Crotched Mountain — Local services in Francestown

[THE MOUNTAIN ITSELF] The mountain is well-maintained, far better than Pat's Peak. Rocket Lift is fast with short lines. The snowmaking is great, even though we get less snow every year. Some say Crotched is a beginner mountain due to its size, but there's a bunch of expert-level hidden features, glades, and terrain parks. The black diamonds would be squares or circles elsewhere, and they're only dangerous when they're icy, or conditions are bad. Overall, if you consider yourself an expert, Crotched is a place to practice your air and terrain skills (but no halfpipes!). Until you wipe out enough times on the ice, of course. That's all New England mountains. Wear a helmet. Oh yes, the mountain is very remote so make sure you have a full tank of gas before venturing out here. At least they still have that bonfire going on weekends. That way you can warm up after taking a beating on the slopes.

[RECENT HISTORY OF CROTCHED] Let me tell you how much better Crotched was, once upon a time... I grew up on Crotched. Before Vale Resorts bought them. They used to be open until 3am on weekends. I guess they don't have the staff or willpower for that anymore. Oh, and they permanently closed two of the lifts down. They had cheap deals for college kids, and cheap season passes. No more. I guess the mountain cannot survive on its own. As a result of these concessions, the mountain now closes at 9pm. They're worse than Pat's Peak now, which closes at 10. Crotched used to be a place for wild parties and good times. Now it's a shadow of its former self. Only good for a little rocky New-England style riding. I don't even think the bar is...

Our first time skiing and boarding Crotched mountain. We showed up the night before our reservations to get our lift ticket and rentals for my daughter squared away. At first there was a little trouble finding the kids lift tickets but Tom, the head of the ski school was amazing and patient and got us everything we needed. Rental experience was fast and easy I recommend if possible getting your tickets and rentals the night before. Today we got to the mountain, our son was booked in a private lesson with Dylan he was amazing. So knowledgeable and so patient with our 9 year old snow boarder. Our daughter was booked in the learn to ski program as she's 14. We accidentally booked her in this same lesson 3 more times. Switching her lessons to the regular group lesson after this was seamless, Tom and Eric gave us the best customer service. Eric matched our daughter with Kady and she was amazing had our daughter doing turns and on the ski lift in her 2 hour morning lesson. Eric purposely matched them knowing Kady was working tomorrow so they could continue to work together. In the afternoon our son took a lesson in the radical program 3 hour lesson. He was grouped with Melissa and she worked with him on his turns even more. I can't say enough amazing things about the staff at this mountain. This was our first time here and we will be back. If you are looking for a mountain with great trails and an amazing ski and board school the Crotched mountain is your spot. I wish I could give...

Only reviewing adult snowboarding lessons and snowboard equipment rental not rest of resort.

Got there a bit after 10 so I missed the group intro lessons and decided to spring for private intro to snowboarding lesson plus lift ticket and equipment rental. Almost $200... The tiny teaching area is right between the main exit from the lodge and the ski lift with nonstop people walking by and unlimited little kids stopping in your path all the time costing you above $1/minute wait time. Lesson was expensive and not great mainly because of the delays and rental equipment issues and made worse due to poor wax job on rental snowboard. Never got a full lesson because of delays and me ultimately not feeling too great but decided to try solo in the training area later and once again a million little kids you’re afraid you’ll bang into and other group lessons wanting to use the tiny and poorly located beginners area. Seems like a decent ski hill but terrible adult lesson area and bad experience with rental equipment snowboards at least...