Cannon - 1/28 & 1/29

**MichaelJ** · Jan 30, 2006, 8:58 PM

Date(s) Skied:
Sat-Sun Jan 28-29, 2006

Resort or Ski Area:
Cannon Mountain

Conditions:
Excellent!

Trip Report:
This was my first trip to Cannon, and it was a gem of a weekend! We got there just before 9 on Saturday morning and it was not crowded at all. In fact, the longest lines all day at the Peabody Express Quad were only about a 4 chair wait; no time at all, really. Under the warm sun the base temps were in the upper 30's, but while we'd lose layers and sweat all day long, the only soft spots would be in the lower areas toward the lift landings; the mid and upper mountain had beautiful packed powder all day long. The centers of a few trails got a little scratchy while building up piles on the turns and edges (Upper Cannon, Big Link, and Easy Link come to mind), but otherwise conditions were excellent all day on the blues. In fact, I found even those piles and bumps to make for a good level of challenge and practice. The blacks were a little dicier, particularly those along the front five, but not having skied them personally I can't comment. Gary's, Upper Middle & Lower Cannon, Middle & Lower Ravine, and the Tuckerbrook green area (had to warm up a friend) all rode extremely well.

Sunday was colder, greyer, and a bit windier. The trails, however, remained in fine condition for the morning hours. In fact, I found Gary's to run even nicer and smoother than it had on Saturday. Rocket was closed for racing, but Turnpike, which had been the race course previously, was opened up, and that headwall off Middle Ravine onto it was a sweet drop. Upper Cannon also was still a very nice ride bouncing off the edges and piles; the scratch wasn't bad, anyway. As the winds shifted to the south, however, it got less pleasant. Profile (which I did NOT ski) was very icy, and my friends said Avalanche and Banshee were bad with thin spots alternating lumps. Middle Ravine, with the wind down its length, was still packed but was like skiing in foot-deep ground fog as the snow drifted along. Still, we didn't give up until after 2:00 and it was pretty decent right to the end.

This was a great trip for me, solidifying my position as an intermediate skier, and also a great introduction to Cannon, which I took an immediate liking to. We all got in a dozen runs each day of this weekend, and barely ever waited in a lift line, even on sunny, warm Saturday. A few Pig's Ear Brown pints at the Woodstock Inn made the weekend complete.

**thetrailboss** · Jan 30, 2006, 9:19 PM

Awesome report. What's the deal with Skylight? It's not open? Best trail on the mountain IMHO.

NHpowderhound · Jan 30, 2006, 9:53 PM

MichaelJ wrote

Quote:

This was a great trip for me, solidifying my position as an intermediate skier, and also a great introduction to Cannon, which I took an immediate liking to.

Thats awsome! Cannon made you an immediate intermediate

! One of the many things I love about skiing is that every time you go you can improve and see it.
((*
*))NHPH

riverc0il · Jan 30, 2006, 10:05 PM

great report! and all this time i thought you were only a hiker! cannon is a gem, huh?

trailboss, if you think skylight is the best trail on the mountain, i have got to show you some stuff!

**MichaelJ** · Jan 31, 2006, 5:58 AM

Thanks everyone! Yeah, I'm a hiker at heart, but my addiction to downhill is growing and growing and growing...

Skylight? Don't know ... friends ran Upper Ravine while I was playing elsewhere and gave it a thumbs-up, though. Said that whle Upper Cannon was a much prettier route, Upper Ravine had the length and width to let go more.

Cannon was indeed a gem, though it didn't hurt that I had a perfect weekend to be there. I can certainly see how it could be a popsicle sometimes. And it did not make me an immediate intermediate ... I've been hitting Wachusett weekly as well as a trip to Sugarloaf in January. I worked for the ability to get down those trails in one piece!

Bob R · Jan 31, 2006, 7:22 AM

Nice report. Glad you are joining the ski side more.

skican · Jan 31, 2006, 9:31 PM

Mmmmmmm...Cannon. How I miss Cannon. I miss skiing. Sugarloafer now. Haven't been yet. Only about 4 inches in the yard. Snowing though.

What, nobody's skied the Loaf?

Glad you enjoyed my favorite mountain ever! I am jealous.

Good to be back on AZ. Just got the new computer hooked up.

Enjoy and pray for snow.

**MichaelJ** · Feb 1, 2006, 9:50 AM

I skied Sugarloaf back on the Friday of MLK weekend. It was fantastic if you like spring conditions, because between the temps and snow it was just like a beautiful April day.

Someday I'll experience real winter on the 'Loaf, for sure. For now, I'm thinking of going back to Cannon this Sunday.

hammer · Feb 1, 2006, 10:34 AM

Just out of curiosity...

I usually ski at places in southern and central NH (Pats, Crotched, Sunapee, Gunstock). At each of those places, I've gotten to the point that I can handle some of the black groomers reasonably well (i.e., I'm not just in survival mode anymore). Would Cannon have enough to offer or would I just get my butt kicked?

NHpowderhound · Feb 1, 2006, 11:37 AM

MichaelJ wrote

Quote:

Someday I'll experience real winter on the 'Loaf, for sure. For now, I'm thinking of going back to Cannon this Sunday.

