Cannonball
New member
Date(s) Skied: Monday 4/25/2011
Resort or Ski Area: Loon Mtn
Conditions: Spring Corn
Trip Report: In defiance of the forecasts it dawned warm and dry this morning. I figured I better take advantage of the dwindling season. Despite living in Lincoln for the past 6 months (and decades of NH skiing) I really don’t know Loon that well. I hoped to change that some today.
The knocks on Loon have always been cost and crowds. But I braced myself for both and set off to South Peak. Since it was already 9:30 I didn’t wanted to battle for space at the main South Peak lot and opted for the satellite parking instead. I managed to score a pretty good front row spot.
I pulled out the gear and patiently waited for the shuttle buses to bring me over to mob-scene at the lifts. And waited. And waited. Nothing. So I decided I better use my own two legs to get there. I’d always rather travel on snow than dirt and I didn’t really feel like lugging my boots around. So I slapped on the skins and hit the snow. I was also a little concerned about leaving the dog in the truck on a hot day so I told her she could come along. We didn’t really know the way but the going was easy. Except for some very short portages…
After a half hour or so we came to a trail intersection. Up or down? Well down surely lead to the throngs of wild partying Loon skiers…and the lifts. So down was probably the way to go. But Chilly-dog bent to sniff the moose tracks and indicated that up was the better option.
Shortly afterwards we met up with a couple of descending skiers. Nice guys and we chatted it up a bit. Then they continued on. Rats, I had forgotten to ask about which way to go! But they seemed to be enjoying themselves so I figured I should go to where they came from. And we continued up. This is what snowmaking means for us in the East…2-4 feet of base on the trails when there is nothing but wet leaves in the woods.
A short time later we found ourselves at the summit. I suck with maps so I let Chilly figure out where we were, while I took in the view.
She relayed her map findings. It seems like we’d made a wrong turn somewhere. In the distance I thought I could make out the deep bass and hot tub splashing of a spring skiing bash. But I couldn’t be sure. It was time to lock the heel and work the down.
A beautiful WROB lay before us. That’s right ‘WROB’. Because this was no early season White Ribbon of Death...this was a spring White Ribbon of Bliss. (I took some good video of the corn harvest but it will have to wait for later as I really should be getting some work done). It skied fast and smooth. With a big dog chasing you down the hill stopping isn’t really an option, so we made short work of the descent.
Back at the truck there was still no sign of the shuttle bus, or the crowds, or lines, or notorious Loon ‘scene’. It was just the sound of the river tumbling by. I feel like I know Loon a tiny bit better now.
Resort or Ski Area: Loon Mtn
Conditions: Spring Corn
Trip Report: In defiance of the forecasts it dawned warm and dry this morning. I figured I better take advantage of the dwindling season. Despite living in Lincoln for the past 6 months (and decades of NH skiing) I really don’t know Loon that well. I hoped to change that some today.
The knocks on Loon have always been cost and crowds. But I braced myself for both and set off to South Peak. Since it was already 9:30 I didn’t wanted to battle for space at the main South Peak lot and opted for the satellite parking instead. I managed to score a pretty good front row spot.
I pulled out the gear and patiently waited for the shuttle buses to bring me over to mob-scene at the lifts. And waited. And waited. Nothing. So I decided I better use my own two legs to get there. I’d always rather travel on snow than dirt and I didn’t really feel like lugging my boots around. So I slapped on the skins and hit the snow. I was also a little concerned about leaving the dog in the truck on a hot day so I told her she could come along. We didn’t really know the way but the going was easy. Except for some very short portages…
After a half hour or so we came to a trail intersection. Up or down? Well down surely lead to the throngs of wild partying Loon skiers…and the lifts. So down was probably the way to go. But Chilly-dog bent to sniff the moose tracks and indicated that up was the better option.
Shortly afterwards we met up with a couple of descending skiers. Nice guys and we chatted it up a bit. Then they continued on. Rats, I had forgotten to ask about which way to go! But they seemed to be enjoying themselves so I figured I should go to where they came from. And we continued up. This is what snowmaking means for us in the East…2-4 feet of base on the trails when there is nothing but wet leaves in the woods.
A short time later we found ourselves at the summit. I suck with maps so I let Chilly figure out where we were, while I took in the view.
She relayed her map findings. It seems like we’d made a wrong turn somewhere. In the distance I thought I could make out the deep bass and hot tub splashing of a spring skiing bash. But I couldn’t be sure. It was time to lock the heel and work the down.
A beautiful WROB lay before us. That’s right ‘WROB’. Because this was no early season White Ribbon of Death...this was a spring White Ribbon of Bliss. (I took some good video of the corn harvest but it will have to wait for later as I really should be getting some work done). It skied fast and smooth. With a big dog chasing you down the hill stopping isn’t really an option, so we made short work of the descent.
Back at the truck there was still no sign of the shuttle bus, or the crowds, or lines, or notorious Loon ‘scene’. It was just the sound of the river tumbling by. I feel like I know Loon a tiny bit better now.
