Pats Peak Summer Improvements

[speden]

If all 3 peak chairs are running, that's (just using general numbers for chairs) 1800/hr Hurricane Triple, 1200 hr each vortex and peak, so we're talking 4200/hr to the peak. High speed quad would carry 3000/hr at best, so I don't think the crowd argument applies here.

That sounds about right to me. I think cost is probably the only reason they haven't done this. Pat's attracts a lot of beginner skiers, and every trip up the slow fixed lifts is made even slower because they have to stop the lifts when a newbie or little kid falls down on loading/unloading. With a detached lift, the loading and unloading speed is much slower and easier for beginners. Also judging by my own kids, it's a big thrill for them when a detached lift rapidly accelerates when it grabs on to the line. They could keep the slow fixed lifts on the skier's left side of the mountain, which has the easiest trails.

The other side of Pat's is they have some steep terrain that the beginners never go near, but these trails are serviced by the same slow lifts the beginners use. This is bound to be a turn off for the expert skiers who will just decide to ski elsewhere. Everytime I go there, the steep trails are way underutilized. If there was a HSQ, more experts would show up to ski those steep runs.

 

[thetrailboss]

If there was a HSQ, more experts would show up to ski those steep runs.

I doubt it. Most serious skiers will drive north to ski bigger mountains, like Sunapee or Cannon. The lack of an HSQ is not the only reason why expert skiers don't go there...it is its 710' vertical vs. 1,200+. Pats knows their market and they cater to it.

 

[hammer]

Pats is a nice place to ski. Not the biggest, but the pitch is really good in places and the expert stuff is legit. My last season as a pass holder they blew snow on the Vortex Liftline and got it open. March 2005 they had enough snow to open the liftline under the Peak Double and man was there some fun lines there. Even the glades I skied which had enough snow, except for FIS and the one at the very top of Hurricane, were legit. The one halfway down the Hurricane Liftline, when there is snow, is reminiscent of some of the stuff up north I have skied.

I don't know about an HSQ though. That would make a bad problem worse, and that is the amount of traffic on their trails. Why they don't groom runs before Saturday night sessions is beyond me. There were many nights when I skied that it got downright dangerous after 8pm. But when I was a passholder I rarely skied nights. That said, the POP crowd was usually church, school, scout groups who had no experience skiing or riding and putting them on bad conditions was just not good.

I will say that they have snowmaking that is great, some trails had deep bases like at Sunday River, and their service is really good. I never felt unwelcomed there.

+1

I had a pass there from 2007-2008...think I went a total of 13 or 14 times, most at night. Place was dead after the school groups left, and they kept the Vortex lift running for the race teams. Could get some good laps in. On those nights the lack of grooming wasn't a problem IMO.

Only did the Saturday POP thing once...didn't like having to weave around a bunch of novices on their advanced trails.

I don't think an HSQ would help them. With all of their lifts running you only get lines on the busiest of days, and the fixed lifts tend to keep the crowds on the trails down.

Only thing I wish they would do is mow down Hurricane on occasion...I have yet to ski the trail and it's usually because they let the bumps grow beyond VW size.

 

[tcharron]

The other side of Pat's is they have some steep terrain that the beginners never go near, but these trails are serviced by the same slow lifts the beginners use. This is bound to be a turn off for the expert skiers who will just decide to ski elsewhere. Everytime I go there, the steep trails are way underutilized. If there was a HSQ, more experts would show up to ski those steep runs.

Go at about 7:00pm any weeknight. You'll see 'em utilized. :-D There's what, 350+ beer racers in the midweek NASTAR program?

 

[bobbutts]

I don't think an HSQ would help them. With all of their lifts running you only get lines on the busiest of days, and the fixed lifts tend to keep the crowds on the trails down.

Only thing I wish they would do is mow down Hurricane on occasion...I have yet to ski the trail and it's usually because they let the bumps grow beyond VW size.

See above about lift capacity, their existing lifts have almost 1.5x capacity of a hsq. These fixed chairs are not keeping the crowds down unless some of them are shut. I think the cost and flexibility of having multiple chairs arguments are valid.

and about grooming Hurricane..nooooo! every other run is groomed daily.

