Photo: Black Mountain / Facebook
America has no shortage of legal disputes, and lawsuits are certainly no rarity on mountains across the nation. Who could forget when Gwyneth Paltrow got sued for a bunny slope collision, for example?
Back in 2024, a man named Erik Mogensen purchased a small New Hampshire ski area called Black Mountain. The nearly 100-year-old ski area has always been the kind of family-owned, small, local operation that skiers and snowboarders cherish. And in fact, Mogensen was dubbed the “ski area savior,” according to SKI magazine for his work helping small ski areas like Black Mountain find success in an age when it feels like corporate-owned resorts are making the sport less and less accessible. You would think that’d endear the guy to the 1,028 people of Jackson, New Hampshire, but the new ski area owner got off to a rocky start with some of the locals.
Reportedly, as Black Mountain’s season was getting started, an “anonymous” noise complaint about the snowmaking machines led to local police attempting to shut the resort down just before Thanksgiving.
“Black Mountain has been making snow since 1957, predating any zoning or ordinances. I refused to shut down the system,” Mogensen wrote in a social media post Monday.
That was a boiling point between Mogensen and city officials, it turns out, forcing them to drop their beef. Mogensen had filed a federal civil rights suit and a right-to-know suit in October. City officials, in response, it seems, had been gearing up to drop Black Mountain’s mid-mountain Alpine Cabin’s liquor license. But instead of things getting worse, Mogensen announced that all the drama forced them to reach a settlement that seems best for everybody around Jackson.
“The agreement states that Black will construct two bathrooms at the Alpine Cabin there before next season to be used for staff and for limited use by the public. The deal also gives Black the right to two fireworks displays a year indefinitely, including one this New Year’s Eve which he had been seeking unsuccessfully from the town since July,” Paula Tracy of InDepthNH wrote Monday. “There are no compensatory damages being awarded and all litigation is dropped. The town’s building inspector will be the mountain’s primary contact, rather than in the past where Police Chief Chris Perley has been the point person on the town’s behalf.”
But the one thing local skiers and snowboarders are probably going to like most came in an announcement from Mogensen himself.
“Do not underestimate the importance of this settlement agreement for the Mountain and the Town. Two opposing sides came together and fought to protect the sport and culture of skiing that Black Mountain now represents locally and beyond,” he wrote, announcing that while the resort wasn’t planning to operate on Tuesday, December 2, the settlement was cause for celebration. “We will have free skiing for all Jackson residents to say thank you for making Black Mountain what it is. If you are a season pass holder at another mountain that is not operating tomorrow, you are also welcome to join us for free skiing and see this special place first-hand. Anyone taking advantage of free skiing must register online prior to arrival. For everyone else, tickets will be $25. The base lodge will be a vibrant scene with food and drink specials all day. Live music starts at 1 p.m.”
