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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 early 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. Ralph Amsden was named area manager for Pats Peaks sophomore year. A World War II era Navy veteran, Amsden had previous worked at Carroll Reed Ski Shop and Mt. Whittier. Following the season, Amsden departed to manage the new Mt. Agamenticus ski area in southern Maine.
The base area 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 nearby. Designed by Doug Wilkie, construction of the facility spanned multiple years, including during the poor 1969-70 season and the banner 1970-71 season. Meanwhile, parking was double and a new novice trail cut from the summit.
A double chairlift was added to the Valley area for the 1969-70 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 |
For the 1977-78 season, Pats Peak constructed the Valley Lodge and installed one of the state's first triple chairlifts. A Borvig model, the Hurricane served as the main lift at Pats Peak for the next four decades. Parking was again expanded in conjunction with the lodge and lift projects.
While many other areas shut down in the 1970s and 1980s, Pats Peak chugged along. Not only was it a regional racing destination, but it also hosted school programs with an estimated 5,000 children in 1986.
Base area improvements were made for 1987-88, as Pats Peak celebrated its 25th anniversary season. Base area projects continued for the 1988-89 season, as well as improvements to the Zephyr trail and the learn to ski slope. The Valley double received a new drive terminal for the 1989-90 season, while other trails were widened to improve skier capacity.
Lights were added to the Cyclone trail for the 1993-94 season, followed by Breeze for the 1995-96 season.
Lift and Base Area Improvements
As the mid 1990s arrived, Kris Blomback was promoted to general manager. Blomback later told SkyTrac, "first and foremost I consider myself a caretaker of this facility and want to make sure I leave it like a Boy Scout - better than I found it."
Snow tubing was added for the 1997-98 season, while a J-Bar was relocated from the recently closed King Ridge. 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.
By the turn of the millennium, Pats Peak had grown its learn to ski program to serve more than 8,000 children each season. The night lighting system had been replaced, chairlift drives upgraded, and snowmaking system optimized to put out more snow with less energy consumption and labor. Also around the turn of the millennium, glades were cut over a multi-year period off Hurricane, Zephyr, FIS Race Trail, and Puff.Snowmaking and lighting was installed on Zephyr for the 2001-02 season, improving night skiing for novices.
Pats Peak announced a massive five year base area expansion in 2002, 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. The 2002-03 season also saw the debut of the Saturday night Pay One Price ("POP") program, bundling a lift ticket, rentals, lessons, and snowtubing for $21.
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.
Lights were added to Blast for the 2004-05 season, which, coupled with the Zephyr addition three years prior, provided a continuous top to bottom run for beginners at night.
Pats Peak established itself as a go-to for bump skiers in 2006-07, when it installed lights and a new snowmaking system on the Hurricane trail. The fully-automatic SMI fan gun installation was the first of its type in New England, allowing for frequent resurfacing of the moguls. Night skiing was added to the adjacent Vortex trail the following season.
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 isolated trail pod opened on December 19, 2013, featuring a triple chairlift and new intermediate terrain. Two more trails were added to Cascade Basin for the 2014-15 season, providing terrain for all abilities.
The final day of the Peak Double and debut of the Peak Triple (2017) |
In late spring 2014, Pats Peak purchased and removed the remaining lifts at Ascutney, VT, retaining the Snowdance Triple. Three years later, the lift was refurbished, upgraded, and installed as a replacement to the original Peak Double. Meanwhile, a long term main lodge expansion continued, as well as the installation of additional snowmaking equipment.
NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
| Month |
Average Percent of Terrain Open |
| November | 15% (1 report) |  | | December | 57% (29 reports) | | | January | 91% (41 reports) | | | February | 100% (36 reports) | | | March | 96% (18 reports) | |
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| Recent Conditions Reports |
 | Dec. 23, 2020 by nordicgal
Loose Granular, Packed Powder |
| Dec. 22, 2020 by nordicgal
Packed Powder, Packed Powder |
| Dec. 21, 2020 by nordicgal
Wet Packed Powder, Packed Powder |
 | Dec. 18, 2020 by nordicgal
Packed Powder, Powder |
 | Dec. 17, 2020 by nordicgal
Powder, Packed Powder |
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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
| 2020s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2020-21 | $79.00 | | | | | December 11 | | | | | | 2019-20 | $75.00 | | $559.00 | | 7.5 days | November 29 | March 15 | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $72.00 | | $559.00 | | 7.8 days | November 23 | March 31 | | | | | 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 28 | | | | | 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 | March 27 | 146,000 | | | | 2003-04 | $42.00 | | $349.00 | | 8.3 days | December 6 | March 28 | | | | | 2002-03 | $40.00 | | $495.00 | | 12.4 days | December 7 | March 30 | | | | | 2001-02 | $40.00 | | $495.00 | | 12.4 days | December 21 | March 17 | | | | | 2000-01 | $39.00 | | | | | December 9 | April 1 | | | | | 1999-00 | $39.00 | | $495.00 | | 12.7 days | December 22 | March 26 | | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1998-99 | $38.00 | | | | | December 19 | March 28 | | | | | 1997-98 | $36.00 | | | | | December 13 | March 29 | | | | | 1996-97 | | | | | | December 14 | March 30 | | | | | 1995-96 | | | | | | December 9 | March 31 | | | | | 1994-95 | $33.00 | | | | | | March 19 | | | | | 1993-94 | | | | | | | March 27 | | | | | 1992-93 | $28.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1991-92 | $28.00 | | | | | December 7 | | | | | | 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 | | | | | December 19 | | | | | | 1986-87 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 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 | $10.00 | | $140.00 | | 14.0 days | | | | | | | 1975-76 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1974-75 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1973-74 | $9.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | 1966-67 | | | | | | December 15 | | | | | | 1963-64 | $5.00 | | $65.00 | | 13.0 days | | | | | | | 1962-63 | $5.00 | | | | | January 5 | | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "I worked for Pat's Peak for 12 straight years in the kitchen. To this day, it's the best job I ever had. Made a ton of friends from the exchange student program. Miss working there every day." | | Brandon McIlvene, Dec. 27, 2019 | | "I joined the Pat's Peak Ski Patrol as a volunteer in 1980 and retired 25 years later. I learned so much about skiing, first aid and community service during my career! My son grew up from nursery to racing and we made many wonderful lifetime friends.
" | | Judith Nicholson, Dec. 26, 2019 | | "As a hometown resident....when Pat's Peak was first developed, we learned to ski there and spent many, many hours on all the slopes. We were blessed to have this area so near and so reasonably priced. Many memories." | | Gail Crane, Dec. 20, 2019 | | "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: December 19, 2019
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