Welcome to AlpineZone, the largest online community of skiers and snowboarders in the Northeast!
You may have to REGISTER before you can post. Registering is FREE, gets rid of the majority of advertisements, and lets you participate in giveaways and other AlpineZone events!
I don't live in Belknap County. Interestingly enough, Gunstock is trying to move forward with developing a hotel, etc.
It's ridiculous that Hunter has to pay for Belleayre, yet has it undercut it, while the state prevents expansion projects whilst allowing Belleayre to expand.
Firstly, Cannon is not accessible for all. The state run operation only allows paying alpine skiers and snowboarders on the ski area. If you try to set foot on the trails without a lift ticket, they can and will throw you out (including snowshoers, skinners, and hikers).
Please re-read my answer.
Your question was if all state parks should be leased. How in the world would Wade State Forest be leased? It's a ridiculous question.
I'm not sure about Pawtuckaway specifically, but many of the hiking trails in New Hampshire are taken care of by volunteer trail adopters.
How so? One of the false arguments against a Cannon lease is that condos and/or a hotel could be developed. Interestingly enough, the county wants to do that at Gunstock.
I invite you to talk to the Slutskys or perhaps the former owners of now-defunct Scotch Valley and see what they think about having to compete with areas they're paying for.
No, it is not. Aside from some quasi-urban, small scale ski areas with fences and security, Cannon has perhaps the most aggressive anti-use policy on their ski trails, on or off season, in all of New England.
I don't believe Peak had any involvement in the Sunapee improvements.
The most advanced NELSAP ski areas fell within the government run ski area triangle market in New Hampshire.
Gunstock actually was a drain on the county as well and there were some serious debates before a recent round of bond investments. The good snow years have helped, however their skier visits still appear to be down from the early 1990s.
Not sure what I can sharre in regard to Scotch due to NDA at the moment.
That's the party line, but it's ridiculous. Wildcat has traditionally mowed the Polecat for foot traffic. Waterville has an active hiking trail that empties on to the ski area (as do Cranmore and Loon).
Most of the investments were made prior to the assets moving to Triple Peaks.
It is already owned by us through the state, my money is going where my mouth is. I see no reason to pay a few thousand in coop ownership if the ski area is self sustaining. Even if it were to cost the state in the future, I am okay with a few of my tax dollars going to keeping Cannon in the State Park system. You are obviously not okay with it, what is with beating the dead horse?
Really? You are comparing pricing to Okemo run Sunapee? The fact that Cannon is cheaper than Sunapee says a LOT more about Sunapee than Cannon. Cannon is on the second tier right under the top big resorts and except for resident and twofer days, discounts are really crumby compared to VT resorts that offer a lot of deals.
Cannon doesn't groom any more or less than they used to. They groom better though. Leave the powder alone for two days? Really? C'mon. I've been skiing Cannon pretty regularly for ten years now. Anything not designated as bumps gets the groom day after the powder day. Day after powder day is all about the trees. Hell, day of powder day is all about the trees. It ain't like they are leaving a ton ungroomed even on a powder day (compared to Jay, for example).
A potential leaser is going to treat Cannon differently than Smuggs or Jay because of how far they are from civilization? Really? Have you been to Smuggs or Jay? Both very large resorts. Smuggs especially caters to families and non-core skiers. I use them specifically as examples because they are large resorts with substantial bed base and a large non-core customer base and both private owners that still keep it real with the die hards. Distance to civilization ain't got anything to do with how those two places operate. Keep in mind Smuggs is the closest big mountain to Burlington and Jay is just as close as Stowe to folks coming up I-91.
100% incorrect in regards to skinners. I have ever talked to ski area employees at the base before skinning up regarding hazards on the trails. Signs are posted not to hike the mountain and I think you would get resistance and in trouble if you tried hiking when the mountain is free of snow or skinning or shoeshoeing while the ski area is open. But it is not the case during the winter when the resort is closed. I frequently skin Cannon and consider it one of the more friendly mountains to skin.
Cannon was above average last year. Quite a bit, as I recall. Cannon has had several great years in a row under the direction of JD. As I suggested before, it will be interesting to see what happens financially when JD has to helm a below average season.
All put out of business by state run ski areas.
