Mount Raimer
Encyclopedia
Mount Raimer, 2572 feet is a prominent peak in the Taconic Mountains
of western Massachusetts
and adjacent New York
. The west side and summit are located in New York; the east slopes lie within Massachusetts. The summit ridge is part meadow and part wooded with red spruce
, balsam fir
, and northern hardwood
tree species. It is notable for its views of the Hoosic River
valley and Hudson River Valley. The 35 mi (56.3 km) Taconic Crest Trail
traverses the mountain. Much of the upper slopes and summit are within protected conservation land. The mountain is the location of a defunct ski area.
and the New York towns of Petersburgh
and Berlin
. The Taconic Mountains continue south from Mount Raimer as Berlin Mountain
and north as the White Rock ridgeline
. It is flanked to the east by several hills that precede the Hoosic River Valley and the town of Williamstown. The west side of the mountain drains into the Little Hoosic River, thence into the Hoosic River
, the Hudson River
, and Long Island Sound
. The east side drains into the Hoosic River. Petersburg Pass, located on New York Route 2/ Massachusetts Route 2, cuts over the gap between Mount Raimer and the next summit to the north, Smith Hill, at an elevation of 1650 feet (502.9 m), just 0.75 miles (1.2 km) north of the summit of Mount Raimer.
Mount Raimer was home to lift served alpine skiing for nearly two decades. Originally known as Petersburg Pass Ski Area, the base lodge and parking lots were located adjacent to the height of land on New York State Route 2
.
Started in 1962, the ski area featured a variety of trails served by a Poma
double chairlift
. A novice surface lift was added below the base area in 1964.
Due to a variety of reasons, including the steep ascent up Route 2 and the lack of water for snowmaking, the ski area struggled through much of its existence. As a result, the ski area failed to operate for multiple seasons in the 1970s. In addition, Petersburg Pass Ski Area was renamed twice in order to try to rebrand its image. After a short time as Taconic Trails, the ski area was last known as Mount Raimer.
An attempt was made to dramatically expand the ski area during its final years, as trails were cut on the western face of the mountain. This expansion was never completed and the ski area went out of business in 1980.
The double chairlift was later sold to Ski Butternut
.
Taconic Mountains
The Taconic Mountains or Taconic Range are a physiographic section of the larger New England province and part of the Appalachian Mountains, running along the eastern border of New York State and adjacent New England from northwest Connecticut to western Massachusetts, north to central western...
of western Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and adjacent New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The west side and summit are located in New York; the east slopes lie within Massachusetts. The summit ridge is part meadow and part wooded with red spruce
Red Spruce
Picea rubens is a species of spruce native to eastern North America, ranging from eastern Quebec to Nova Scotia, and from New England south in the Adirondack Mountains and Appalachians to western North Carolina.-Physical description:...
, balsam fir
Balsam Fir
The balsam fir is a North American fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada and the northeastern United States .-Growth:It is a small to medium-size evergreen tree typically tall, rarely to tall, with a narrow conic crown...
, and northern hardwood
Northern hardwood forest
The northern hardwood forest is a general type of North American forest ecosystem found over much of southeastern and south central Canada, extending south into the United States in northern New England and New York, and west along the Great Lakes to Minnesota and western Ontario...
tree species. It is notable for its views of the Hoosic River
Hoosic River
The Hoosic River, also known as the Hoosac, the Hoosick and the Hoosuck , is a tributary of the Hudson River in the northeastern United States. The different spellings are the result of varying transliterations of the river's original Algonquian name...
valley and Hudson River Valley. The 35 mi (56.3 km) Taconic Crest Trail
Taconic Crest Trail
The Taconic Crest Trail is a hiking trail in the Taconic Mountains of the Berkshires. The trail extends from U.S. Route 20 in Hancock, Massachusetts, less than east of the New York border, north along the ridgecrest of the Taconic Range, first within Massachusetts, then weaving along the border...
traverses the mountain. Much of the upper slopes and summit are within protected conservation land. The mountain is the location of a defunct ski area.
Geography
Mount Raimer is located within Williamstown, MassachusettsWilliamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown is a town in Berkshire County, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts. It shares a border with Vermont to the north and New York to the west. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,754 at the 2010 census...
and the New York towns of Petersburgh
Petersburgh, New York
Petersburgh is a town located in the northeast section of Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,563 at the 2000 census. The town was named after an early settler.- History :...
and Berlin
Berlin, New York
Berlin is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,901 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Berlin in Germany, although natives pronounce the name differently, with the accent on the first syllable....
. The Taconic Mountains continue south from Mount Raimer as Berlin Mountain
Berlin Mountain
Berlin Mountain, , is a prominent peak in the Taconic Mountains of western New England and adjacent New York. The summit and west side of the mountain are located in New York; the east side lies within Massachusetts. The mountain is a bald, notable for its grassy summit and expansive views of the...
and north as the White Rock ridgeline
White Rock (Taconic Mountains)
White Rock, , is the name of the high point on a ridgeline in the Taconic Mountains. The ridge is located in the tri-state corner of New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont in the towns of Petersburgh, Williamstown, and Pownal...
. It is flanked to the east by several hills that precede the Hoosic River Valley and the town of Williamstown. The west side of the mountain drains into the Little Hoosic River, thence into the Hoosic River
Hoosic River
The Hoosic River, also known as the Hoosac, the Hoosick and the Hoosuck , is a tributary of the Hudson River in the northeastern United States. The different spellings are the result of varying transliterations of the river's original Algonquian name...
, the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
, and Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
. The east side drains into the Hoosic River. Petersburg Pass, located on New York Route 2/ Massachusetts Route 2, cuts over the gap between Mount Raimer and the next summit to the north, Smith Hill, at an elevation of 1650 feet (502.9 m), just 0.75 miles (1.2 km) north of the summit of Mount Raimer.
Alpine skiing
Mount Raimer was home to lift served alpine skiing for nearly two decades. Originally known as Petersburg Pass Ski Area, the base lodge and parking lots were located adjacent to the height of land on New York State Route 2
New York State Route 2
New York State Route 2 is a state highway in the Capital District of New York, United States. It extends from an interchange with Interstate 87 and NY 7 in the hamlet of Latham within the town of Colonie to the Massachusetts state line, where it continues to Boston as Route 2....
.
Started in 1962, the ski area featured a variety of trails served by a Poma
Poma
Poma, also known as Pomagalski S.A. is a French company, specialising in construction of cable-driven lift systems, including fixed and detachable chairlifts, gondola lifts, funiculars, aerial tramways, people movers, and surface lifts. Poma has installed more than 7800 devices on five continents,...
double chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
. A novice surface lift was added below the base area in 1964.
Due to a variety of reasons, including the steep ascent up Route 2 and the lack of water for snowmaking, the ski area struggled through much of its existence. As a result, the ski area failed to operate for multiple seasons in the 1970s. In addition, Petersburg Pass Ski Area was renamed twice in order to try to rebrand its image. After a short time as Taconic Trails, the ski area was last known as Mount Raimer.
An attempt was made to dramatically expand the ski area during its final years, as trails were cut on the western face of the mountain. This expansion was never completed and the ski area went out of business in 1980.
The double chairlift was later sold to Ski Butternut
Ski Butternut
Ski Butternut is a ski resort in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, located on Warner Mountain in The Berkshires.The ski area was first opened by the New Haven Railroad as Warner Mountain Ski Area in the 1936-37 ski season...
.