Cannon vs. Wildcat vs. Sunday River

[koreshot]

So I just got word that I have a free place to stay for a week in January in Maine, around Baldwin. Now I am looking at the various ski resorts within 2 hours drive to figure out where I want to spend most of my time. I know NOTHING about this part of the NE for skiing cause the most east I have gone is Sunapee.

Can some of you guys out there that have skied Cannon, Wildcat and Sunday River comment on where I should focus my efforts? Drive time:
- Cannon: 2 hours
- Wildcat: 45 minutes
- Sunday River: 2 hours

At this point I am thinking I might spend 3 or 4 days skiing Wildcat, because of the nice steep vertical and shorter drive and do a day or two at Cannon and SR for variety. What do you guys think? Any others I should be looking at?

I like steep, steep, steep, natural features and glades, more steep. Bumps are ok. Groomers are ok, but I like to spend most of my time skiing steep, challenging, natural runs in the woods. Runs like Goat, Tuckerman, Pump House, Castlerock and Rumble are my favorites.

So which resort offers the best combo of the type of skiing I like and good snow conditions?

Thanks!

 

[billski]

Given your criteria, in order of priority I would pick: Wildcat, Sunday River, Cannon

 

[dmc]

i hear Sherburne trail is skiable...

 

[Vortex]

Wildcat and Sunday River are 45 min apart. It will be cold at Wildcat and Cannon and Sunday River. ( Well usually) Depends on snow. It there is natural go where there is the most.. If there is little natural snow then the River will be the best by far. Right know its like Mid January there. Don't tell anyone. I do Cannon a few times a year and wildcat as well. After a good storm or in the spring are my preferred times cause its cold. Cannon ask sikskier, wildcat ask breeze. About 20 of us can give you a reasonable update on the River conditions.

 

[roark]

Kitty for sure. I'd throw in a day at the River just to meet up with crew there, good folks.

 

[Greg]

Can some of you guys out there that have skied Cannon, Wildcat and Sunday River comment on where I should focus my efforts? Drive time:
- Cannon: 2 hours
- Wildcat: 45 minutes
- Sunday River: 2 hours

Sugarloaf: 3 hours.

Seriously.

 

[roark]

Sugarloaf: 3 hours.

Seriously.

Seconded.

 

[Greg]

Sugarloaf: 3 hours.

Seriously.

Let me qualify my post. I haven't been to any of the three you mention so take it for what it's worth. I do believe however that Sugarloaf is a must-ski for all Eastern skiers. Given that you're somewhat geographically challenged, this might be a good chance to get to the Loaf. With that said, most would argue mid-January can be rough up there in terms of the cold (isn't it winter?). Nevertheless, I would keep the option open and if you luck out with good conditions, hit it!

And now for my overused Loaf-lovin' pic:

 

[billski]

I would do Sugarloaf a lot if it wasn't so damn far away. It's really dreamy in many ways. Hidden far away from the arrogant urban masses, you can focus on riding and skiing like few other places. You know that most people who go are there to snow-slip, not make social statements or drink you under the table.

 

[Geoff]

I don't see how you can get from Baldwin, Maine to Wildcat in 45 minutes. I'll bet it's more like 1h 15m and worse than that if you get unlucky with traffic. Sunday River isn't all that much farther.

Sunday River will have the most pitch but the least natural snow. In a good season, their glade trails are entertaining but they often don't get open since the resort usually sees less than 150" of natural snow. Sugarbush and Stowe see 250"+ and that makes a huge difference.

Wildcat really isn't very steep at all if your frame of reference is Goat and Castlerock. You'll be entertained, not challenged. I think it's worth some days if the conditions are good.

 

[koreshot]

Thanks for the responses, but I am getting some mixed messages. Lets simplify.

Out of Cannon, Wildcat, SR and the Loaf -- which one has the steepest, most challenging natural terrain on an average snow year in January?

I will actually be staying in Hiram. Google maps says its 1:45 to SR and 42 minutes to Wildcat. The loaf is tempting but I just don't see myself doing it more than once.

 

[koreshot]

Let me qualify my post. I haven't been to any of the three you mention so take it for what it's worth. I do believe however that Sugarloaf is a must-ski for all Eastern skiers. Given that you're somewhat geographically challenged, this might be a good chance to get to the Loaf. With that said, most would argue mid-January can be rough up there in terms of the cold (isn't it winter?). Nevertheless, I would keep the option open and if you luck out with good conditions, hit it!

And now for my overused Loaf-lovin' pic:

Of course you love that place... check out all those bumps!

 

[Vortex]

Thanks for the responses, but I am getting some mixed messages. Lets simplify.

Out of Cannon, Wildcat, SR and the Loaf -- which one has the steepest, most challenging natural terrain on an average snow year in January?

I will actually be staying in Hiram. Google maps says its 1:45 to SR and 42 minutes to Wildcat. The loaf is tempting but I just don't see myself doing it more than once.

The safe bet is the River. At this rate you will have black hole and vortex by then. I would expect eureka get to snow on it by then too. Good trails no matter what the snow is with challenge. Its hype, but white heat will be open in a few days. Say what you want. A trail that draws attention. if they get to shock wave.......:beer:

Hiram is on route 5 I think. The portland folk take route 5 and make it in under 1 hour and 20 min. Fryeburg is 40 min ish.

edit the ropes dropped on White heat late today according to some sources.

