Ski resort reviews can be helpful only if you know the skill level and skiing perspective of the person authoring the review. My perspective is focused on the actual skiing experience (terrain, crowd, and snow factors). I am a middle-age advanced skier, lacking the courage and/or interest in jumping off cornices or cliffs. I enjoy cruising at relatively high speeds and once in a while popping a little bit of air. I love moderately spaced glades, but shy away from the dangers of extremely tight glades. I will also jump in and out of moderate bump runs. If a ski resort has all the varying types of terrain such as; above tree-line skiing, steeps, difficult bump runs, glades, cruising runs, and trails with “character” (twists, turns, dips, and lips), then, and only then will I feel that the skiing/riding experience has the potential for being complete. The terrain would therefore deserve a complete or perfect score of 5, when using the 1 to 5 rating scale. If any one or several of those factors are missing, then it deserves a lesser score to the degree of what is lacking.

It was time for my annual March trip with by buddies, so we decided to ski the two large New Hampshire Mountains of Bretton Woods and Waterville Valley, and the three smaller mountains of Tenney Mountain, and Ragged Mountain, while also including Shawnee Peak which was just across the New Hampshire border into Maine. With that said, here are my impressions of Ragged Mountain (Ragged).

Terrain: Rated 4.0:
As usual, I was in cruiser mode when we visited Ragged. We took the “Six Pack” lift directly to the summit, made a 180 degree turn, and then took their fall line intermediate trail directly under the chair lift. The trail is called “Upper” and then “Lower Exhibition.” It is a straight shot down Ragged’s entire vertical of 1,250 feet. Now I must admit, cruising is fun, but it leaves a lot to be desired without a little bit of trail character. On the next run, we took the Six Pack once again, but this time we turned toward our left, and dropped into a trail named “Lower Ridge.” Prior to connecting with “Lower Ridge” we had to take a diamonded trail called “Headwall.” It was steep, but very manageable without any moguls. On the way, we passed a trail called “Cabin Fever.” It was gladed, narrow and pretty steep with moguls. With that type of topography, naturally we passed it by. When we finally reached “Lower Ridge” it was worth the journey. It was great cruising and had all the twists and turns that “Upper” and “Lower Exhibition” lacked. Ragged has two distinct peaks; the peak on the left is called “Ragged Mountain,” which accounts for the listed vertical of 1,250 feet. Spear Peak is to the right, which is slightly shorter than Ragged Mountain. You beginning skiers will be happy to know that there is a novice/beginner trail coming down from the summit of Spear Mountain. In between the two peaks there is an area called “The Ravine,” where trails descend from both distinct peaks, and then merge in the valley. All such trails are either diamond or double-diamonds descending through some really wicked glades. If you are like me, you choose your glades carefully. Those glades were tight and suicidal. I naturally left “The Revine” alone. On the Ragged Mountain peak you will fine the “Raggae Glades.” These are moderately spaced trees and a great deal of fun. Ragged has some great terrain, lacking nothing but above-the-tree-line skiing.

Service: Rated 5.0:
The one thing that has not changed since I last visited Ragged is the friendliness and courtesy of the working personnel at Ragged. As soon as we entered the main lodge to purchase lift tickets, we received a warm smile and a welcome from a Ragged staff member selling the lift tickets. Her warm welcome could have been due to a severe case of loneliness because the mountain was empty. It was great to see that lift ticket sales, restrooms, ski shop, cafeteria were all on one floor. No trudging upstairs or downstairs in ski boots to use the restroom or to get food. One of my ski buddies is a resort pin collector (like many of us who ski). Upon wrapping up our ski day at Ragged at approximately 3:30 pm, we proceeded to go to the ski shop to purchase his well deserved resort pin. Much to his chagrin, the shop had closed early. No lights were on and it was locked shut. There were still resort personnel in an office near the lift ticket windows, so he asked whether there were any alternate places within Ragged where he could buy a pin. He was told that the ski shop was the only alternative. One of the resort managers then reached behind the desk, picked up a set of keys, and walked over to the ski shop. She opened the shop door, turned on the lights, and allowed my buddy to pick and pay for the pin of his choice. Now that is customer service!!

Crowds: Rated 5.0:
No lift lines, virtually empty trails, and lots of eating space in any section of the cafeteria that you desired.

Activities: Rated 3.0:
Ragged is definitely in the boonies. They do have several small terrain parks, but that was about it. There are not many lodging opportunities nearby. But where Ragged is situated, they are not very far from more happening areas.

Value: Rated 5.0:
Once again, Ragged is within a neighborhood of ski hills that promote “Two-for-one” lift ticket days. This time our lift tickets were priced in the twenties. The only ski areas that did not participate in such discounting programs were Loon Mountain and Attitash. May there be a locust plague on their households, and may no snow fall on their terrain for the next ten years. By the way, Loon Mountain wants $73 per single day adult lift ticket, all day and everyday.

In summary, we had another great skiing day at Ragged. These smaller areas can produce that same warm and good feeling that the larger areas produce, but they can do it without you having to mortgage the farm just to slide down a hill. Advanced and expert skiers and riders should patronize these smaller resorts. They are the lifeblood of our sport.