Ragged Mountain :confused:

[Hergini Coop74]

Ok. I am new on AZ . . . So bare with me. I am fishing for some user input regarding Ragged Mountain in NH. They(RM) seem to have a real cheap season pass deal, good until 9/1/08, adult pass is only $299. Is this a typical, "You get what you paid for" deal.

I paid that price my first full season (3 years ago) at Butternut. I thought Butternut was a great starter mountain, sorry to say this but the novelty wore off quickly.

So based on your experience with Ragged, how's the;

Kids Programs?

Crowds?

Terrain satisfies all abilities?

Lift Line(s)?

Snow making and length of season?


Anything else you can share. . . . .

Thanks!

 

[tcharron]

Ok. I am new on AZ . . . So bare with me. I am fishing for some user input regarding Ragged Mountain in NH. They(RM) seem to have a real cheap season pass deal, good until 9/1/08, adult pass is only $299. Is this a typical, "You get what you paid for" deal.

I paid that price my first full season (3 years ago) at Butternut. I thought Butternut was a great starter mountain, sorry to say this but the novelty wore off quickly.

So based on your experience with Ragged, how's the;

Kids Programs?

Crowds?

Terrain satisfies all abilities?

Lift Line(s)?

Snow making and length of season?


Anything else you can share. . . . .

Thanks!

Sounds like a good price. Ragged was bought out of bancrupcy last year, and had it's share of issues last year, because some of the mountain was in a pretty bad state of disrepeair. But I'd say it's a good deal.

The overall impression I think most had last year was, the new owners where doing a good job at bringing the mountain back after having many, MANY issues they where not away of when they bought the property.

Where do you typically ski?

 

[riverc0il]

Considering the price of a weekend lift ticket ($56.00... barf), $299 for a season pass is a really good value. Ragged is a great kids mountain and has an excellent learning area. I don't have kids but have been to a lot of mountains that are not as well situated. My only time skiing there was a Saturday after a snow storm and they handled crowds well, few minutes wait for the six pack and no wait at Speare. Terrain will satisfy most skiers. Ragged is not steep nor does it have top level expert terrain. They do have fun trees and a few short steep pitches. For the most part, an expert will bore easily of Ragged but can still have an okay time if skiing with the family. The trees aren't Jay Peak but they are very good for New Hampshire. All other ability levels will enjoy Ragged tremendously. Length of season depends on what type of snow making they offer this season. Recent ownership change makes it hard to judge how fiscally responsible they will be in terms of blowing snow.

You list your location as CT. I think you would be better off with a closer option. I can't imagine driving from CT to Ragged would be worth while. Bromley is probably closer, is well known for its kids programs, has more challenging terrain for expert levels, more diverse terrain in general, more verts, and I would suspect a better snow making product though it has been a while since I have been there. If you don't mind a more crowded experience, you might also want to consider Mount Snow. Same distance from you as Ragged would be Pico, a far superior mountain.

 

[tcharron]

Where do you typically ski?

That was prolly a stupid question based on what you said about Butternut, but you said you had a pass there 3 years ago, wasn't sure where you been in the meantime.

Greg will prolly have input based on your location.

And welcome to the boards! We require ALL newcomers send a PM to Greg and demand he turn the default board colors blue, so.. Get to it!

 

[Hergini Coop74]

Where do you typically ski?

I don't think I actual have a "home mountain" yet. Last season I skied Sundown, Beast, Black, Wildcat, Attitash and Bear Peak, Cranmore, Stratton, Bromley, Pats. Never really got used to any mountain.

This season I would like to find a "home mountain" we can all enjoy as a family.

 

[Paul]

That was prolly a stupid question based on what you said about Butternut, but you said you had a pass there 3 years ago, wasn't sure where you been in the meantime.

Greg will prolly have input based on your location.

And welcome to the boards! We require ALL newcomers send a PM to Greg and demand he turn the default board colors blue, so.. Get to it!

Haven't even been close to the first frost down here yet. :wink:

 

[Paul]

I don't think I actual have a "home mountain" yet. Last season I skied Sundown, Beast, Black, Wildcat, Attitash and Bear Peak, Cranmore, Stratton, Bromley, Pats. Never really got used to any mountain.

This season I would like to find a "home mountain" we can all enjoy as a family.

hi mom!!!!!!

 

[severine]

I don't think I actual have a "home mountain" yet. Last season I skied Sundown, Beast, Black, Wildcat, Attitash and Bear Peak, Cranmore, Stratton, Bromley, Pats. Never really got used to any mountain.

