NH Recommendations for President's Day Weekend?

[RIDEr]

My girlfriend and I will be spending President's Day weekend :flag: in Littleton, NH and would like to hear what you thought about our choices for skiing that particular weekend. We are both experts and can handle any terrain. We're not picky about price and driving, nor are crowds a problem. Thanks for your advise!

Distance to resorts
10 minutes to Cannon
45 minutes to Burke
32 minutes to Bretton Woods

Conditions (as of 2/1)

Cannon - Tram will open as of this coming Friday. With the recent snow conditions in the NorthEast the terrain should be 100% open. 14 expert runs and the only tram in NH.


Bretton Woods - 73 trails open (83%). Glades and Double Diamonds are offered. Bigger than Cannon, but what is throwing us off is our discussion with a NH local we met at Jay advising that Cannon would be a better choice.

Burke - Small crowds, great terrain and glades. Right now they have 34 runs open and after mountain biking there I kept telling myself that I should snowboard there.

Other....

 

[shwilly]

It just depends on what you're looking for. Bretton Woods is a good green/blue mountain. It's not steep. I haven't been since they expanded the glades.

 

[RIDEr]

It just depends on what you're looking for. .

What everybody is looking for... THE GOODS! :lol::lol:

 

[jack97]

Bretton woods is going to be crowded. I've been there several times during pres week with the family, the place is packed, long lines. The snow is usually excellent; lots of snowmaking and the area gets natural protection in the valley.

Cannon would be less crowded, they have steeper trails but the trails are exposed, snow can be fast and slick. Pending the weather, they may have fresh goods over at Mittersill.

I can't speak for Burke. Another option would be Loon, about twenty minutes away from Littleton. Trails are slightly harder than BW, with great snow making. But the place is going to be packed.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Loon would be my last option on that weekend unless you love lots of people.Doubtfull Cannon would be 100% open.They have not been for a few years.Unless of course it finally snows this year!Do yourself a favor and check out Burke.I'm a regular Cannon skier but I really like Burke for some of the same reasons.Some steeper terrain and way fewer skiers than the others mentioned here.BW is an intermediate MT at best.

 

[Vortex]

Loon will be the busiest. Probably will have the most off mountain aactivities. If I was in Littleton I would go to Cannon or Bretton woods. Depends on your terrain preference.

 

[RIDEr]

Depends on your terrain preference.

Thanks Bob. We typically only ski\ride single\double black diamonds and will only be on a intermediate trail if the snow is better.

 

[thetrailboss]

I would say Burke or Cannon. Both are good choices...and if we get more snow, they will have plenty of options. Burke has lots of good stuff right now...some natural stuff is open, but barely. PM me for more info.

I would not suggest BW based on what you like. Let's put it this way...BW has stuff that is seriously no steeper than Burke's lower mountain. No joke. Granted they've added glades, etc., but the fact remains that their terrain is flat. Mellow at best.

 

[thetrailboss]

Oh yeah....and I can sweeten the Burke deal for you...PM sent. :wink:

 

[riverc0il]

of the area mountains, cannon will offer up the most challenge biggest vertical. but as previously mentioned, no chance in hell cannon will be even close to 100%. cannon rarely opens their glades and even rarer do they open kinsman and tramline. but if they get some snow, you should have some fun natural to play in if they can get the hards, taft, and paulie's open. that would require a decent amount of snow at this point i would imagine.

bretton woods as mentioned will be crowded and relatively flat. think of a bretton woods black diamond being equivelent to a blue square at cannon or burke.

burke, ah yes, that is the ticket. i vote for you to split your time between cannon and burke. loon will be a nut house, be prepared for half hour or more lift lines at loon and very crowded slopes. cannon has more challenge any ways if that is what you want. burke has the best shot at getting some glades open of those options and has the best trees (on the map) out of your options.

 

[MarkC]

I have not been to NH in a few years but out of those choices i would choose Cannon.

 

[RIDEr]

:beer::beer:

Thanks for all of the recommendations.... Greatly appreciated.

 

[Vortex]

I agree that loon will be busy I heard the number 5,300 skies on last Sat. Longest line at the kanc quad was 17 min. Alot less in singles east Basin 10min. Gondola and North Peak were probably in the 30 min range. That is about as busy as it ever gets.

Loon will be busy Sat, sunday and Monday and the follwing Sat and Sunday. If you wanted to go to Loon Tues through thurs you would be ok busy, but not insane. I still would go for Cannon, burke was a good idea also. If there is no natual snow by then Trying Loon maybe be worthy of a second thought. They make one last snow making push before the holdiay. With your guideleines BW would be the worst choice.

 

[Paul]

Wildcat isn't too far, and won't be as busy as Loon or BW.

Just another option for ya.

 

[from_the_NEK]

I'll echo Riverc0il and Traillboss that Cannon and Burke are your better bets.
No crowds to speak of at Burke on Holiday weekends.
Cannon may have slightly longer waits but not anywhere in the same ballpark as what you'll get at Loon or Bretton Woods. The lines at the latter two places are likely going to be nuts.
With the snow we are forecast to get tonight, the natural terrain will be in excellent shape to start the month of February. Some more of the glades may even open if we get closer to the 6" mark.
:grin: Burke = Great terrain, short liftlines, good snow
:grin: Cannon = Great terrain, relatively short lines, decent snow if it is not windy
:roll: Loon = Decent terrain, LONG lines, crowded slopes, decent Man Made snow.
:roll: BW = Poor terrain, Long lines, crowded slopes, very good man made snow, good natural snow.

Teaser pic from last weekend at Burke (no snow making on this trail 8) ).

 

[Razor]

If you are considering Burke, you may opt to drive another hour and hit Jay. Much more of the type of skiing you're looking for.

 

[thetrailboss]

If you are considering Burke, you may opt to drive another hour and hit Jay. Much more of the type of skiing you're looking for.

Jay will be MUCH more crowded that weekend....assuming that the wind is not blowing.

 

[RIDEr]

I'm not sure how you can beat a low profile mountain with great snow in the NE Kingdom...

 

[from_the_NEK]

I'm not sure how you can beat a low profile mountain with great snow in the NE Kingdom...

:beer:

 

[RIDEr]

:beer:

The photos that you took from last weekend inspired me, but TB convinced me... how are the glades looking? When I was at Jay a few weeks back they could have used a little more snow, but was fully ridable.