Cannon Lover's Thread

[Duke61]

Front page article in todays union leader about the tram and it's replacement.

CANNON MOUNTAIN is preparing to retire its second-generation, 80-passenger aerial tramway later this year after 45 years of service, paving the way for a third-generation tram system to be designed and built in the coming years.

The tram will be shut down this fall and is expected to remain closed for at least two years while a replacement is built.

Cannon — home to the nation’s first aerial tramway, launched in 1938 — is the only mountain in North America to reach a third-generation tram.

Since 1980, the current tram has carried more than 9 million passengers to the 4,080-foot summit, covering a 1-mile span in under seven minutes, delivering views of mountains across four states and Canada on a clear day.

“She’s aged gracefully, but like all legends, she deserves a dignified retirement,” said Jace Wirth, general manager of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch State Park. “It’s time to begin writing the next chapter.”

With $27.2 million secured through House Bill 25, and additional capital resources anticipated, a structural analysis (pending gubernatorial and Executive Council approval) is expected to get underway soon to confirm renovation plans for the existing towers, terminals and foundations.

Prior to first winning election as governor in 2016, former Gov. Chris Sununu worked as the general manager of Waterville Valley (ski) Resort.

The analysis is also expected to help refine design and capacity requirements for the next-generation tram system.

The first tramway was built in 1938 and was smaller in scale, and was the first tramway in North America. That tram was retired in 1978.

While the original tram carried 27 riders per car, the current cars hold up to 80 — and the next generation could transport even more.

“The Cannon tram is a symbol of New Hampshire,” said Sarah Stewart, commissioner of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “Governor Ayotte has declared 2025 the ‘Year of New Hampshire State Parks,’ and this project ensures we continue investing in our most treasured places. We’re excited for what’s ahead.”

In a letter sent to legislators in 2024, Stewart referred to replacing the tram as a “top priority” for state parks officials.

“A situation in which the tram was no longer part of our state parks enterprise system would have severe impacts on the state park fund which is how we manage to maintain a park system that is operationally self-funded,” wrote Stewart.

With the 85th anniversary of the original tram’s installation in 2023 and following the 45th anniversary of the current system’s commissioning in June, Cannon’s management team plans to wind down public operations after the fall foliage season as part of the transition to a next-generation system.

“This is a moment we’ve been preparing for,” said Wirth. “While we know the transition will bring change, it’s also an opportunity to honor the legacy of the tram while ensuring we move forward with purpose.”

I have yet to hear any specifics on why the tram is 'on it's last legs'....thats the excuse they've used to not carry skiers for the last decade. Tram problems magically seem to go away in the summer when year after year day after day they run full speed, full capacity grossing as much as $2200 a trip! I think they are shuttering the tram now because they could care less about skiers. There is ample evidence of deferred or incomplete maintenance, snow making pipes lay broken for years, substandard grooming and on and on. What happened to that promise of making good to passholders when they closed during covid?
This is a simple government fail. The state has known the tram was aging for at least twenty years and the best they could do was toss out $12m a couple years ago for a 40+million dollar job! No wonder they only got ONE bid, no one else wanted to get near that clusterXXXX. This announcement with no details, no plan no timeframe and not enough money is the equivalent of a 3 year old promising to hold their breath until they get what they want. This could have been done at half todays cost ten years ago. No vendor wants to deal with these amateurs in the state who want to re-use and hold stuff together with bailing wire (re-use of components). Ayotte should fire every person involved at the State park system, but that won't happen, they'll just keep counting the days until their pensions come due. Personally I don't think you'll ever see another tram at Cannon, what you will see is some pissed off skiers when the Peabody goes down during Christmas week.....
Re read that nothingburger announcement, 'great news folks we're shutting down the tram without any plan, timeframe, budget or process for a replacement'

 

[BodeMiller1]

Bob knows his stuff. Metal fatigue. concrete rot, MILF inflection areas and of course those pesky birds.

If The Honorable Governor Ayotte wants a new lift, she'll get it.

I always liked her. Extremely hard working and driven.

Note: I do not believe Kelly Ayotte to be Humpty Dumpty.


Further, Cannon is trying to keep up with other ski areas . Even though they are run by the state; the mountain needs to stay competitive.