This season I would like to find a "home mountain" we can all enjoy as a family.

I'm sure Paul has told you about the weekly AZ gatherings at Sundown then. It's not as large as the mountains further north, but it's a viable option for Southern New England. Great family mountain, too. Sort of a "Cheers" feeling to it, IMHO. They run a great operation there and they even have a new deal this year where you can pay $199 for a once-a-week pass (valid weekdays/nights only, I believe). Or if you don't want to be limited to weekdays/nights there are a variety of other options, including the savings card if you don't want to dish out the dough for the season's pass.

 

[powbmps]

I've never been to Ragged, but I know a few locals who choose it over Sunapee. Probably because it's so cheap.

Sunapee could be another option for you. Nothing too rad, but probably a bit more challenging than Ragged. Maybe more crowded on weekends too. Good terrain park, seeded bump runs, great childrens program.

 

[Zand]

Don't know if this is still the case, but anytime I hear about Ragged it seems to be about how awful of a time they are having getting the season going. It seems anytime extensive snowmaking is needed, they can't deliver besides on a couple trails. I hear a lot of good things when the snow is good, but not so much during warm years.

 

[Sky]

What Zand said..not rom experience, but from this board. Ragged needs natural snow (rumor). Not sure what they have access to for water...and for pushing that water over the entire resort.

New owners seem to get good grades on this forum.

I thnk RC has a good point about alternatives...not that I'm trying to starve RM.

It's your budget (time and money). So you know best how you want to spend it. There must be something about RM that draws you.

Lots of us patronize smaller/closer hills (like Sundown, Wachusett, Pat's Peak, etc) because of proximity (and the quality of product).

I've seen Butternut....nice, but limited.

Keep asking...and welcome!

 

[drjeff]

The other thing as a CT resident myself that I've found the couple of times in the past that I've skied Ragged, is that even though it looks like it's fairly close to I-93 on the map, It's actually time wise a bit of a haul once you get off the highway, which is one of the reason's that Ragged has had problems consistently drawing crowds over the years. The mountain has potential and some solid existing attributes, BUT there are mountains with equal potential and attributes that are much closer to the highway in that area too.

 

[riverc0il]

What Zand said..not rom experience, but from this board. Ragged needs natural snow (rumor). Not sure what they have access to for water...and for pushing that water over the entire resort.

I don't think water is the issue. Ragged is certainly not dependent on natural snow. They have the infrastructure. It is just a question of what type of condition the infrastructure is in and when it gets turned on. For what its worth, the only time I went to ragged, the place was absolutely buried in snow.

If you were to compare all the mid-NH mountains south of the whites, I think Ragged is the best (personal opinion). It certainly has the best deal going on a season pass for sure considering what you get. I just don't think it is a worth while mountain for someone driving up from CT. For only an extra half hour, you could easily get to the I-93 white mountain ski areas. If only looking at the price, it is a sensational deal. But if you are driving more than two hours, there are better options for your drive time. At least for a season pass. Ragged is a great mountain and I strongly urge people to give it a try if possible. For the typical Boston metro family, it is a better mountain than the competition up the road (from a family perspective).

 

[powderman]

I've never skied at Ragged, but if you had a season pass at Butternut, you should consider having one at Catamount. The value there is great ($309, no restrictions and night skiing). Most weekends, this place isn't crowded and even on a crowded day, the liftlines move quickly with their new Summit Quad. The expert terrain is limited, but fun. Catamount seems to have good kid progams as well. Catamount's snowmaking is okay, Sundown and Butternut have better snowmaking. The season there is an average length for SNE, early December thru Late March.

 

[Sky]

I don't think water is the issue. Ragged is certainly not dependent on natural snow. They have the infrastructure. It is just a question of what type of condition the infrastructure is in and when it gets turned on.

Thanks for the clarification Steve.

Good points about the drive.

Kudos for urging folks to try it. I keep it on my list...but it never bubbles to the top. Too few opportunites and too many other targets on the list.

 

[Angus]

we skied there last March when the snow was bountiful and had a great time. I met the new owner last year at the Boston ski show and I know they were in process of enlarging their snow making pond - although I don't think it was available last winter. I found the terrain to be a lot of fun and great for families. I let my 12 year old and friend ski by themselves and I skied with the 6 year old - everything comes back to the same place. We will be definitely be back. Heard horror shows about rt 4 (frost heaves) so drove up via 89 to 11 and got there in less than 2 hours metro-west Boston.