hammer
Active member
What's Big Blue? Is that the Exhibition trail under the 6-pack?
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Ragged
- Thread starter SnowRider
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Angus
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sorry - blue hills canton massachusetts. the raggeds' mgmt leases it from the MDC - see earlier discussion in thread.
Seems like the 'brothers went too big too fast. They had bragged about how they did their own work and remained debt free....until they installed the 6-pack. I am not sure what they were thinking there. I guess they wanted to make a splash...but that seems to not have worked. I will admit that there is a large segment of the market that only skis at places were there are HSQ's. But that move did not make sense given their #'s and size.
Anyone have some inside info?
And BTW I did contact Ragged to take part in the AZ Challenge and could not get anyone at the mountain...rather the contact was a marketing firm outside of BOSTON. So I decided not to pursue it...
Anyone have some inside info?
And BTW I did contact Ragged to take part in the AZ Challenge and could not get anyone at the mountain...rather the contact was a marketing firm outside of BOSTON. So I decided not to pursue it...
billski
Active member
They are still showing their carload deals. But then again, they have lots of skeletons in the closet. Still showing only 2 trails open. Makes the Magic deal look like the Ritz...
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Carload Wednesdays[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Visit Ragged any Wednesday this winter and pay by the carload. $50 for up to 5 people. That's only $10 per person![/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Carload Wednesdays[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Visit Ragged any Wednesday this winter and pay by the carload. $50 for up to 5 people. That's only $10 per person![/FONT]
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SnowRider
New member
Does this mean maybe there 6 pack was damaged or broken? Maybe the snowmaking system was messed up again.
The Six Pack was struck by lightning this summer and had to be rebuilt.
SnowRider
New member
that explains that but why didnt they just open another chair? hmm...
billski
Active member
Learn to ski
A quick peek at the trail map illustrates the real problem. Ragged has very, very little snowmaking. There is snowmaking for the beginner area, 1 green top-to-bottom, 1 green village green/townmeeting (mid mountain). Lift operations are entirely dependent on having skiable terrain. That's it.
The six pack services the the main peak, where all the trails are dependent on natural snow. The only lift running on that side (there are three including the 6) is the mid-mountain Village Double, serving the only area on that peak with snowmaking.
The second peak, Spear mountain has one top to bottom green that has snowmaking. The more interesting question is why that is not open today (saving for the weekend?) They would have to run a second lift to service that trail. It's nice and long, great for beginners.
What you are left with, on a bad winter, Ragged becomes an area that is a learn-to-ski hill, much like Nashoba or Bradford in Mass.
Their situation is much like Magic.
See http://ragged-mt.com/ski/snowreport.htm
A quick peek at the trail map illustrates the real problem. Ragged has very, very little snowmaking. There is snowmaking for the beginner area, 1 green top-to-bottom, 1 green village green/townmeeting (mid mountain). Lift operations are entirely dependent on having skiable terrain. That's it.
The six pack services the the main peak, where all the trails are dependent on natural snow. The only lift running on that side (there are three including the 6) is the mid-mountain Village Double, serving the only area on that peak with snowmaking.
The second peak, Spear mountain has one top to bottom green that has snowmaking. The more interesting question is why that is not open today (saving for the weekend?) They would have to run a second lift to service that trail. It's nice and long, great for beginners.
What you are left with, on a bad winter, Ragged becomes an area that is a learn-to-ski hill, much like Nashoba or Bradford in Mass.
Their situation is much like Magic.
See http://ragged-mt.com/ski/snowreport.htm
MikeTrainor
Member
Form what I have heard the Spear Mountain lift failed lift inspection and work will begin on that after the 6 pack work is complete.
Wow. That is a really stupid design....out to lunch there....
Who puts in a six pack and no snowmaking??!!
Hmmm....Ragged Claims that they have 98 percent snowmaking. Something is not right here....
Billski--any response?
Billski--any response?
hammer
Active member
Are you sure about this?
I remember a few years back when they had more terrain open, and there was snowmaking on a number of trails, including the greens from the summit and the liftline trails under the 6-pack and the Spear Triple.
They do have a number of natural snow trails, but I thought that they also had a decent number of trails where they made snow.
jack97
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It might be one of those marketing gimmicks /half truths. The pipes are laid out on most of the trials and 98% percent is not far off if you don't count the glades/woods. The other facotr to consider is wheter the towers or portable snow guns are used. IIRC, I didn't see alot of towers, so this might limit how fast they open trails.
MikeTrainor
Member
Call me crazy but there is not point of making snow until you can open the two main lifts.
Birdman829
New member
I'm sorry to hear all of this. I probably haven't been there for 4 or 5 years and I'm sad to hear the place has gone downhill.
eatskisleep
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I'm going to have to say serious financial trouble or the snowmaking is broken.
I was there yesterday. They had not really made snow on any of the trails they claimed to have made snow on. We had a race and all 300 racers were forced to ride the double chair to about 1/2 way (if that) up the mountain. Talk about long lift lines! The cover on the one trail that was open was nice and it wasn't icy at all. But come on, mid January and only really one trail open?! Not a good sign.
Oh and not sure on ticket prices but as a racer it was $15.00 per person.
I was there yesterday. They had not really made snow on any of the trails they claimed to have made snow on. We had a race and all 300 racers were forced to ride the double chair to about 1/2 way (if that) up the mountain. Talk about long lift lines! The cover on the one trail that was open was nice and it wasn't icy at all. But come on, mid January and only really one trail open?! Not a good sign.
Oh and not sure on ticket prices but as a racer it was $15.00 per person.
eatskisleep
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I am going to have to say that they are in financial trouble or their snowmaking system is broken.
