Snow Day At Ragged Mountain

by Amy Patenaude
Outdoor/Ski Writer

After a nice week of vacation, going back to school was delayed one more day. Overnight new snow had blanketed New Hampshire and schools were cancelled. The plow trucks cleaned up the roads nicely. We got up early to shovel ourselves out.
I made it to work on time but I knew I would be leaving at lunchtime to go skiing. Becca is a teacher so I sent her a message: “No school for you! Let’s go skiing.”
She replied something about storm bags, school work and digging out. Then she said she could meet me at Ragged Mountain at one o’clock. I said I could be ready to ski by one thirty.
A nice thing about showing up after lunch on a powder day is that I had my choice of parking spaces right near the lodge. Powder hounds, after nabbing first tracks, had come and gone leaving behind their choice parking spaces.

I grabbed my gear and headed to the lodge. I quickly put on my ski boots, helmet and goggles. I sent a text to Becca telling her I was getting my ticket and would meet her at the 6-pack lift.
The best way to buy a lift ticket is at RaggedMountainResort.com. Make your purchase on-line as far in advance as possible for the best deal but even the night before will most often save you good money. Ragged has an RFID card and gate system. The RFID card has a one time five dollar charge but its yours to keep and it can be used again and reloaded on-line with the added benefit of being able to go directly to the slopes. I zipped the card into the chest pocket of my jacket.
I am starting to get quite the collection of RFID cards, every resort that uses the system has their own card. I was told the Ragged card would be good for next season too.

Becca and I were loaded on a chair together ten minutes before our agreed meeting time. She had arrived nearly a full hour earlier and got in at least four runs. I was jealous but she claimed there was still plenty of fresh snow to be found before closing time.
Eight inches of fluffy new snow covered the mountain. It was cloudy and the temperature never got above freezing, so the snow was still light. The main trails were all tracked out yet the new snow was still soft and made for easy turning. In the glades there were still fresh tracks to be made between the trees and the new snow refreshed the natural snow areas.
Ragged has plenty of groomers and lots of glades and old-school trails. Ragged’s trails that are ungroomed and or don’t have snow making were at their best with the new snow. Right off I followed Becca down a series of black diamond natural trails. A short and narrow Twister Trail to Big Rock and then we carried our speed to make it down the almost flat bottom half of Easy Winder back to the base.
Sweepstake off the summit of Ragged skied really nicely. In the middle of the trail the snow had been scrapped off by snowboards and skiers but on the sides the bumps were still covered with the soft snow. The trail had a magical perfect winter feel to it with the great snow underfoot and the snow decorated trees lined the not too wide trail.

Into the Rags to Riches Glade we went and we weaved through the hardwood trees. I aimed for untouched snow and was charmed all the way. There was just enough snow to avoid hazards. I kept a keen eye open for rocks and open water areas. There were few, darn few, and it was just delightful.
Becca snowboards Ragged Mountain often and she led me to and through the glades. On Spear Mountain she showed me how to enter glades that I probably wouldn’t have found by myself.
The cloudy day had became a snowy day and a snow squall was dumping more snow on us.
We continued to yo-yo, up and down the mountain, riding the fast lifts and swooshing back down. We stopped on the trail to catch our breath and told one another that this is great a few dozens different ways.
While on top of Spear Mountain the snow blew out and it was now bright to the north. I had hoped that before the end of the day it would clear and open the view. The mountain vista from Ragged Mountain is grand and reaches far into the White Mountains and right up near Cardigan Mountain with Smarts right over its shoulder.
We enjoyed this view for our last two runs right up to closing time.
As much as we would have liked to have a beverage in the Stone Hearth Bar to celebrate our bonus snow day it was a school night and we both needed to get home.
I hope it snows more this month.
Have fun.