If $150 is your top price it's kind of limiting, but here's what I could find for ya:

The only info I found on Rand/Ross bikes was a 1998 recall of 11,000 mountain bikes with faulty components that injured 5 people and prompted a full recall of 4 models. (The Mt. Snow was not one of them. Maybe it wasn't available at the time.)
I did some looking around and found the following in (or close to) your price range:

Wal-Mart has a Schwinn Aluminum Comp hardtail MTB with SRAM 21spd Grip Shifters. It's $159. A bit on the heavy side I think, but for that price just chalk it up to training weight and go for it.

Target has a Schwinn Ranger hardtail MTB with SRAM 21spd Grip Shifters and Shimano derailleurs for $139. Again, a little weighty, but it sounds solid enough. The only concern is the suspension fork which I'm sure could be sub'd out in the future if needed.

Both have 36h wheels, so even if the rims aren't the strongest in the world, they should hold up reasonably well.