Cannon, NH - 11-7-04

[salida]

Took off early this morning, leaving concord at 5 am. Picked up a friend in plymouth and was to the bottom of cannon at 6:30, only the plow man was there. There was a trace of snow in Lincoln, but nothing substantial. We continued up the notch and by the time we got to the peabody parking lots it was about 5 inches deep. We were pretty excited. The plow man gave me a thumbs up and we were off, climbing up the hill.

It was a fairly wet snow on the bottom of the mountain, a condensed 4-5 inches. However, most rocks were covered, as the trails on the bottom of the mountain are not very rocky. We ascended up lower ravine to middle ravine. About the time we reached the junction of the two trails the wind picked up as did the snow accumulations. Through some averages there was about 8 inches of a slightly fluffier snow, yet still fairly firm. From middle ravine we continued up the trail to the base of the cannonball quad. By this time there was at least a foot in undisturbed locations. Very windpacked however.

We continued up the profile trail. This was extremely slow going. We decided at the bottom not to bring snow shoes as we were optimistic, but not that optimistic. Once we started going up this trail we realized we made a huge mistake. At this point we had only been hiking about an hour. We continued slogging through the chest high drifts!! Eventually, 2 hours later (3 total hours of hiking) we made it to the tram station. At this level at least 24 inches of snow had fallen, with enormous drifts! We took our boots off, and put our alpine gear on. We started descending for our first turns of the year.

We started descending on upper cannon. We were in pure bliss. It was superb. No rocks at all on the upper part of the mountain, and also to be the first ones to make turns on a mountain for the entire season felt very rewarding. Not to mention that it was in 2 feet of fresh snow. Skiing through the drifts was even better.

We followed middle cannon down the mountain, this was the only section of the hill with a few rocks, however, my rock skis did make it through the day with hardly a scratch. Surprising.

We then switched over to lower ravine. Despite only 5 inches of snow at this location, it was excellent skiing. As it was so condensed it was very carvable and made for some really fun skiing.

We ended the day by skiing all the way to the lodge, where we found many of the cannon patrollers starting up the mountain for their first turns of the year.

-porter

pics can be seen here Cannon Pics

[uphillklimber]

You guys slugged uphill for 3 hours for one sweet run down the hill!!!! I've been waiting a long time also, but I haven't been waiting that long!!!!


Still, I'm a tad envious of you. Here's to you!

[Greg]

Awesome! Great job, Porter!

[TeleGrrrl]

You'll have quads of steel in no time if you keep this up!

[MtnMagic]

Super hike and awesome downhill!

Watch for more coming to your favorite mtn!!

It's beginning to look a lot like winter!!!

[Charlie Schuessler]

Great job!

[teachski]

Great pictures and great report!
No snow here, but your post helps me to see that it can't be far off. Thanks.

[bvibert]

Sounds like an awesome trip! Thanks for sharing with us! I'm envious!!!

[Bob R]

Very impressed. Campton Nh had not snow at all. Just getting to the notch makes the differnce. Congrats.