Ragged Mountain 1/9/11

[witch hobble]

Date(s) Skied: 1/9/11

Resort or Ski Area: Ragged

Conditions: Granular, both frozen and loose, and hardpack

Trip Report:

1st use of the 4th grade passbook and neighborly connections yielded an inexpensive family ski day at Ragged. All of our first times there.

There were about 4 and a half ways down off the top of the six pack. Trails felt crowded at times and were skied off in places, especially any steeper pitch. We skied them each a few times, then went in for hot chocolate and french fries. Nice, easy laid back lodge. Best conditions might have been on Upper Crew cut. Hard to say.

Back out and we rode the Spear Mountain Triple a few times and skied Cardigan trail. It was newly opened, uncrowded, and a mixed bag, mostly hardpacked solid where the groomer had passed, but there were a few pockets of soft snowmaking snow on the periphery. Looked like some fun could be had on a powder day over there. Not this day.

I must admit that during Tenney threads I say how the length of the chairlift ride doesn't bother me, but loading right next to a high speed six pack (unusual sideways load,half way around the detatch) and watching the speeding lift flying up the other ridge definitely makes the squeaky old triple feel like a long ride.

1/2 hr drive was painless, but south? Feels weird. I enjoyed Ragged, but am not in a hurry to get back. They could use some snow, and a few more trails open. Hoping to use the passbook as an excuse to tour the state.

 

[Angus]

as discussed here, when the place has natural snow, it's a real fun place. in the woods and on trails they leave natural. with no natural snow, options off summit and various skied off intersections definitely reduce the fun. those 4th grade books are great - VT has a 4th or 5th grade book too.

 

[deadheadskier]

thanks for the report. too bad the conditions weren't better.

Looks like they'll have Flying Yankee open this weekend to offer a bit more variety. Hopefully we get enough natural out of this storm to open up Sweepstakes, Birches and Reggae Glades.

I have not been happy with the snowmaking plan this year as compared to last. Much of the focus was put on the park early. Last year, Lower Ridge was one of the first trails open. It takes the pressure off of Middle Chute, Main Street and Village Green. As much as I understand the desire to offer a good park to the kids, when you have such limited snowmaking capacity, you shouldn't use it all up to build monster jumps prior to getting a decent amount of 'normal' terrain open.

 

[Smellytele]

I went on 1/8 and the snow in the park was the best snow on the mountain. The snow on the side of Cardigan trail was nice as well - velvet like.