Letter From the GM – Earliest Ever

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. 

Erik Mogensen

President and General Manager

Black Mountain Community Corporation