Ragged 12-25-2009

[57stevey]

Date(s) Skied: Christmas

Resort or Ski Area: Ragged

Conditions: Machine groomed

Trip Report: First time out for the year, and first time skiing on Christmas day. My daughter and I arrived around 10am to a basically empty lodge. A few folks trickled in around lunchtime but still pretty quiet; we could run flat out most every run... fog permitting, as the upper mountain was socked in all day. (I was kind of hoping for a few more folks around to make it a bit more festive atmosphere, but that's probably one of those "be careful what you wish for" things.) Still only a couple of ways down from the six-pack, but we did see them spinning the Spear chair late in the day, so they might be opening Cardigan and Yankee for the holiday week? Didn't see a speck of ice all day which makes for a pleasant experience. Overall, a fun time, and 1/2 price thanks to the CHAD card :beer:

 

[deadheadskier]

I was up there today and sounds like there were similar crowds. They had Spear open with Cardigan / Turnpike. It skied pretty well for the first day open.

Still just basically the two routes with a few upper variations from the main summit. Newfound Ridge looked like it had enough snow made on it to open once they move the snow around.

Looks like they've got an issue with snowmaking on Exhibition. Near the top of the lift about 4 ops guys were working on the pipe with torches.

Overall the snow surface was fantastic. I'm not certain if it's a capacity issue or budgetary issue, but even though it's been a late start to the season; the terrain offerings are pretty limited for vacation week. I definitely enjoyed myself today on what was open though. There was plenty of elbow room to be able to let them run as fast as you want. When I called it quits at 12:30 the surface was still pretty much perfect groomed.

Hopefully the crowds pick up throughout the week. While I enjoy having so few people on the hill, I really want to see the mountain be successful for both current use (more aggressive snowmaking and terrain expansion) and future use......replacing the Spear lift.

I hope to be back there for the afternoon on New Years day.

 

[57stevey]

Hopefully the crowds pick up throughout the week. While I enjoy having so few people on the hill, I really want to see the mountain be successful for both current use (more aggressive snowmaking and terrain expansion) and future use......replacing the Spear lift.

Have to agree with that sentiment.

10e looks to be in even more dire straits with just a half dozen runs open, none of them off the double. Ouch.