Pats Peak is an independent alpine ski resort in Henniker, New Hampshire , in the United States. The ski area opened in 1963 and has a vertical drop of 770 feet (230 m). It is roughly a 90-minute drive from Boston , Massachusetts.
6-552: The four Patenaude brothers bought the original 200-acre (0.81 km) plot of land for the Peak from their father, Merle Patenaude. It has been owned continuously by the Patenaude family since it opened, with three original owners selling their parts of the land to the fourth. The resort has become a popular destination for night skiing . Most trails are named after winds, such as Cyclone , Hurricane , Twister and Tornado . The trail network
12-899: A slope at night has been a scheduled event of winter festivals such as the Nordic Games since at least 1903. The dramatic spectacle of torchlight ski descents is a program element at the Holmenkollen Ski Festival , and ski resort holiday celebrations. A torchlit ski race was held in Switzerland in 1920. In the 1925 Winter Carnival at Rumford, Maine , night ski jumping was included. Chicopee Ski Club in Ontario Canada had lighted night skiing in 1935, with lights powered by car batteries. Lighted slope skiing at Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield, Massachusetts began in 1936 thanks to
18-584: Is 50% novice, 21% intermediate, 12% advanced, and 17% expert. Ski magazine said it has the best slalom skiing terrain in New Hampshire (FIS Race Trail, Expert). The mountain contains two or three (depending on conditions) terrain parks and nine official glades. Pats Peak has an alpine race team in the Central Division of the NHARA racing league. The team encompasses J6, J5, J4, J3, J2, and J1 age groups. The team
24-531: Is also a rope tow in one of the terrain parks. Night skiing Night skiing is the sport of skiing or snowboarding after sundown, offered at many ski areas . There are floodlights – with metal halide , LED or magnetic induction lamps – along the piste which allow for better visibility. The night skiing session typically begins around sunset , and ends between 8:00 PM and 10:30 PM. Night skiing offers reduced price access versus daylight hours. Trails at night are normally not as busy as during
30-622: Is mostly coached by volunteers. In the 2013-14 season, Pats Peak opened an expansion on the east side of Craney Hill. Named Cascade Basin, it includes a triple chair lift covering 370 vertical feet. In 2017, Pats Peak installed a used CTEC Triple Chairlift to replace the aging Peak Double Chairlift. The new Peak Triple was formerly the Snowdance Triple at Ascutney Mountain Resort in Vermont. Pats Peak has six chairlifts and two magic carpets . There
36-486: The day, but there are usually fewer runs available. The trails also tend to be icier than during the day, due to melting and refreezing . Starting in 1997 Planai in Austria has held a World Cup slalom competition at night. A few ski resorts offer opportunities for night skiing wearing personal headlamps , or by the light of the full moon. Processions of skiers holding torches, lanterns or flares while skiing down
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