Ragged Mountain

[gmcunni]

1st - anyone going to Ragged any time soon? i was there a few years ago and purchased a pin from the ski shop (i collect them) but misplaced it. i'd provide the $$ if someone could pick one of for me.

2nd - what's going on there? i was going to return this past New Years but they had a very low % of trails open compared to surrounding resorts. Still after lots of cold weather they only claim 27 of 50 trails open yet say they have 85% snowmaking.

 

[makimono]

I don't know anything about 85% snowmaking...I think they just need more natural snow to get the ravine area (and most of the expert trails) open. I haven't been in a few years but I really like Ragged when that stuff is in.

 

[gmcunni]

just fyi - i got the 85% thing from their site.

[h=2]MOUNTAIN STATS:[/h]Vertical Drop: 1,250 ft.
Total Acreage (trail and glade): 220
Snowmaking Coverage: 85%
Number of Trails: 50 (30% Novice, 40% Intermediate, 30% Expert)
Lifts: 5 (One high-speed summit six-pack express, two triples, one double, one surface lift)
Terrain Park: 3 (Wild Side, Wild Woods, & Wild Ride, plus Learn to Slide Park)

 

[AdironRider]

You act like your suprised.

This is par for the course with them.

Are you expecting every resort to be fully open right now no matter what?

 

[gmcunni]

You act like your suprised.

This is par for the course with them.

Are you expecting every resort to be fully open right now no matter what?

nope, not expecting 100% from anyone (did i say that??). but when it has been cold and you have 85% snow making i find it a little odd that they have ~50% open.

 

[AdironRider]

nope, not expecting 100% from anyone (did i say that??). but when it has been cold and you have 85% snow making i find it a little odd that they have ~50% open.

You realize theres a bit more to it than cold temps and infastructure right?

I feel like you are comparing a low level feeder hill to bigger dogs here, which probably isnt the best comparison.

 

[hammer]

I don't know anything about 85% snowmaking...I think they just need more natural snow to get the ravine area (and most of the expert trails) open. I haven't been in a few years but I really like Ragged when that stuff is in.

Coverage means to me that they can cover 85% of something (trails, acreage) with manmade. My guess is that their actual capacity doesn't allow them to easily make snow over all of that.

Anyone ever comment on how much snow they need to open some trails? When I see Showboat without snow it looks like they need to make a lot of snow to open it up.

As others have said, it's a great place to go when there is more natural. If all you have are the snowmaking trails it skis smaller than its size IMO.

 

[bdfreetuna]

I doubt Ragged has got as much snow as most places in VT.

It's been probably 14 years since I've been to Ragged and they didn't have the Ravine area open back then. I'd like to go again this winter when everything is skiable.

 

[gmcunni]

You realize theres a bit more to it than cold temps and infastructure right?

I feel like you are comparing a low level feeder hill to bigger dogs here, which probably isnt the best comparison.

which category are you putting Ragged in?

 

[AdironRider]

Take a guess.

 

[57stevey]

gmc... I'll be going this year for sure as I have a couple of discount tix, but not sure how "soon." If possible I will PM you before I go to see if you still have a need.

 

[gmcunni]

can't tell. in NH what = big dog?

Dartmouth Skiway, NH	8 of 31 Trails	29%
Granite Gorge, NH	10 of 19 Trails	53%
Ragged Mountain, NH	27 of 47 Trails	57%
Gunstock, NH	38 of 55 Trails	69%
Cranmore, NH	41 of 57 Trails	72%
Whaleback, NH	23 of 31 Trails	74%
Cannon Mountain, NH	55 of 73 Trails	75%
Attitash, NH	53 of 67 Trails	79%
Mount Sunapee, NH	56 of 66 Trails	85%
Loon Mountain, NH	53 of 61 Trails	87%
Bretton Woods, NH	89 of 102 Trails	87%
Black Mountain, NH	43 of 45 Trails	96%
Wildcat, NH	48 of 49 Trails	98%
Waterville Valley, NH	51 of 52 Trails	98%
Crotched Mountain, NH	25 of 25 Trails	100%
King Pine, NH	17 of 17 Trails	100%
Pats Peak, NH	23 of 23 Trails	100%

 

[gmcunni]

gmc... I'll be going this year for sure as I have a couple of discount tix, but not sure how "soon." If possible I will PM you before I go to see if you still have a need.

that'd be great, thanks. I'll send $$ and prepaid envelope before you go. i'm in no rush, just updating my box of pins today with some recent additions so it reminded me to ask here.