 

[hammer]

See above about lift capacity, their existing lifts have almost 1.5x capacity of a hsq. These fixed chairs are not keeping the crowds down unless some of them are shut. I think the cost and flexibility of having multiple chairs arguments are valid.

and about grooming Hurricane..nooooo! every other run is groomed daily.

I'm not advocating regular grooming...they have a number of groomed steeps if that's what you want. I just think it would be a good idea to knock the bumps down a bit every now and again. Given the typical skier that goes there, I think it would make the trail more accessible (which is not always a bad thing).

 

[thetrailboss]

IIRC in 2004 and 2005 when I skied there they used to groom one side of Hurricane and leave the rest of it to bump up. Maybe that has changed...

Now that they allow skiing on the Peak Lift Line and regularly blow snow on Vortex and let it bump up, I would think that grooming part of Hurricane is not a bad idea.

I will say again that Pats is a good value and very easy to get to in Southern NH. Since Crotched has come on the scene, Pats has stepped up their game. I still would love to see a Crotched/Pats/Sunapee pass!

 

[deadheadskier]

I would love to see a Pat's, Sunapee, Cannon pass

Pat's for night skiing option
Sunapee for consistent product when weather isn't great
Cannon for expert terrain and slack country stuff.

 

[Puck it]

I would love to see a Pat's, Sunapee, Cannon pass

Pat's for night skiing option
Sunapee for consistent product when weather isn't great
Cannon for expert terrain and slack country stuff.

That is would be a big "Booya" pass. I would love that.

 

[St. Bear]

I would love to see a Pat's, Sunapee, Cannon pass

Pat's for night skiing option
Sunapee for consistent product when weather isn't great
Cannon for expert terrain and slack country stuff.

Cannon and Sunapee are at least both owned by the State. A combo pass would make a lot of sense.

 

[tcharron]

Got a semi official response from Pats.

Tom,

Sorry for the late response. I do not work at the Peak during the summer and have not been good this year at checking my email off season. I will try to do better!

The new park is going to be to skier's right of the lower part of FIS. It used to be the 1/2 point when the Knight T was in use. The area has been a no man's land since the Votex Chair was put in... other than to make tracks for a few freshies during a good snowstorm.. so it will have NO effect on racing or either of the trails you mentioned!! Hope this answers your question.

Have a great rest of the summer and we looking forward to having you ski with us again this season.

Robbie

 

[OldsnowboarderME]

I think you're a little premature with saying that .. there is a couple of areas I can think of where that park would fit in nicely.

The area above Knight slope would be perfect for this park. There is nice pitch and is really only used when they have had a lot of natural snow fall. I believe the article stated they were going to be using a surface lift for this area. I will have reread it to be sure. But this area is still accessible from the chair lifts. They have a small beginner park on Whisper usually.

Got a semi official response from Pats.

Just where I thought it would be ...

 

[thetrailboss]

That spot makes sense because it is indeed no-man's land. It seemed odd to have such prime and visible terrain not in use. Though I find skiing the Peak and/or Vortex liftline to be pretty tasty after a good snowstorm. :wink:

 

[OldsnowboarderME]

After some consideration, I just upgraded my 09-10 season pass from midweek to unlimited .. This coming season my full unlimited options will be Pats Peak, Ragged and Gunstock.

 

[OldsnowboarderME]

That spot makes sense because it is indeed no-man's land. It seemed odd to have such prime and visible terrain not in use. Though I find skiing the Peak and/or Vortex liftline to be pretty tasty after a good snowstorm. :wink:

Plus I see from their website, they have teamed up with Burke Mountain for some season pass holder offerings. Did you have something to do with this?? :lol:

 

[thetrailboss]

Pats is a good choice to go unlimited. They are not too crowded on Saturday mornings.

 

[hammer]

I'm still a little concerned about the impact to the Vortex double...I like to use that lift but it will be more difficult if it's overrun by park rats...

Hopefully they will have a good surface lift in place for the park.

 

[thetrailboss]

I'm still a little concerned about the impact to the Vortex double...I like to use that lift but it will be more difficult if it's overrun by park rats...

Hopefully they will have a good surface lift in place for the park.

The park will have its own surface lift IIRC.