newpylong
For clarity, the trail clearing/widening this year was only to accommodate the new feed lines and to get people over to Sugarbush on easier terrain, not net new acreage. So not sure what or where this new pod would be but I imagine it's a long term idea and not gonna happen anytime soon.
justkeepmovingne
New email newsletter out this afternoon. Plenty of interesting updates on construction and improvements. Nothing on this secretive new trail pod (like newpylong says, probably down the line).
It is hard to explain the amount of activity going on at Black Mountain right now. I have been busy with everything Black Mountain since October of last year, when Entabeni and Indy Pass abruptly jumped in front of the closure of this historic ski area. Never has it been this busy.
Since our record-setting last day of skiing on May 3rd, we have been on a relentless and non-stop mission to set up Black Mountain for a magical season and a sustainable future. That has required taking nearly everything apart.
The problem with taking things apart is that you must put them back together. To be honest, sometimes it feels like we may have taken too many things apart, and that we have too much to put back together.
Soon, I will be sharing a full rundown of the top ten changes for this coming season, but some advance highlights include a full rebuild of the lower level of the main lodge, including a brand-new retail store and rental location and process. We have created improved spaces for Ski Patrol and Snowsports School that are unrecognizable. Our kitchen has been gutted and upgraded to allow for a full breakfast offering and a much-anticipated sit-down dinner menu. We have set up the Alpine Cabin for success with meaningful changes to the deck and bar space. We are frantically building an equally unique second cabin at another location on the mountain. Two additional thoughtful and themed locations will round out a completely reimagined food and beverage experience at the mountain.
Over 500,000 pounds of heavy equipment have been digging, dozing, and addressing one of our biggest constraints, parking. Expect at least 30 percent more parking. I am personally overseeing the parking this season, and I can’t wait to be the first person to welcome you to Black Mountain.
All of this sounds great, but I firmly believe that we are not competing for your money; we are competing for your time. People come to Black Mountain to spend their time skiing and riding. That requires snow, and we are on track to install over 28,000 feet of new snowmaking pipe. Over 200 additional snowguns are on site. We have rebuilt or installed new motors across nearly the entire lift and snowmaking system. We are adding a significant amount of additional pumping capacity. We are charging fast, going big, and this little mountain is hell bent on making snow with as much passion and purpose as any place on the planet.
That passion and purpose turned a whole bunch of air and water into snow when we fired up the system this week, making snow on the top and the bottom of the mountain, and an extraordinary feat when you consider we are still building the plane as we try to take off. Never has Black Mountain made snow this early.
We will continue to make snow at every single possible opportunity, aiming for our earliest opening ever. We are not going to flood your inbox or social media feed with endless teases. Mostly because we are all too busy putting everything back together and trying to get open. Being open matters. When we do make the call to open, it will be a quick decision, with little notice. Opening day will be limited to our faithful Season and Indy Passholders. Season passes remain on sale with a limited quantity remaining, and a significant price increase once we hit the last few passes available for sale. I think we will open sooner than anyone expects.
No matter how long these days can be, I always end them with being grateful and thankful for leading the remarkable project that Black Mountain has become. We will put it all back together, and this will be the best season yet.
Thanks for being here.
Chuckstah
YouTube video of some of the work done
justkeepmovingne
Black to open TOMORROW at 7:45am. First in NH!
slatham
Good for them! Indy strong.
ILOVE2SKI
justkeepmovingne
I'm pretty certain none of you are residents of Jackson, so I'll just simply say that my lord, that town is on its KNEES trying to cut off its own head.
If their head wasn't up their own backside, they might just manage to accomplish it. How insufferable.
lotsoskiing
I hope BM wins but a shame they have to go through all the time and expense of fighting this nonsense. Make snow, not war!
ILOVE2SKI
Not a full time resident but am a property owner there. In full support of Erik/Black. He is doing a lot of good for the community and helping a lot of local businesses financially, way more than an abandoned ski area would.
shpride
The town may want to take a lesson from their neighbors to the south about getting into lawsuits. Conway has thrown away a lot of taxpayer money recently getting into and losing lawsuits.
justkeepmovingne
New email from Black this AM:
Letter From the GM - Town Settlement & Free Skiing Tomorrow
There have been an incredible number of challenges we have had to overcome to bring Black Mountain back. Snowmaking, lifts, buildings, infrastructure, marketing, insurance, hiring, and buying the mountain in the first place, but the hardest challenge in this remarkable comeback story has been the tension that we have had with the town of Jackson. I want to be clear, 99% of the people and businesses in town have been nothing but extremely helpful and welcoming. Black Mountain is not only the largest single employer and destination in the Town, but a huge piece of Jackson’s world-class winter recreation identity.