 

[bigbob]

“A situation in which the tram was no longer part of our state parks enterprise system would have severe impacts on the state park fund which is how we manage to maintain a park system that is operationally self-funded,” wrote Stewart.

This is why it will run this summer, cash flow for the state park system.

 

[BodeMiller1]

Shhh!

NEVER BOOT UP IN THE CAR. I have a story about this. butt I'll spare you.

 

[bigbob]

Bob knows his stuff. Metal fatigue. concrete rot, MILF inflection areas and of course those pesky birds.

If The Honorable Governor Ayotte wants a new lift, she'll get it.

I always liked her. Extremely hard working and driven.

Note: I do not believe Kelly Ayotte to be Humpty Dumpty.


Further, Cannon is trying to keep up with other ski areas . Even though they are run by the state; the mountain needs to stay competitive.

Was your grandfather Thomas Palazzi?

 

[Rob Katz]

Minimal impact on most but maybe a silver lining if we get snowmaking on Middle hard and more consistent operations of the t bar and double with the savings.

hardscrabble is literally the ONLY interesting trail at cannon mtn proper and you want to turn it into the same as all the others? ok

 

[Rob Katz]

they should just get rid of it, fuck the people that run the tram.

hiked up kinsman trail the other week. took me a while. i wasn't tired or anything, it was just really hard. went all the way to the top, that's my first 4k. a fitting first for me. but i was a little tight for time, and i was not going back down that. even my athletic friend who could've gotten up in a third of the time i did didn't want to. very difficult, and poorly maintained. me and my friends tried to take the tram down by offering the guy some money for tickets, and the stupid fucking bootlicking nazi boomer wouldn't let us. i understand you have reserved tickets, but there is no reason on earth you couldn't let the people who had that reservation get on and then fill the rest with my very small party. this in of itself isn't a big problem, but the whole mentality of following rules just because they're rules, without any thought towards what the rule is trying to achieve, just mindless subordination, is a big problem in society. but most people are bots who don't think for themselves. it makes sense it just sucks.

So we just went back into the woods, ran through them real quick when no one was looking (i got a cut on my leg lol), and we fuckin trotted ourselves down Vista > Bypass > Avalanche > Banshee. "No walking on trails" my ass.

 

[deadheadskier]

I would have simply told the guy your party is suffering cramps and it would not be safe to attempt to walk down. Doing so might result in a call to S&R.

Bet that would have worked.

 

[thetrailboss]

they should just get rid of it, fuck the people that run the tram.

hiked up kinsman trail the other week. took me a while. i wasn't tired or anything, it was just really hard. went all the way to the top, that's my first 4k. a fitting first for me. but i was a little tight for time, and i was not going back down that. even my athletic friend who could've gotten up in a third of the time i did didn't want to. very difficult, and poorly maintained. me and my friends tried to take the tram down by offering the guy some money for tickets, and the stupid fucking bootlicking nazi boomer wouldn't let us. i understand you have reserved tickets, but there is no reason on earth you couldn't let the people who had that reservation get on and then fill the rest with my very small party. this in of itself isn't a big problem, but the whole mentality of following rules just because they're rules, without any thought towards what the rule is trying to achieve, just mindless subordination, is a big problem in society. but most people are bots who don't think for themselves. it makes sense it just sucks.

So we just went back into the woods, ran through them real quick when no one was looking (i got a cut on my leg lol), and we fuckin trotted ourselves down Vista > Bypass > Avalanche > Banshee. "No walking on trails" my ass.

Cannon is a hard 4,000 footer TBH. Steep climb. A lot are not as demanding.

 

[Rob Katz]

on the bright side it was cool being on those trails even in summer, it's been 4 years since i was there and that was my home base for a season or two

 

[thebigo]

hardscrabble is literally the ONLY interesting trail at cannon mtn proper and you want to turn it into the same as all the others? ok

Dude, look up thread it was a typo.

If you think hardscrabble is the only interesting trail at Cannon, you desperately need a tour from a local.

 

[Rob Katz]

Dude, look up thread it was a typo.

If you think hardscrabble is the only interesting trail at Cannon, you desperately need a tour from a local.

sorry, i kinda skipped a bunch. but still, history is cool and all, but groomers don't do it for me. all the glades are sick. and mittersill trails are dope (whats left of them) thats why i said cannon mtn specifically.

i'd love a tour tho!