Yesterday was plenty cold to be making snow but they were not (maybe it was a little bit too windy?) They had made some snow near the 6-pack but nothing much like they were trying to get it open.
300 racers on one trail with one double lift serving the terrain that isn't even half-way up the mountain. Maybe for the beginning of December this would be acceptable, but now, that just isn't good.
Conditions on the trail that was open were great. I didn't see any snowmaking being made (or having been made previously) on the trails their site claims to be making snow on.
It's too bad because it is really a fun mountain.
Oh yeah; ticket prices: $15.00 but that is because I was racing. Not sure how much they would be otherwise.
Yesterday was plenty cold to be making snow but they were not (maybe it was a little bit too windy?) They had made some snow near the 6-pack but nothing much like they were trying to get it open.
300 racers on one trail with one double lift serving the terrain that isn't even half-way up the mountain. Maybe for the beginning of December this would be acceptable, but now, that just isn't good.
Conditions on the trail that was open were great. I didn't see any snowmaking being made (or having been made previously) on the trails their site claims to be making snow on.
It's too bad because it is really a fun mountain.
Oh yeah; ticket prices: $15.00 but that is because I was racing. Not sure how much they would be otherwise.
billski
Active member
Fishy
I agree, It does seem fishy.
All I did was look at their trail map to come up with my observations. It's their map. Check it out: http://ragged-mt.com/ski/trailmap.htm I would like to think their trail maps is wrong, given that incorrect public proclimations could libel them.
That said, the two lower lifts that do run, really only service one run each, each having snowmaking shown on the map. So, whatever the upper mountain has or has not for snowmaking won't help them.
They must be seriously bleeding cash. They must not be able to afford to bring in #1 Ace Primo Lift mechanic, or they need a super-specialized part, or they need cash to pay for it. Down like this at this point is going to kill them unless they have deeeeep pockets (not.)
More:
Residents have mixed views of resort plans
By ELIZABETH WALTERS
Monitor staff
July 05. 2006 9:30AM
A fter Ragged Mountain Resort announced plans last week for a 10-year expansion, residents of Danbury began wondering what ramifications the project - whose vacation homes could effectively double the village's population - might have in their town. The design is not yet submitted to the Danbury planning board, and some townspeople said it was too early to pass judgment on the idea. But they allowed that if the expansion brings in money to lighten the load on residential taxpayers, a larger Ragged Mountain probably would be welcome.
I agree, It does seem fishy.
All I did was look at their trail map to come up with my observations. It's their map. Check it out: http://ragged-mt.com/ski/trailmap.htm I would like to think their trail maps is wrong, given that incorrect public proclimations could libel them.
That said, the two lower lifts that do run, really only service one run each, each having snowmaking shown on the map. So, whatever the upper mountain has or has not for snowmaking won't help them.
They must be seriously bleeding cash. They must not be able to afford to bring in #1 Ace Primo Lift mechanic, or they need a super-specialized part, or they need cash to pay for it. Down like this at this point is going to kill them unless they have deeeeep pockets (not.)
More:
Residents have mixed views of resort plans
By ELIZABETH WALTERS
Monitor staff
July 05. 2006 9:30AM
A fter Ragged Mountain Resort announced plans last week for a 10-year expansion, residents of Danbury began wondering what ramifications the project - whose vacation homes could effectively double the village's population - might have in their town. The design is not yet submitted to the Danbury planning board, and some townspeople said it was too early to pass judgment on the idea. But they allowed that if the expansion brings in money to lighten the load on residential taxpayers, a larger Ragged Mountain probably would be welcome.
Last edited:
SnowRider
New member
My take is on the situation is this...
They may be blowing on the summit and pushing it down maybe because the lower pipes are messed?
Or they are afraid that if they cant get the 6 pack going they wasted money on blowing snow on trails that cant be reached.
They may be blowing on the summit and pushing it down maybe because the lower pipes are messed?
Or they are afraid that if they cant get the 6 pack going they wasted money on blowing snow on trails that cant be reached.
sledhaulingmedic
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I've always enjoyed the place and felt it could do well serving the family niche. It always seems to be something...the snowmaking pipe, the 6 pack getting struck by lightning, even the 6 pack's installation was delayed. (I recall a long thread on SJ back durring the install where many posters insisted the 6-pack would kill the place.)
I haven't been up there is a couple of seasons, but I believe that most trails (excluding the glades) have pipes on them, but I don't know just how many guns they can run at once (in terms of water, pump and compressor capacity, etc..) They are running mostly older equipment, so it's also a very labor intensive proposition.
Lots of rumours are flying, so it will certainly be interesting to see what pans out.
On the Blue Hills front, the lease was shot down on Beacon Hill for the upteenth time this past summer. I'll be curious to see if they (The Endriunas' (appologies if I butchered the spelling) aplly for the operating permit again for next season.
I'd love to see both as going concerns. Right now, I'm concerned about them going...away
I haven't been up there is a couple of seasons, but I believe that most trails (excluding the glades) have pipes on them, but I don't know just how many guns they can run at once (in terms of water, pump and compressor capacity, etc..) They are running mostly older equipment, so it's also a very labor intensive proposition.
Lots of rumours are flying, so it will certainly be interesting to see what pans out.
On the Blue Hills front, the lease was shot down on Beacon Hill for the upteenth time this past summer. I'll be curious to see if they (The Endriunas' (appologies if I butchered the spelling) aplly for the operating permit again for next season.
I'd love to see both as going concerns. Right now, I'm concerned about them going...away
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