Rip Saw at Loon

[Johnskiismore]

Took a hike up the new trail, Rip Saw on South Peak at Loon Mountain. They are doing a lot of blasting up at the top! Snow making pipes are in the process of being hauled up, this trail will be a nice addition to South Peak!

Some pictures:

Rip Saw Pictures

 

[Johnskiismore]

More pictures:

Rip Saw Trail Construction

 

[bvibert]

Looks like they're clearing way for an interstate!

I guess they're not too big on following the natural contours of the land...

 

[Greg]

I was gonna say. Why blow up all those terrain features?

 

[Telemechanic]

I was gonna say. Why blow up all those terrain features?

The blasting was done to make snowmaking and grooming cheaper and easier. Mostly very large boulders and some ledge was eliminated to create a more consistant grade. More obstacles than features. Some of it would have made the run more challenging but then you'd have a trail that was open less often. In 2007, Boom Run took much-much more blasting just to get it to where there was a downhill slope from the summit to where Ripsaw starts. We all know Loon is heavily committed to snowmaking, grooming and maximizing trail counts. It still looks to be a steep and challenging trail (I've hiked it too, pictures don't do it justice) but if I want more there's still Mad River Glen (and others).

Thanks for the pictures John. I haven't been able to get over there in awhile.