New Hampshire's Black Mountain Aims for Earliest Opening Ever

Black Mountain, New Hampshire, is hoping to open earlier than ever before.

In a recent letter to its guests, the ski area’s president and general manager, Erik Mogensen, described how the mountain has been preparing for winter.

That has involved the ongoing installation of over 28,000 feet of new snowmaking pipe, and the addition of more than 200 new snowguns, Mogensen wrote. Black Mountain’s also adding more pumping capacity. This week, the ski area started making snow.

What Black Mountain won’t do, however, is “flood your inbox or social media feed with endless teases,” Mogensen wrote. “Mostly because we are all too busy putting everything back together and trying to get open.”

When the ski area does decide to open, it’ll be a quick decision with little notice, Mogensen wrote. He thinks that’ll happen sooner than anyone expects. 

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

Last fall, the Indy Pass and Entabeni Systems became the owners of Black Mountain with plans to transform it into a community cooperative, effectively saving it from closing. 

Mogensen is the managing director of the Indy Pass and founded Entabeni Systems, a company that offers tech solutions to independent ski areas. He also became the general manager of Black Mountain after the purchase.

Since the end of the 2024-25 winter, Mogensen and the staff of Black Mountain have been busy working “to set up Black Mountain for a magical season and a sustainable future,” he wrote. “That has required taking nearly everything apart.”

Those efforts have gone beyond snowmaking, including a rebuild of the main lodge’s lower level, a kitchen upgrade, and changes to the deck and bar space at the Alpine Cabin. Mogensen plans to share a list of the top ten changes for the coming season soon.

“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,” Mogensen wrote at the conclusion of his letter. “We will put it all back together, and this will be the best season yet.”

Related: 5 Essential Tips for Safely Skiing in the Backcountry