Ragged gets a new GM

[snoseek]

Just found out daughter is at proctor Friday and I have to drive the bus. Any of you ragged passholders willing to PM a buddy code?

The passholder has to there at time of pickup going by the website

 

[thebigo]

Appreciate you checking.

 

[deadheadskier]

Got out for the morning on Indy today with my kids before the rain rolled in. Stunning inversion to start the day.

Pretty limited terrain as discussed prior. I would not be happy as a pass holder by only basically 4 TTB routes in total given the great temps December has provided. I didn't find the base that insanely deep to support the notion they're blowing too deep before moving on with the one exception being the whales waiting to be pushed out on Yankee. But, they have always blown crazy deep on FY due to the topography. The other trails seemed pretty standard snowmaking depth to me. I just don't think they have a very powerful system still or they don't use it enough. The experience definitely validated my choice to give Gunstock my business when I needed a new home base after giving up on Vail.

It was good to be back after almost ten years. I think the last time I went was the year the Spear lift went in.

 

[Edd]

Probably going to hit Ragged on Thursday despite the disappointing trail count.

Skied BW today for the first time this year. Nice conditions thanks to some fresh snow but they’re also dicking the dog on snowmaking, which has been their M.O. for a few years unfortunately. They’ll make that early effort to get open which is cool but they just don’t have the motivation to go for it after that. I was told today that the current GM is not a skier. If true, that explains a lot.

 

[2Planker]

Probably going to hit Ragged on Thursday despite the disappointing trail count.

Skied BW today for the first time this year. Nice conditions thanks to some fresh snow but they’re also dicking the dog on snowmaking, which has been their M.O. for a few years unfortunately. They’ll make that early effort to get open which is cool but they just don’t have the motivation to go for it after that. I was told today that the current GM is not a skier. If true, that explains a lot.

probably another Food & Beverage manager......

 

[Newpylong]

Agreed. I've been driving by the base of BW a couple times every few weeks and along with Attitash they definitely have had the anchor out.]

As for Ragged, they are done Showboat and have moved on to..... Upper Ex and Birches. That is another curveball from the normal rollout of Lower Ridge and Pines. Normally Ex and Birches are last. Birches is one of the best snowmaking trails on the mountain in my mind, so no complaints. I wonder if wind has anything to do with wind, that trail is very protected and we have gusts into the 40s right now several times a minute.

 

[doublediamond]

I think BW is extremely air limited. Yes they can open their first trails quick with their low E HKDs and the fact that they are manicured greens. But once they get into expansion mode and the Ratniks come out they crawl to an absolute halt. It’s astonishing just how long some trails take to make snow on.

 

[AdironRider]

BW is owned and operated by Omni, the hotel chain, so they run it super lean IMO.

 

[Edd]

I think BW is extremely air limited. Yes they can open their first trails quick with their low E HKDs and the fact that they are manicured greens. But once they get into expansion mode and the Ratniks come out they crawl to an absolute halt. It’s astonishing just how long some trails take to make snow on.

My understanding is that they rent their compressors and have to return them by end of January. If that’s correct, the clock is very much ticking. They’ve long enjoyed a geographic advantage compared to other NH mountains but that seems to be diminishing. As mentioned above, Omni is not really a ski company, and it’s showing.

 

[snoseek]

Probably going to hit Ragged on Thursday despite the disappointing trail count.

Skied BW today for the first time this year. Nice conditions thanks to some fresh snow but they’re also dicking the dog on snowmaking, which has been their M.O. for a few years unfortunately. They’ll make that early effort to get open which is cool but they just don’t have the motivation to go for it after that. I was told today that the current GM is not a skier. If true, that explains a lot.

Look for me at ragged I'll be around. Too bad about bw I used to like skiing with my father there after he got too old for cannon.

 

[Cheetah440]

Because realistically a mountain that size isn't going to resurface most trails, certainly not in any sort of timeframe that would have an impact. What I meant by better is they ensure a long season, which for Ragged, which does not get much natural and is in a location not known for being very conducive temp wise (Upper Valleyish climate is more like CT than you would expect), a solid base is going to give better results operationally overall. They get a freeze thaw cycle literally every week most years.

CT? Ragged averages over 100” a year. It’s not Utah but it’s twice the vast majority of CT. We skied well into April the last two years skiing woods and natural like Sweepstakes the first week of April 3 of the last 4 years.

Ragged is not differentiated from Sunapee or Gunstock because of the groomers. Groomers are groomers. Raggeds are fine. Ragged shines and skis well above its weight class because of its glades and Sweepstakes which is the best non glade trail among any mountain in NE under 1200 vert. Not debatable.
They also have the best lodge in New England. Also not debatable.

 

[Edd]

Damn, wanting to go in a few days but not making it temping. Less than half?

 

[snoseek]

Damn, wanting to go in a few days but not making it temping. Less than half?

View attachment 64428

Yeah they have a weird obsession with blowing ridiculously deep and letting it sit forever to drain out

What's open is excellent just wish they let skiers ski under the guns

 

[Newpylong]

Everything is skiing excellent but they finally just opened a second route around the park on the Ragged side Friday too.

Honestly the only real issue with the place is the pace of expansion. The two last trails to do on Ragged Peak (Birches and Exhibition) are really the two I enjoy on that side.

 

[Smellytele]

Damn, wanting to go in a few days but not making it temping. Less than half?

View attachment 64428

It was boring last week. Took an hour and 1/2 lunch in the parking lot. Then quit at 2:45.

 

[Smellytele]

No trees - I will not go back

 

[Newpylong]

Plenty of trees, we just have no snow.

 

[Smellytele]

Plenty of trees, we just have no snow.

I meant if the trees aren’t open I won’t go.

 

[Edd]

8” overnight