Driving to a ski area before the break of dawn, you realize that you share the road with a different breed of the human species. Normal people do not wake up at 5:00 A.M. on a Saturday and gleefully pack their cars in below freezing temperatures. Normal people do not embark on two hour crusades to remote far off mountains that are cold and covered with snow.
Normal people do not know the feeling of trying to earn first tracks on a powder day.
Once on the highway, you pass a Chrysler Minivan with two blurry eyed parents in the front seat, two kids zonked out in the back. You get passed by some college kids in a 1988 Subaru Wagon with bumper stickers that read “Mad River Glen, Ski It If You Can” and “Cannon – It’s A Blast!” Roof racks adorn the many SUVs driven by yuppies that can barely suppress their shit eating grins knowing that they will soon be devouring powder in a few short hours. These are a few examples of the rare form of the human species known as “Skiers,” and together we all drive far and wide to earn turns after a foot and a half of fluff gets dumped on central Vermont and New Hampshire.
Location and Accessibility
Ragged Mountain Resort is located in Central New Hampshire in a town called Danbury. It is easily and quickly accessible from all major population centers in New England. Ragged is just under an hour drive from the closest borders of its neighboring New England states. Boasting 50 Trails, 1,250 foot Vertical Drop, and the only High Speed Six Pack Chair Lift in New Hampshire, the stats of Ragged Mountain are impressive for its location.
First impressions of Ragged include a parking that is close to the lodge and hassle free. The lodge is warm, spacious, and inviting with an excellent lay out and plenty of seats and tables. At the ticket desk, I over heard an employee noting to another employee how busy it was. “This is Great!” he exclaimed. As I purchased my lift ticket, I prepared for the crowds… but they were not to be!
Diversity is Key
Wait time for the Six Pack was never more than five minutes. The Lift Staff efficiently ensured that all chairs were full, enabling the line to move quickly. Once aboard the lift, you are thrown into the interesting social climate of a six person chair lift. This configuration all but ensures that two to three different groups of people will share the lift. Interesting and engaging conversation often times ensue and occasionally hilarity.
The top-to-bottom Six Pack that services most of the terrain offers skiers many options. Skiers disperse in four different directions that enable the skier to enjoy Ragged in several different ways. Experts will most likely head straight for the excellent glades: Pel’s Pass, Casper’s Cascade, and Stinky’s Slide. The glades off the Six Pack are fairly spacious and open and offer pure enjoyment. Large rocks and boulders dot the glades providing interesting obstacles and jumps. Also of interest to Expert Skiers will be Big Rock Basin which offers up several short but steeply pitched runs including Cemetery Gates, Headwall, and some unmarked shots. Bump fans will delight to excellent lines in Birches and Sweepstakes that offer small and soft bumps at an easy pitch.
Highly skilled skiers will definitely want to ski the tough Double Diamond glades off the Spear Triple Chair. Double Take and Joe’s Ravine drop steeply off the east side of Spear Mountain. Numerous other glade options are also offered off the Spear Mountain Triple Chair.
Intermediate skiers will delight in several offerings, but will mostly enjoy the trails on Northeast Peak. Serviced by its own Double Chair, the Northeast Peak is also easily accessible from the Summit Six Pack. Northeast Peak offers up numerous excellent groomers and natural snow trails at a moderate and comfortable pitch. Most notable among the Northeast Peak Trails is Glades; an aptly named Intermediate Trail with several large trees spotting the trail. Perhaps the best snow on the mountain can be found on the Green Circle trail called Town Meeting, which can be fun for beginners and experts alike!
Despite Ragged Mountain’s rough and tumble sounding name, Beginners are not left out of the trail system. Quite to the contrary, Ragged caters to skiers just learning. Long and gentle trails are offered from the summit of every chair on the mountain including Easy Winder from the Six Pack, Hanton’s Alley to Town Meeting on the Northeast Peak, Village Green from the Village Green Double, and the Cardigan Turnpike off the slow Spear Mountain Triple. First time skiers also have a dedicated learning area near the lodge and the Barnyard Triple Chair servicing gentle beginner terrain exclusively.
Family Time(Out)
While riding the Six Pack above the half groomed–half bumped Exhibition, I engaged in conversation with a man skiing with(out) his family. The family was enjoying lunch and resting in the lodge while he ventured forth to find the advanced terrain of Ragged Mountain. The gentleman was delighted with the opportunities Ragged afforded his family. He noted that his family felt very comfortable at Ragged which offered something for everyone. Specifically, he loved the quick and easy access to almost all of the trails via a fast and comfortable High Speed lift. After visiting several ski areas on a family ski trip, the father concluded that Ragged was the best mountain for his family. He bid me a farewell as he gleefully headed for Spooks Gorge, the expert glade paradise at Ragged.
The Fun Is In The Terrain
While skiing Ragged, I certainly noted that the mountain was not excessively steep or challenging except in the tighter glades of Spooks Gorge. There is certainly nothing to rival the challenge of other New Hampshire ski areas such as Cannon, Wildcat, or Loon. However, the trails at Ragged are both fun and interesting. I was clearly reminded that I need not have constant adrenaline racing through my body to enjoy skiing. The Groomers stayed away from all but one of the Expert Trails, leaving a winter wonderland of soft natural snow, bumps, and an occasional remaining stash of pow. I let out a gleeful and joyous “whoo!” as I worked my mogul dance down the excellent lines of Birches, my favorite run of the day.
Calling it a day and reflecting upon my experience at Ragged, I was amazed that a mountain so close to home offered such excellent, diverse, and fun terrain at a rather reason price. Ragged would clearly be a top choice if I ever wanted to introduce friends or family to the sport. Ragged Mountain ties Black Mountain as being the best kept secret in New Hampshire. The word is out though, Ragged Mountain rocks central New Hampshire.