year, but felt like the best day ever!

 

[thetrailboss]

I heard the issue with the up hillers was that they actively detracted from Black's ability to serve paying customers by taking up valuable/limited parking spaces and bringing their own booze. While my knee jerk was to feel the same way you do, it sounds like those Ski the Whites guys might have behaved like myopic leeches.

Agreed. Both sides are partially to blame. I know that we had a very heated discussion on this conflict when it happened. What came out was that the uphillers would not follow rules in terms of access, expected to be able to do whatever they wanted, didn't at least buy apres from him, and adding insult to injury brought their own booze putting his liquor license at jeopardy with the state. On the other side, he was a bit too beligerent with them. Over the years it seems that he has just become overly tired and frustrated in a very tough business. He should have handled it better, but I can understand his POV.

 

[AdironRider]

I don’t know, he’s the one legally responsible for those upholders actions, and was seriously liable if something went wrong. Guaranteed they back talked to him. In that scenario, it’s not 50/50 in my eyes and you don’t get the the customer is always right treatment if you are in effect making him break the law by him standing down. What is he supposed to do if they willfully ignore him? This isnt like a hey, please don’t cut the lift line scenario where no one gets hurt.

 

[jaytrem]

Yeah, he was definitely not wrong. I suspect things could have been handled better. But I wasn't there, so who really knows. Ideally get with whoever was running the event and approach the unauthorized drinkers togethet and ask them to leave.

Hmmm, if he was yelling at line jumpers, I might be his biggest fan.