Loon South Peak Expansion

[bigbob]

More importantly, anyone know how the resort rode out this storm? More concerned with roads and bridges than the skiing stuff.

They had closed today which was smart. I have not seen anything on the Channel 9 news tonight relating to Loon. Pemi is flooding in the usual spots.

Sunday River is closed till further notice, which i am sure you already know.

 

[thebigo]

Loon closed tomorrow.

Lincoln, Woodstock and many of our neighboring communities have been severely impacted by the recent storm. Giving you, fellow team members and neighbors some extra time to tend to their personal needs or the flexibility to lend a hand to others is the right thing to do before we start welcoming guests back to the resort.

 

[deadheadskier]

Seating is now limited in the tent since it was leased out with a stage and high top tables. Don't give loon any ideas on premium parking, thats my go to lot midweek. That tent won't last forever, it is now 15 years old.

I recognize the seating is limited. My point was to keep it in addition to building something over at the base of Timbertown. Seems like a better option than just having something at Timbertown, which is what I thought you were implying.

 

[thebigo]

Surprisingly good today, much better than expectation. No loss of terrain and blasting on south.

 

[machski]

Up today, Timbertown has a lot of snow but not yet pushed out. Taking the gift wrap off Tuesday?
Wasn't impressed with how far up from the lots the new quad is. Kind of a crap setup, likely why the original plan had 2 quads, one more diagonal across the pod that would pick up lower at the parking lot. Also, new top of that lift compresses Cruiser right after Escape Route to just the right of the tree island.

Undercut is still being logged but will likely be unskiable as a trail given it's NW exposure unless you catch it on a big dump day with calm winds. Likely will be a permanent vertical rinks if they add snowmaking.

Also, Pemi Basecamp parking is about half it's normal as they are using the other half for logging operations. Plan accordingly.
And why can't all lifts have the laser lanes?

 

[Smellytele]

Up today, Timbertown has a lot of snow but not yet pushed out. Taking the gift wrap off Tuesday?
Wasn't impressed with how far up from the lots the new quad is. Kind of a crap setup, likely why the original plan had 2 quads, one more diagonal across the pod that would pick up lower at the parking lot. Also, new top of that lift compresses Cruiser right after Escape Route to just the right of the tree island.
View attachment 60071
Undercut is still being logged but will likely be unskiable as a trail given it's NW exposure unless you catch it on a big dump day with calm winds. Likely will be a permanent vertical rinks if they add snowmaking.
View attachment 60072
Also, Pemi Basecamp parking is about half it's normal as they are using the other half for logging operations. Plan accordingly.
And why can't all lifts have the laser lanes?
View attachment 60073

Because they are not needed except for stupid Loon skiers.

 

[machski]

Because they are not needed except for stupid Loon skiers.

But they are holiday themed colors

 

[machski]

Anyone hit Loon for Timbertown's debut today?

 

[skef]

The new trails are fine, and longer than I expected looking at the map (based on my one run down). Before they spun the lift they had every (AFAICT) ski school and ski team group gather at the top for a big group ski down, which was fun to see.

Snow coverage was good in Timbertown; I think they weren’t taking any chances — saw several big whales on side trails held in reserve.

 

[skef]

Elsewhere, things were a little sketchier. Lots of dirt coming through. And I’ve never seen the door to this shack so far off the ground.

 

[xlr8r]

I was there too. Agree with the trails being longer than expected, it is similar in size to the west double area of Crotched (chair is similar in length and vert). I am a bit concerned about beginners and small children being able to easily use the lift. It runs pretty fast for a fixed grip with the loading carpet, and the unload ramp is pretty steep. I think Loon may come to regret this being a fixed quad rather than being a detachable, not for length and speed, but just for being able to easily load and unload beginners. Also the unload area intersecting Cruiser is a bit tight. I wish the lift was maybe 100' shorter to make that more spacious. The existing Cruiser tree island is still there, but this lift now blocks the skiers left side of going around it, so you have to to the right of the tree island now.

Based on the Grand Opening ceremony comments from the GM. I wonder if South Peak Resort bought this lift and not Boyne. Also it leads me to believe South Peak Resort is the owner of the Pemigewasset Tent. Everything in that Tent has South Peak Resort logos, not Loon logos. So if the tent doesn't get replaced anytime soon, maybe Boyne is not the party responsible. These are just guesses.

The skiing was good for the first couple hours. I parked at South Peak, and lapped Cruiser for the first hour before the crowd showed up, Cruiser was nice and soft, with 1" of fresh snow at the top. The opening ceremony at the bottom of the new Timbertown quad was fun at 9am, first time for me being at the grand opening of a new lift. Props to Loon for handing out free Timbertown cowbells and pins for the occasion. After a few runs on the new trails I headed over to the main mountain around 10:30, everything over there was trashed. Grabbed lunch at Octagon, and immediately headed back to South Peak, nothing was worth skiing on the main mountain. Cruiser by afternoon was bumped up all over, but skiable. I finished the day back at Timbertown for 5 more runs which was now deserted, but clearly had the best conditions.

Not the best day, but I don't think anyplace else could have been much better today based on the weather everyone is dealing with. Timbertown while short had good conditions all day due to Loon holding that snow in reserve all week.

