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Loon South Peak Expansion

2Planker

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Drive north through the notch to Franconia, different world up there, no crowds.
Ski over 60 days/year in NH & Maine
Haven't been to Loon in over 20 years
I'll stick w/ No Crowds at Cannon, The Cat, BW, Black & SR.
SR can be dicey, But you just need to get out of Barker early and avoid everythig low down. Ski Aurora and White Cap mid day
 

thebigo

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May 15, 2005
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how can you possibly have an opinion on loon if you have not skied there in 20 years?

hung up 105 days last year between cannon, loon and SR. cannon is definitely the choice on weekends and holidays but there is a significant number of days where cannon is simply unenjoyable, primarily due to zero visibility but also occasional boilerplate. loon is an excellent nearby alternative. bunch of days last year were loon in the AM, cannon in the PM after it cleared and softened up. handful of midseason weekend days at loon last year were crowded but lift lines were always manageable, doubt it ever took longer than a few minutes from scan to chair. loons problem is lodge space and parking, they need to get the comp and learning programs out of governors.
 

2Planker

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Messages
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Location
MWV, NH
how can you possibly have an opinion on loon if you have not skied there in 20 years?

hung up 105 days last year between cannon, loon and SR. cannon is definitely the choice on weekends and holidays but there is a significant number of days where cannon is simply unenjoyable, primarily due to zero visibility but also occasional boilerplate. loon is an excellent nearby alternative. bunch of days last year were loon in the AM, cannon in the PM after it cleared and softened up. handful of midseason weekend days at loon last year were crowded but lift lines were always manageable, doubt it ever took longer than a few minutes from scan to chair. loons problem is lodge space and parking, they need to get the comp and learning programs out of governors.
I live up here. Don’t need to ski it to know that Lincoln and Loon are too packed for my crowd.
I also worked in the ski industry for 25+ years and refer you to "Downhill Slide" by Hal Clifford.
ASC, Peaks, Vail, Boyne, Alterra…. It’s the locals and the area that suffers the most.
 
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machski

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Sep 5, 2014
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Northwood, NH (Sunday River, ME)
Loon and Lincoln suffer from proximity both distance to Boston and being immediately off of I-93. It also suffers because for whatever reason, it has been the largest town on that side of the Whites for decades, at least with bed space. I would argue it likely has the highest available lodging bed base almost anywhere in NH now with all the development the last decade. Sure Loon has grown, but not quite enough. They need the new West Basin Lodge for sure and likely need to expand terrain further west of South in the coming decade as bed base continues to grow. I do hope they gain approval for the glades zone beyond WBW off North, they need added expert terrain and that zone would be perfect for that.
 

thebigo

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May 15, 2005
Messages
2,105
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Location
NH seacoast
I live up here. Don’t need to ski it to know that Lincoln and Loon are too packed for my crowd.
I also worked in the ski industry for 25+ years and refer you to "Downhill Slide" by Hal Clifford.
ASC, Peaks, Vail, Boyne, Alterra…. It’s the locals and the area that suffers the most.
your point is the multi-pass is bad for the industry? I do not necessarily disagree but hope you like smuggs, gunstock and MRG because those are your choices.
 

bigbob

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Jul 10, 2007
Messages
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Location
SE NH
Ski over 60 days/year in NH & Maine
Haven't been to Loon in over 20 years
I'll stick w/ No Crowds at Cannon, The Cat, BW, Black & SR.
SR can be dicey, But you just need to get out of Barker early and avoid everythig low down. Ski Aurora and White Cap mid day
Avoid Loon during Mass vacation week and Loon is fine midweek. Parking lot between the kodges fills up some days. Fridays will be the busiest mid week day. just stay away from the Gondola if it has a line.
 

machski

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Northwood, NH (Sunday River, ME)
All I can say is given the parking lots, the new RiverWalk connection gondi (assuming it goes in this year) and all the new single family and townhomes going in a long the rundown to Timbertown, one FGQ down there is not going to be enough capacity potentially starting this season. And I would say Lincoln Express is probably the most needed upgrade lift now aside from the main Gondi on the hill. Not sure Boyne is keeping up with the exploding bed base in town any longer.
 

bigbob

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SE NH
All I can say is given the parking lots, the new RiverWalk connection gondi (assuming it goes in this year) and all the new single family and townhomes going in a long the rundown to Timbertown, one FGQ down there is not going to be enough capacity potentially starting this season. And I would say Lincoln Express is probably the most needed upgrade lift now aside from the main Gondi on the hill. Not sure Boyne is keeping up with the exploding bed base in town any longer.
Loon had announced a large expansion is in the works last spring. I have not seen any details other than some glades off of North Peak. I would not be suprised to see another detach lift installed at the new lodge at South Peak. perhaps to another peak.
 

machski

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Loon had announced a large expansion is in the works last spring. I have not seen any details other than some glades off of North Peak. I would not be suprised to see another detach lift installed at the new lodge at South Peak. perhaps to another peak.
Yeah, there were conceptuals of an entire new pod beyond South to lookers right, but that was conceptual only. I believe they submitted the plans for the Glading out beyond North into the bowl lookers left off NPX to the USFS for approvals. That will be nice, but it won't help the coming overcrowding I see at South starting this season.
 
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