I believe 2 ski for $54 this Sunday @ Cannon.
((*
*))NHPH

Jan 30, 2006, 8:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
MichaelJ Flags on the 48 Mt. Isolation Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Watch City Posts: 2,061	Cannon - 1/28 & 1/29 Date(s) Skied: Sat-Sun Jan 28-29, 2006 Resort or Ski Area: Cannon Mountain Conditions: Excellent! Trip Report: This was my first trip to Cannon, and it was a gem of a weekend! We got there just before 9 on Saturday morning and it was not crowded at all. In fact, the longest lines all day at the Peabody Express Quad were only about a 4 chair wait; no time at all, really. Under the warm sun the base temps were in the upper 30's, but while we'd lose layers and sweat all day long, the only soft spots would be in the lower areas toward the lift landings; the mid and upper mountain had beautiful packed powder all day long. The centers of a few trails got a little scratchy while building up piles on the turns and edges (Upper Cannon, Big Link, and Easy Link come to mind), but otherwise conditions were excellent all day on the blues. In fact, I found even those piles and bumps to make for a good level of challenge and practice. The blacks were a little dicier, particularly those along the front five, but not having skied them personally I can't comment. Gary's, Upper Middle & Lower Cannon, Middle & Lower Ravine, and the Tuckerbrook green area (had to warm up a friend) all rode extremely well. Sunday was colder, greyer, and a bit windier. The trails, however, remained in fine condition for the morning hours. In fact, I found Gary's to run even nicer and smoother than it had on Saturday. Rocket was closed for racing, but Turnpike, which had been the race course previously, was opened up, and that headwall off Middle Ravine onto it was a sweet drop. Upper Cannon also was still a very nice ride bouncing off the edges and piles; the scratch wasn't bad, anyway. As the winds shifted to the south, however, it got less pleasant. Profile (which I did NOT ski) was very icy, and my friends said Avalanche and Banshee were bad with thin spots alternating lumps. Middle Ravine, with the wind down its length, was still packed but was like skiing in foot-deep ground fog as the snow drifted along. Still, we didn't give up until after 2:00 and it was pretty decent right to the end. This was a great trip for me, solidifying my position as an intermediate skier, and also a great introduction to Cannon, which I took an immediate liking to. We all got in a dozen runs each day of this weekend, and barely ever waited in a lift line, even on sunny, warm Saturday. A few Pig's Ear Brown pints at the Woodstock Inn made the weekend complete. __________________ Skiing combines outdoor fun with knocking down trees with your face. - Dave Barry 21 days '07–'08 … bring on the '08–'09 season!

Jan 30, 2006, 9:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
thetrailboss Paddling...... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Now Playing at Sugarbush and Burke. Posts: 10,560	Awesome report. What's the deal with Skylight? It's not open? Best trail on the mountain IMHO. __________________ Live, Ski, or Die! Trailboss' Ski Videos now on YouTube! Trailboss' Photo Albums. 66 days for the 2007-2008 ski season!!!! 40 of the 48 New Hampshire 4,000 Footers Completed and Counting!

Jan 30, 2006, 10:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
riverc0il Ari Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ashland, NH Posts: 6,826	great report! and all this time i thought you were only a hiker! cannon is a gem, huh? trailboss, if you think skylight is the best trail on the mountain, i have got to show you some stuff! __________________ -Steve TheSnowWay.com featuring Big Jay Coverage "Skiing is not a sport, it is a way of life." - Otto Schniebs 52

Jan 31, 2006, 5:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
MichaelJ Flags on the 48 Mt. Isolation Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Watch City Posts: 2,061	Thanks everyone! Yeah, I'm a hiker at heart, but my addiction to downhill is growing and growing and growing... Skylight? Don't know ... friends ran Upper Ravine while I was playing elsewhere and gave it a thumbs-up, though. Said that whle Upper Cannon was a much prettier route, Upper Ravine had the length and width to let go more. Cannon was indeed a gem, though it didn't hurt that I had a perfect weekend to be there. I can certainly see how it could be a popsicle sometimes. And it did not make me an immediate intermediate ... I've been hitting Wachusett weekly as well as a trip to Sugarloaf in January. I worked for the ability to get down those trails in one piece! __________________ Skiing combines outdoor fun with knocking down trees with your face. - Dave Barry 21 days '07–'08 … bring on the '08–'09 season!

Jan 31, 2006, 7:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
Bob R Sunday River Feb 27 2008 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nashua NH, Campton NH, Sunday River Posts: 6,828	Nice report. Glad you are joining the ski side more. __________________ Skiing is my addiction. Need a condo in the southern White mountain region?.

Jan 31, 2006, 9:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
skican Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Solon Posts: 121	Mmmmmmm...Cannon. How I miss Cannon. I miss skiing. Sugarloafer now. Haven't been yet. Only about 4 inches in the yard. Snowing though. What, nobody's skied the Loaf? Glad you enjoyed my favorite mountain ever! I am jealous. Good to be back on AZ. Just got the new computer hooked up. Enjoy and pray for snow. __________________ Pray for Snow

Feb 1, 2006, 9:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
MichaelJ Flags on the 48 Mt. Isolation Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Watch City Posts: 2,061	I skied Sugarloaf back on the Friday of MLK weekend. It was fantastic if you like spring conditions, because between the temps and snow it was just like a beautiful April day. Someday I'll experience real winter on the 'Loaf, for sure. For now, I'm thinking of going back to Cannon this Sunday. __________________ Skiing combines outdoor fun with knocking down trees with your face. - Dave Barry 21 days '07–'08 … bring on the '08–'09 season!

Feb 1, 2006, 10:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
hammer Mona Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: at a computer Posts: 2,228	Just out of curiosity... I usually ski at places in southern and central NH (Pats, Crotched, Sunapee, Gunstock). At each of those places, I've gotten to the point that I can handle some of the black groomers reasonably well (i.e., I'm not just in survival mode anymore). Would Cannon have enough to offer or would I just get my butt kicked?

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