Until recently, the former Pinnacle Ski Area sat dormant. Since closing it's lifts at the end of the 1977 ski season the trails and the buildings have been virtually abandoned. The bridge linking the area to Route 9 had all but disappeared with only the superstructure still intact. Several structures on the premises were in advanced stages of deterioration and partial collapse. The trails had grown in enough to prohibit passerby's from knowing that the area had once been a fairly successful ski area.

After a considerable amount of work clearing slopes, removing the remains of the old buildings, building new ones and rebuilding the bridge linking the area to a small parking lot just off of Route 9 past the Otter Brook Recreation Areas, the area is once again open. Granite Gorge as it is now called opened this weekend, though very close to the end of the 2002-2003. Though work on the area is not complete, it offers Skiing and Snowboarding on Wednesday and Thursday and Snow tubing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All winter sports activities are currently on the Bunny Buster slope and utilize a handle tow lift.

The Bunny Buster slope has snowmaking at this time; there is a 3-foot or greater base. Snowmaking is also available at the bottom to the Main Street trail. The area holds snow well due to it's northern facing exposure, but snowmaking will be added to the entire area.

Currently, the area is using a Piston Bully groomer to maintain all of the trails and they are all in skiable condition. A couple people were skiing on the other trails. They were allowed to hike up the edge of the trail and ski down. Some were even towed to the top by area employees on snowmobiles. For Wednesdays and Thursdays, the lanes of the tubing area will be smoothed out and that area will become the skiing area. The Bunny Buster Slope is lighted for night skiing and tubing.

Future plans are to open all trails that existed during the area last year of operation. Management is currently exploring lift options and would like to install a triple chair to the top. They are also planning to add lighting on the entire area for night skiing. Rentals, a Ski School and a Ski Patrol will also be added to the area. Ski Equipment is not currently available, but snow tubes are.

Having visited the area in early February, many changes were evident. An Austrian style home, which was standing about 150 feet from the base of the area on the right hand side as you face it, was burnt by the town for Fire Practice on March 15th, it was still smoldering. The slopes and trails were all groomed and looked inviting. The tubing area had a couple dozen people on it and the place looked alive.

Fred and Dave Baybutt of Baybutt Construction Corporation, Keene, NH, are bringing the area back to life. Family members and friends are currently assisting in the day to day operation, but Mr. Baybutt said that in the future they would need to take more people on to be part of their ski patrol and instructional staff. Best of luck to Granite Gorge and the Baybutt family in their venture.

The Above article was published on  SnowJournal.com in March of 2003.

Over the past couple years I have visited the area and watched it re-emerge as Granite Gorge.  On those visits I have taken the following pictures. 

Granite Gorge operated last season with a tubing park and tow lift served beginners slopes. On a recent visit I found out that they will be relocating the tubing park so that they can have three shutes.  This area will have a ner surface lift, lights and snowmaking. According to the person I spoke with, this will allow the area to more than double the number of tubers at any given time. The Bunny Buster trail, which shared with the tubing area,  will now be the beginner's area for skiing. A new T-bar lift will be installed and will deliver skiers to Deer Trail, Jumper, Headwall, and Main Street Race, which will now have snowmaking and lighting, these trails made up the original Pinnacle. 

It will be interesting to follow this areas progress, particularly since Crotched Mountain has also reopened and it is only about 10-15 miles away.  Pat's Peak and Sunapee are also nearby.  I wish the new owners lots of success and luck with this area, everything they have done looks great.
 

For information on this area in the years it was Pinnacle please visit my Pinnacle Page which has an old brochure, patch and some other pictures.

  To view more ski area photos click here.

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