The week before Thanksgiving, the Jackson Police showed up in the middle of the night and attempted to shut down Black Mountain’s snowmaking system over an “anonymous” noise complaint. Black Mountain has been making snow since 1957, predating any zoning or ordinances. I refused to shut down the system.
Jackson, New Hampshire, is a beautiful small town, and I fully admit that there has been an incredible amount of change at the mountain in a very short period of time. However, Black Mountain was clearly unsustainable and needed immediate, meaningful changes. If we want a different and better result, then we must take a different and better action, including finding a collaborative way forward with the Town.
We now have a full settlement and agreement with the town of Jackson that addresses all pending concerns. The Town agrees that our snowmaking operations are legal and a preexisting nonconforming use. The Town will fully cooperate and provide its approval to various state agencies for permitting the Alpine Cabin, including the liquor commission. This requirement also extends to our new F&B locations, specifically the Sugar Shack, Bull-Wheel Bar, Waffle Cabin, and our expanded service on the main lodge deck. Black Mountain will now work directly with a new contact at the police department, Lieutenant Mike Mosher. My OHRV ticket will be dismissed. Noise will be measured from the property line, not the source. We will be guaranteed two fireworks permits per year.
Black Mountain will drop both the Federal and State lawsuits. We have a system in place to collaboratively manage the mountain’s growth with the town, improving parking, restrooms, and communication.
Do not underestimate the importance of this settlement agreement for the Mountain and the Town. Two opposing sides came together and fought to protect the sport and culture of skiing that Black Mountain now represents locally and beyond.
Tomorrow, we will celebrate that sport and culture. While we did not plan to operate until later in the week, we are firing up the lifts from 10 AM - 4 PM on Tuesday, December 2nd, for a powder day celebration. We are expecting significant snowfall. Being open matters, especially on powder days.
We will have free skiing for all Jackson residents to say thank you for making Black Mountain what it is. If you are a season passholder at another mountain that is not operating tomorrow, you are also welcome to join us for free skiing and see this special place first-hand. Anyone taking advantage of free skiing must register online prior to arrival. For everyone else, tickets will be $25 and can be purchased here. Capacity will be limited. The base lodge will be a vibrant scene with food and drink specials all day. Live music starts at 1 PM.
This is a big win.
Thanks for being here.
I really want to express this: Erik seems to have done an AMAZING job as GM of Black even with limited experience. Every single time I read a communication from him or Black, its thorough, informative and is uplifting. Every time there's a problem, he details the plan on how it was or will be solved to prevent us from guessing and leaving us in the dark. And without fail, every time there's bad news, on top of the solution for it, he and the rest of the team include some sort of extra good news - in this case, free skiing.
He and the team has their PR down pat. They get it, and they get how to not only keep but expand business. I skied Black for the first time this past February. This season, I'm using both my Indy days and have separate plans to buy a couple extra passes there just because the mountain is cool and fun as hell.
I'm a sucker for a feel-good story, and this absolutely is one.
millerm277
Glad to hear things have been worked out.
Sounds a lot to me like that police chief might be looking for another new job when his contract is up. Wild to be in that role and to always take the path of escalating problems, although I suppose not surprising.
lotsoskiing
Great story. Communication is key as well as reasonable people speaking louder than the few NIMBYs who don't want or need Black to succeed.
slatham
Great to read this news.
Chuckstah
New FB video of some great upgrades
Beast Patroller
Amazing amount of work done in the off season! Definitely on my list of new areas to explore this winter.
ski_itJR
I am usually an Eric hater b/c he's got that SF start up boy energy but that video was solid. Those are some big improvements to drive more people to the mountain. I am stoked about the new trails. Hopefully we get the snow for them to be in!
rickbolger
that video, all this stuff, I don't even have words for this other than "wow"
this is just incredible
justkeepmovingne
They’re doing such a great job up there at Black. I can’t wait to check out those new hike-to trails. I guess that answers the question of what and where the new “terrain pod” will be. Expansion by lift would have been silly, anyways, when replacing their summit lift would have been the more pertinent thing to do lift-wise (not to mention even more important things like general upkeep and snowmaking related items)
JMaul
How do you make a million in the ski industry?…..
Chris
JMaul How do you make a million in the ski industry?…..
Start with 5 million?