 

[SIKSKIER]

SundayRiver for the most variety and most terrain and the most people on weekends especially.Wildcat is not that steep and Cannon has a gentle side as well.All 3 mountains you mentioned have steep terrain.Natural terrain meaning untouched by groomers would go to Cannon if you don't mind a 5 minute hike.Cannon has the old Mittersill ski area right next door that is totaly natural since it stopped operating 20(?) years ago.You can ski back to the Cannon lifts too.Coming from a looongtime Cannon skier,I personally think Sugarloaf is a great mountain.It's my favorite with really steep terrain at the top the gradually moderates at the bottom.Some above treeline snowfields with good snow.They all are very good ski areas to find expert terrain.You can't go wrong with any choice.

 

[BLESS]

If it were me, I get bored with skiing Wildcat more than 2 days in a row. Hit all 3if you can, then you'll never have to ask this question again.....Either way, they're all fun in their own way....

 

[Terry]

Thanks for the responses, but I am getting some mixed messages. Lets simplify.

Out of Cannon, Wildcat, SR and the Loaf -- which one has the steepest, most challenging natural terrain on an average snow year in January?

I will actually be staying in Hiram. Google maps says its 1:45 to SR and 42 minutes to Wildcat. The loaf is tempting but I just don't see myself doing it more than once.

There is no way that you can get from hiram to Wildcat in 42 minutes. I live in Fryeburg and it takes close to 45 mins to wildcat from here. It takes another 15 or 20 mins to get to Hiram from here unless you drive like a serious madman. Probably the Loaf has the most steep and challenging terrain of them all but I would plan on sampling them all if I could. They are all awesome in their own ways. I don't think that I have ever had a bad day at any of them.

 

[bobbutts]

Runs like Goat, Tuckerman, Pump House, Castlerock and Rumble are my favorites.

Agree with the people saying Loaf.. The 3 resorts you mention are all good in their own way but not so much for runs like these.. But if you go to the Loaf you'll get what you're looking for.

 

[eatskisleep]

If it were me, I get bored with skiing Wildcat more than 2 days in a row.

If there is powder and woods (or if you knew the woods, not saying you don't, just assuming)... this statement would be different.

 

[SLyardsale]

I would do Sugarloaf a lot if it wasn't so damn far away. It's really dreamy in many ways. Hidden far away from the arrogant urban masses, you can focus on riding and skiing like few other places. You know that most people who go are there to snow-slip, not make social statements or drink you under the table.

I go from So Shore MA to SL 3 weekends a month (4hrs - with planned departure and 80+ mph on 95/295) with my wife and a 15yo son, 13yo son and 11yo daughter. It's not that far when you consider risk/reward - SL will rarely let you down (except wind).

 

[riverc0il]

So I just got word that I have a free place to stay for a week in January in Maine, around Baldwin. Now I am looking at the various ski resorts within 2 hours drive to figure out where I want to spend most of my time. I know NOTHING about this part of the NE for skiing cause the most east I have gone is Sunapee.

Can some of you guys out there that have skied Cannon, Wildcat and Sunday River comment on where I should focus my efforts? Drive time:
- Cannon: 2 hours
- Wildcat: 45 minutes
- Sunday River: 2 hours

At this point I am thinking I might spend 3 or 4 days skiing Wildcat, because of the nice steep vertical and shorter drive and do a day or two at Cannon and SR for variety. What do you guys think? Any others I should be looking at?

I like steep, steep, steep, natural features and glades, more steep. Bumps are ok. Groomers are ok, but I like to spend most of my time skiing steep, challenging, natural runs in the woods. Runs like Goat, Tuckerman, Pump House, Castlerock and Rumble are my favorites.

So which resort offers the best combo of the type of skiing I like and good snow conditions?

Thanks!

The previous suggestions of adding the Loaf to your short list are sound. I never get over there due to price and distance but given a free place to stay, I might suck up the drive time and lift ticket prices to get back over to the Loaf.

Wildcat is the least steep overall of the three areas you mentioned though it has a lot of character and nice features. Great bumps in the Spring though mid-winter conditions can be variable. It is the most prone to wind hold though has the most vertical with top to bottom HSQ. Personally, I think that is a draw back. I always prefer hammering short vertical that I love versus spinning my wheels on 500-700 vertical to get to the 1300-1500 that I actually want to ski.

Cannon has the most accessible OB. Cannon also has Avalanche, Paulie's and Zoomer for yo-yo'ing good short steep verts. Middle Hard may or may not be open by then which is a real champ of a trail.

River has the largest mix of everything but also the most crowds and rivals even Cannon for scraped off trails. Given good snow making and grooming, it is a good insurance policy if things turn sour by then. Forget about woods for the most part at these areas, nothing like VT. I absolutely love Cannon but there is a reason I have a season pass at Jay. NH and ME just don't get the natural snow. Trees in January in NH and ME is pretty rare and even if they were to open then coverage would be stupid thin. Loaf has the edge here with the most natural snow out of these four areas... if you want to add the loaf to your short list. Don't over look Saddleback too... tightest and most challenging on map glades I have ever skied at Saddleback.