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Located on the northeast face of Craney Hill in Henniker, New Hampshire, Pats Peak is one of southern New Hampshire's most popular ski areas. While many areas large and small have come and gone in the region over the past half century plus, Pats Peak has been able to gradually improve its facilities, attributing much of its success to a business model that avoids debt whenever possible.
Early Years
The Peak Double circa the mid 1960s |
The roots of Pats Peak date back to early 1962, when Joe, David, Wayne, and Stuart Patenaude began to develop a ski area on Craney Hill. Half of the land was owned by their father Merle, while the other half was acquired for about $10 an acre. Four trails and two slopes were cleared with some of the resulting timber used for constructing a lodge uphill from the present day base area.
Pats Peak ski area opened on January 5, 1963, supported by a lift network consisting of a double chairlift, a T-Bar, and a rope tow. Night skiing was available on a semi-private basis.
With much of the initial terrain steep in nature, the novice Valley area was opened for 1963-64 season, serviced by a new 1,900 foot long T-Bar. A double chairlift was added to the Valley area for the 1969-70 season.
The base area in circa the 1970s |
The base area was transformed starting in 1968, when the Peak double chairlift bottom terminal was moved downhill and work was started on a new, much larger base lodge was constructed nearby. Designed by Doug Wilkie, construction of the facility likely spanned multiple years, including during the poor 1969-70 season and the banner 1970-71 season.
In the midst of some bad snow years in the early 1970s, Pats Peak installed its large scale snowmaking system for the 1972-73 season. "Snow White and the Seven Wells" referred to what was then considered the largest air compressor in New England (made in the 1930s and found by Joe in Maine), and the series of wells providing water (likely drilled by Wayne's Contoocook Artesian Well Company).
Pats Peak's snowmaking system enabled it to host the United States National Slalom Championships in February of the rough 1973-74 season. Soon thereafter, Pats Peak Academy was launched, providing racers with slope time while teaming up with New England College and New Hampton School for academics.
The Valley Area in the early 1970s |
In 1977, Pats Peak installed one of the state's first triple chairlifts. A Borvig model, the Hurricane remains the main lift at Pats Peak to this day.
While many other areas shut down in the 1970s and 1980s, Pats Peak chugged along. The Valley double received a new drive terminal for the 1989-90 season, while other trails were widened to improve skier capacity.
Lift and Base Area Improvements
Snow tubing was added for the 1997-98 season. The following year, a double chairlift was purchased from the recently closed Norwich University ski area and installed on the main mountain, providing racers and experts with a short, fast ride.
Circa 2002, Pats Peak announced a massive five year base area expansion, including an additional 8,000 square feet of lodge space. The improvements helped the area to become a popular location for off season banquets and weddings.
Pats Peak's second triple chairlift was installed for the 2003-04 season. Named Turbulence, the Partek-Borvig triple chairlift took some stress off the Valley Double.
Meanwhile, the snowmaking system was gradually improved, allowing Pats Peak to consistently be amongst the first areas in the region to operate each season, as well as to get 100% of its terrain open.
Cascade Basin
The debut of Cascade Basin on December 19, 2013 |
The Backdraft trail debuted for the 2012-2013, previewing development of the new $1 million Cascade Basin area. The new pod opened on December 19, 2013, featuring a triple chairlift and new intermediate terrain.
In late spring 2014, Pats Peak purchased and removed the remaining lifts at Ascutney, VT, retaining the Snowdance Triple to potentially replace the Peak Double.
NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
| Month |
Average Percent of Terrain Open |
| December | 82% (5 reports) |  | | January | 86% (25 reports) | | | February | 100% (17 reports) | | | March | 93% (10 reports) | |
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| Recent Conditions Reports |
 | Mar. 24, 2018 by skiit
Packed Powder, Packed Powder |
 | Mar. 22, 2018 by rocket21
Loose Granular, Spring Snow |
 | Mar. 13, 2018 by nordicgal
Powder, Powder |
| Feb. 28, 2018 by rocket21
Spring Snow, Spring Snow |
| Feb. 28, 2018 by nordicgal
Spring Snow, Frozen Granular |
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| Pats Peak on NewEnglandSkiConditions.com |
NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News
Expansion History
Image Gallery
Lifts
Click on lift name for information and photos
Maps
Year by Year History
Adult Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket; Adult Full Price Unlimited Season Pass
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $72.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2017-18 | $70.00 | | $549.00 | | 7.8 days | December 2 | April 1 | | | | | 2016-17 | $68.00 | | $549.00 | | 8.1 days | December 10 | March 26 | | | | | 2015-16 | $66.00 | | $539.00 | | 8.2 days | December 5 | March 27 | | | | | 2014-15 | $64.00 | | $529.00 | | 8.3 days | November 22 | March 29 | | | | | 2013-14 | $62.00 | | $519.00 | | 8.4 days | November 30 | March 30 | | | | | 2012-13 | $60.00 | | $499.00 | | 8.3 days | November 30 | March 31 | | | | | 2011-12 | $58.00 | | $469.00 | | 8.1 days | December 17 | March 23 | 160,000 | | | | 2010-11 | $56.00 | | $449.00 | | 8.0 days | November 27 | March 27 | 160,000 | | | | 2009-10 | $54.00 | | $429.00 | | 7.9 days | December 11 | March 28 | | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $52.00 | | $419.00 | | 8.1 days | November 22 | March 29 | | | | | 2007-08 | $49.00 | | $389.00 | | 7.9 days | December 1 | April 6 | | | | | 2006-07 | $48.00 | | $369.00 | | 7.7 days | December 9 | March 25 | | | | | 2005-06 | $47.00 | | $349.00 | | 7.4 days | November 26 | March 26 | 150,000 | | | | 2004-05 | $43.00 | | $349.00 | | 8.1 days | December 11 | | 146,000 | | | | 2003-04 | $42.00 | | $349.00 | | 8.3 days | | | | | | | 2002-03 | $40.00 | | $495.00 | | 12.4 days | December 7 | | | | | | 2001-02 | $40.00 | | $495.00 | | 12.4 days | | March 31 | | | | | 2000-01 | $39.00 | | | | | | April 1 | | | | | 1999-00 | $39.00 | | $495.00 | | 12.7 days | | March 26 | | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1998-99 | $38.00 | | | | | | March 28 | | | | | 1997-98 | $36.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1996-97 | | | | | | | March 30 | | | | | 1994-95 | $33.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1992-93 | $28.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1991-92 | $28.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1990-91 | $28.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1989-90 | $25.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1988-89 | $24.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1987-88 | $22.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1986-87 | $19.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1985-86 | $19.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1984-85 | $18.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1982-83 | $17.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1981-82 | $16.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1980-81 | $15.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1979-80 | $12.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1978-79 | $12.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1977-78 | $11.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1976-77 | | | $140.00 | | | | | | | | | 1972-73 | $9.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1971-72 | $8.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1970-71 | $8.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1969-70 | $7.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1968-69 | $6.00 | | $75.00 | | 12.5 days | | | | | | | 1967-68 | $5.50 | | | | | November 18 | | | | | | 1963-64 | $5.00 | | $65.00 | | 13.0 days | | | | | | | 1962-63 | $5.00 | | | | | January 5 | | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "I went to Academy at the peak and later on started my ski instruction career at the peak, this place is near and dear to me" | | Olga Spanhoff, Mar. 14, 2017 | | "Had the privilege to start my coaching career at the Peak with a fabulous group of adults and kids. I remember working with Olga, I trust al is well with you." | | Terry Leonard, May. 8, 2015 | | "i spent a few of my winters there going to a awesome small racing academy and getting great coaching from some of the best I love the Peak" | | olga spanhoff, Jan. 10, 2014 |
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External Links
Pats Peak - official site
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Last updated: March 14, 2017
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