 

[Abubob]

I might have some old pins. They were selling packs of 'em for a dollar a few years ago.

btw - if you have a CHAD card - two for one lift tickets on Saturday 1/26. I'll be there then for sure.

 

[AdironRider]

can't tell. in NH what = big dog?

Dartmouth Skiway, NH	8 of 31 Trails	29%
Granite Gorge, NH	10 of 19 Trails	53%
Ragged Mountain, NH	27 of 47 Trails	57%
Gunstock, NH	38 of 55 Trails	69%
Cranmore, NH	41 of 57 Trails	72%
Whaleback, NH	23 of 31 Trails	74%
Cannon Mountain, NH	55 of 73 Trails	75%
Attitash, NH	53 of 67 Trails	79%
Mount Sunapee, NH	56 of 66 Trails	85%
Loon Mountain, NH	53 of 61 Trails	87%
Bretton Woods, NH	89 of 102 Trails	87%
Black Mountain, NH	43 of 45 Trails	96%
Wildcat, NH	48 of 49 Trails	98%
Waterville Valley, NH	51 of 52 Trails	98%
Crotched Mountain, NH	25 of 25 Trails	100%
King Pine, NH	17 of 17 Trails	100%
Pats Peak, NH	23 of 23 Trails	100%

Seriously? Outside of King Pine, every one of those ski resorts is a larger player than Ragged. And the king has certain geographical benefits that are putting it in the higher tier.

And what do you know, Ragged's competitive set is sitting pretty much in the same conditions. Whod a thunk?

 

[dmw]

While I certainly understand about their budget, market, etc, I had sort of the same thought - I was there Christmas day, and loved it, though the open terrain was fairly limited. I went back Monday of this week, after significant cold weather, several snowfalls, etc, and there was a bit more open, but I still thought there would be more. They did have Exhibition Glade open though, which was cool... though, if there's enough snow to open that..?

 

[sull1102]

Went to Ragged for the first time this past Wednesday with a couple of buddies, had a pretty good day, but definitely found myself looking at roped out terrain and wondering why on earth it wasn't open, i.e. Lower Ridge was 80% groomed and pushed out, yet they didn't open it all day. The six-pack is great, a little overkill, but gives it a little something special. Spear was pretty cool, Flying Yankee is a great cruiser.

 

[gregnye]

I think the "big dawg" of NH is Loon. I always put Ragged into the same category as Sunapee. Most of the people I met there while skiing were like "have you been to Sunapee? We always go!" (although I have never been to whaleback---sounds big--like "whale", but idk where it is! I will find it some day though!)

 

[deadheadskier]

I'd put Ragged a step below Sunapee. They don't have near the snowmaking infrastructure as Sunapee does and they probably do about a third of the skier visits, so they don't have the same revenue to re-invest. That said, they've made slow, steady and I'd say given the economy, responsible growth over the past five years. The new owners have only had their hands on the place for 6-7 years, so it's not likely Sunapee which has had 15 years of Okemo money flowing towards it.

The primary reason for their slow trail expansion is their snowmaking strategy. They typically blow on a trail one time until it's deep enough to last the entire season. An example would be the Flying Yankee trail. That's one of their larger acreage trails and they open it with about a four foot base. Other areas might blow four trails open with a one foot base and then head back to resurface and base build.

They're quite cautious in opening up the Ravine area and much of that has to do with the stream running through it. If the stream isn't adequately covered, the whole area is out of play.

I love the place, but recognize it's limitations. Those limitations may change quite a bit with the $40M worth of EB-5 Visa money slated to get invested into the place. A high speed lift on Spear and opening terrain on Pinnacle Peak will be a real game changer for them. The problem they'll always have is their location. It's a PITA to get to off the highway.

 

[podunk77]

Deadheadskier's dead on target, I think. I love Ragged and every year make sure some money makes its way from my pocket to their coffers, but it takes money to make money in this business, and Ragged doesn't have enough of it to start that cycle at the moment. I don't know whether the EB-5 money is a definite, but if so I think that'd be a game-changer for them.