Big Squaw/Big Moose Mountain 3/16/2023

NewEnglandSkier13

Today was a powder day in the morning and spring skiing in the afternoon for this week's $25 Thursday! Temperatures started out in the upper 20s, and the morning featured excellent powder and packed powder conditions from Thursday night's storm. Temperatures climbed to near 40 around mid-day, and the snow became more spring-like for the afternoon. It was a clear day today, and the views of Katahdin, Moosehead Lake, and the other nearby mountains were outstanding. All of the trails and glades were open with excellent cover across the mountain. The mountain was the busiest that I've ever seen it, and there was often a wait of a few chairs in the middle of the day. I did sign up for snowcat skiing from the summit, but they required at least 5 people to sign up to run a trip, and not enough people were interested today. I also ventured down the abandoned trail called "Rock Garden," but it had a lot of undergrowth and wasn't worth skiing. It was an excellent day of skiing, and I was glad to see the mountain so busy, especially on a weekday!

Donaher Triple

Donaher Triple & Exterminator

The view from the top of the abandoned trail called "Rock Garden"

Roach

Penobscot

The abandoned Thompson Double

The abandoned hotel

The view from Allagash

Saint John

Alley Way Glade

Katahdin across Moosehead Lake

Bog Brook

trackbiker

I thought I heard about a deal where someone was looking to buy it. Did that ever go through?

NewEnglandSkier13

trackbiker;c-59998 wroteI thought I heard about a deal where someone was looking to buy it. Did that ever go through?

No, it fell through in the fall unfortunately.

joshua_segal

There was a plan to do a "not for profit" similar to the plan that was developed by SMF (Saddleback Mountain Foundation) for Saddleback before the current owners took over.

As far as I know, that is still poking along in the background.

NewEnglandSkier13

joshua_segal;c-60000 wroteThere was a plan to do a "not for profit" similar to the plan that was developed by SMF (Saddleback Mountain Foundation) for Saddleback before the current owners took over.

As far as I know, that is still poking along in the background.

Is that separate from the nonprofit which is currently operating the mountain, or would it be an expanded version of the same group?

obienick

The non-profit The Friends of the Mountain run the place on a no-cost lease.

The owner attempted to sell it to a developer which was being financed by a separate non-profit org. The deadline to close passed and after a couple of extensions the owner pulled the plug on the deal.

Thereafter the FotM began to accept bids to clear the upper mountain trails. When conditions allow, $50 cat ride gets you to ski off the top on Penobscot trail.

NewEnglandSkier13

obienick;c-60003 wroteThe non-profit The Friends of the Mountain run the place on a no-cost lease.

The owner attempted to sell it to a developer which was being financed by a separate non-profit org. The deadline to close passed and after a couple of extensions the owner pulled the plug on the deal.

Thereafter the FotM began to accept bids to clear the upper mountain trails. When conditions allow, $50 cat ride gets you to ski off the top on Penobscot trail.

They actually use East Branch for the snowcat rides, but I believe Penobscot is also clear and sometimes groomed. Hopefully they'll get the other trails cleared out this summer!

joshua_segal

NewEnglandSkier13;c-60001 wrote
joshua_segal;c-60000 wroteThere was a plan to do a "not for profit" similar to the plan that was developed by SMF (Saddleback Mountain Foundation) for Saddleback before the current owners took over.

As far as I know, that is still poking along in the background.
Is that separate from the nonprofit which is currently operating the mountain, or would it be an expanded version of the same group?

I think different. There is a developer involved. If you guess his name, I will confirm, but I don’t think it is up to Me to release that info

NewEnglandSkier13

It sounds like they had a great season and there're multiple significant improvements in the works for next season: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02ehqQzLLPoJmGtz6BDiLf8ovse84gMfd2tsbJP4tG9LW4GS8xK6oqojWhBxUwoAAQl&id=100079758198216&mibextid=Nif5oz

lotsoskiing

I do hope they can make a go of it, but it's just a loooong way from anywhere. If they can ever get the upper mt. rolling again, that could be a big step up

NewEnglandSkier13

lotsoskiing;c-60050 wroteI do hope they can make a go of it, but it's just a loooong way from anywhere. If they can ever get the upper mt. rolling again, that could be a big step up

They absolutely have been making a go at it, and they seem to have made the operation sustainable, based on the numbers from the past few years. Right now, they're operating it as a regional ski area, and aren't trying to attract people from 3+ hours away. If someone buys it or they decide that they want to reopen the upper mountain, then they will have to try to make it a destination resort to be sustainable. The current group has been investing a lot to improve and maintain their current operating footprint, and it really shows. Everything there seems to be in excellent condition and well taken care of.

lotsoskiing

NewEnglandSkier13;c-60051 wrote
lotsoskiing;c-60050 wroteI do hope they can make a go of it, but it's just a loooong way from anywhere. If they can ever get the upper mt. rolling again, that could be a big step up
They absolutely have been making a go at it, and they seem to have made the operation sustainable, based on the numbers from the past few years. Right now, they're operating it was a regional ski area, and aren't trying to attract people from 3+ hours away. If someone buys it or they decide that they want to reopen the upper mountain, then they will have to try to make it a destination resort to be sustainable. The current group has been investing a lot to improve and maintain their current operating footprint, and it really shows. Everything there seems to be in excellent condition and well taken care of.

Good to hear. Following the model of a place like Oak in NY: Keep it manageable, put out a great product, and even if a modest operation, it gains a loyal following

bousquet19

Wow.

Great photos like yours New England Skier make a visit to Big Moose very tempting, now that my schedule is more flexible.

What days and hours were they open in 2022-23?

Woody

NewEnglandSkier13

bousquet19;c-60781 wroteWow.

Great photos like yours New England Skier make a visit to Big Moose very tempting, now that my schedule is more flexible.

What days and hours were they open in 2022-23?

Woody

I know it's a ways to go to get there for most people, but I just about guarantee that you'll love it. The terrain off the lift is some of the best cruising terrain in New England, it's never crowded, it's affordable, the people there are super friendly, they usually offer snowcat rides to the original summit, and they consistently have some of the best quality & quantity of snow in New England. I've never had a bad day there, and they've been 100% open almost every time I've gone.

Last season they were open Thursday-Sunday. If you're up that way on a weekend and you have a little extra free time, make sure to stop by Baker Mountain. They have $15 lift tickets and the most vertical drop of any T-bar ski area in New England. Their classic operation is well worth a few hours, or an afternoon, of your time.