 

[thebigo]

Skied timbertown today and had a somewhat different impression than above. I was skeptical at first, thought the runs would be too short, experts cutting across the beginner terrain and lift difficult to load for beginners. Left thinking timbertown may be one of the premier learning areas in New england.

I was expecting a spruce style loading experience but both the lift and carpet ran slow, six year old daughter had no trouble loading while holding her poles.

As for connection with cruiser access is set up to flow through fox run with stillwater blocked from cruiser. In other words, the natural flow separates lapping beginners from people accessing the parking lots.

Wildwood appeared clean and well spaced, good learning woods. Same with Lincoln woods but spaced even further, appeared to be some man made snow blowing in.

It is clear they need a lodge down there, this should be the next project. Booting up in a muddy parking lot is a lousy experience for beginners.

Overall today may have been my best of the year. Guns running everywhere with monster whales around every corner. Cruiser scraped off late afternoon but that was it, otherwise good surfaces everywhere throughout the day.

Upper walking boss and speakeasy are ready, resurfacing should be about done. They have started boom run, hopefully a hard push on the remainder of south is next.

 

[bigbob]

When South Peak opened, what 15 years ago, the orginal developer was supposed to build the lodge. This was as the Great Recesion was just starting. The orginal developer sold out and left after building a few condos and the roads. Not sure if they paid to build the tent or Loon.

 

[machski]

When South Peak opened, what 15 years ago, the orginal developer was supposed to build the lodge. This was as the Great Recesion was just starting. The orginal developer sold out and left after building a few condos and the roads. Not sure if they paid to build the tent or Loon.

That would have been signed with Booth Creek running the show, no?? Have to think Boyne has a different plan now.

 

[machski]

Apparently the new Timbertown expansion is only for weekend and holiday guests. They have it closed now Mon-Thurs for the second week in a row. I could see last week, especially while they were making snow to catch up. But now this week, that is BS.

 

[deadheadskier]

That's bizarre. You would think that now that they have addressed the area of greatest need at Loon, a great dedicated area for beginners; they'd want to show it off.

 

[machski]

That's bizarre. You would think that now that they have addressed the area of greatest need at Loon, a great dedicated area for beginners; they'd want to show it off.

Ahh, but it is not being used as such currently with zero base facilties at that pod. Honestly, beginners off that pod should not even leave it to ski over to the Lincoln Express unless they are ready for Bear Claw (take lincoln stright to Tote Road and onto BC). It is obviously just crowd overflow for now and lot access when needed. It stinks, I have no desire to ski Loon on the weekends and Friday's aren't o useful to me either. But this is typical Loon. They have often shuttered South midweek to reopen on the weekends at times.

Edit: It wouldn't irk me as much if that is the intention for Timbertown to just be overflow relief and parking access until the base facilties get added. But they expended a ton of snowmaking hours and firepower to blast a lot of that pod open. And to now shut it midweek, while still lacking a lot of primary terrain especially on South (currently just Cruiser is open) is a joke. Granted, they are making Boom (which has to be close) and Twitcher/Jobber. But on the main side, Lower Picked Rock and Blue Ox are still not made and open. Seems a bit backwards.

 

[Newpylong]

At least SR last year didn't do MH (another weekend only deal it seemed) until last and they had a damn cold 3 days and did it all at once pretty much.

 

[JDMRoma]

Ahh, but it is not being used as such currently with zero base facilties at that pod. Honestly, beginners off that pod should not even leave it to ski over to the Lincoln Express unless they are ready for Bear Claw (take lincoln stright to Tote Road and onto BC). It is obviously just crowd overflow for now and lot access when needed. It stinks, I have no desire to ski Loon on the weekends and Friday's aren't o useful to me either. But this is typical Loon. They have often shuttered South midweek to reopen on the weekends at times.

Edit: It wouldn't irk me as much if that is the intention for Timbertown to just be overflow relief and parking access until the base facilties get added. But they expended a ton of snowmaking hours and firepower to blast a lot of that pod open. And to now shut it midweek, while still lacking a lot of primary terrain especially on South (currently just Cruiser is open) is a joke. Granted, they are making Boom (which has to be close) and Twitcher/Jobber. But on the main side, Lower Picked Rock and Blue Ox are still not made and open. Seems a bit backwards.

they did have boom run open last Saturday under the guns. pretty decent snow there now. sure theyll groom it out soon

 

[t-to-b]

Ahh, but it is not being used as such currently with zero base facilties at that pod. Honestly, beginners off that pod should not even leave it to ski over to the Lincoln Express unless they are ready for Bear Claw (take lincoln stright to Tote Road and onto BC). It is obviously just crowd overflow for now and lot access when needed. It stinks, I have no desire to ski Loon on the weekends and Friday's aren't o useful to me either. But this is typical Loon. They have often shuttered South midweek to reopen on the weekends at times.

Edit: It wouldn't irk me as much if that is the intention for Timbertown to just be overflow relief and parking access until the base facilties get added. But they expended a ton of snowmaking hours and firepower to blast a lot of that pod open. And to now shut it midweek, while still lacking a lot of primary terrain especially on South (currently just Cruiser is open) is a joke. Granted, they are making Boom (which has to be close) and Twitcher/Jobber. But on the main side, Lower Picked Rock and Blue Ox are still not made and open. Seems a bit backwards.

They had boom run open this weekend. They closed it to push snow. They'll probably have jobber and twitcher open this weekend. They made a boatload of snow over there.