Skiing
It will become a laboratory for solving the challenges facing independent ski areas.
New Hampshire’s oldest ski area will not become a community co-op after all.
It’s the latest twist in a years-long saga for Jackson, New Hampshire’s Black Mountain. General Manager Erik Mogensen, who swooped in to save the 91 year-old ski area from closing three years ago, has purchased Black Mountain and will make it a laboratory for solving the challenges facing independent ski areas.
Independently owned ski areas “are on a death slide,” Mogensen wrote in a letter posted on the Black Mountain website about the purchase, and Black Mountain is “a micro example of a macro problem.”
“I think Black Mountain has been saved,” Mogensen told The Boston Globe. “The micro comeback story is complete. But we realized that if we stayed, and used it as an incubator for ideas, we could actually solve the macro problem.”
Mogensen is the director of Indy Pass and CEO of parent company Entabeni Systems, which brings tech solutions to independent ski areas. He first entered the Black Mountain story when he responded with resources after the longtime owners said the historic ski area would close down in 2023 due to staffing shortages and soaring costs. Mogensen pledged to keep it open another year while seeking a buyer, but then in 2024 announced that his company would take over ownership with the intention of transitioning it to a community co-op.
Mogensen moved from Colorado to Mount Washington Valley for the task and is now finishing up what he called Black Mountain’s “best season ever,” noting that the mountain has already surpassed last year’s attendance and revenue totals. He has kept the community abreast of his challenges and triumphs in frequent “Letter from the GM” posts on the Black Mountain website.
During the mountain’s comeback, Mogensen has tackled issues such as infrastructure, snowmaking, ski lifts, marketing, insurance, and hiring staff. This season, his team fixed two chairlifts that broke down within 90 minutes on a busy ski day and reached a settlement with the town of Jackson, which threatened to deny the liquor license for its Alpine Cabin.
“All of my experiences over the last 18 months have allowed me to truly reconcile why I made the abrupt decision to purchase Black Mountain in the first place,” wrote Mogensen in his letter. “I now have clarity on what I want my life to be like, and the difference I hope to make through Entabeni and Indy Pass for skiing and outdoor recreation. It has shown me that I need to make a long-term life decision to buy Black Mountain, now for a second time.”
Mogensen said every shareholder was on board with his decision to buy the ski area and allowed him to buy back their stock. The headquarters of both Indy Pass and Entabeni Systems will now move from Colorado to Jackson, N.H.
“This direction change is only possible because of their trust and belief that the best path forward for a sustainable and vibrant Black Mountain is under the stewardship of Entabeni, Indy Pass and myself,” he wrote.
Mogensen said what makes Black Mountain special is its “vibe.”
“People are super hungry for the culture of skiing,” Mogensen told the Union Leader. “It’s champagne, family atmosphere, and crock pots in the lodge. It’s not just high-speed lifts.”
There is currently a waitlist for 2026-27 season passes, he told the Union Leader.
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