Loon this Weekend

[Angus]

It's been 30+ years - anyone have any ideas about conditions, crowds, etc. From the website it looks like they have the base and I can't believe there will be big crowds but that's the reputation. The mountains close proximity to Boston may work to its' advantage with this skier!

 

[bigbob]

Skiied Loon yesterday. Parking lot about 90% full between the 2 lodges, short or no lift lines. Good soft snow,poor mans powder, few bare spots starting to show up. Bought next years season pass.

 

[SkiDork]

just found out, we'll prolly be going to Loon this season for at least 2 days. Never been there. 2 questions:

1) Whats the quickest way to get there from Killington?

Map makes it seem like 4 through White River Junction -> 118 -> 25 -> 93 -> 112

Or is it better to stay on 118 all the way?

2) How long would it take to get there from Killington?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Johnskiismore]

The directions you have will probably be the best route. 118 can get hairy in bad weather, and you rise considerably in elevation when coming around/over Mount Moosilauke. Unfortunately there really isn't a 'great' way from Killington to Loon, it will take up to two hours.

 

[bigbob]

The best route as far as roads are would be to take 89 s to Concord, about 1 hr from West Leb, then 93 north from Concord, about 1 hr, for a total trip time of 2.5 hrs from K, at least, but no frost heaves! Would it work out to drive directly from LI, all interstates except for the last 2 miles?

 

[Vortex]

I would take 4 to 91n to orford nh to rt 25a to Rt 25. I have done that at least a couple of dozen times. Take 25 through plymouth to 93n. Route I took from my campton Condo to visit Family in woodstock and go to Killington.

118 always has huge frost heaves. If weather is bad take 4 to 89s to 93 north. The route 118 is a great foliage ride. I really suggest avoiding the 118 route in the winter. No cell coverage if you break down it could take weeks till you are found.:blink:

 

[riverc0il]

BobR's suggestion is probably best. I live in Plymouth and take 25/25a en route to the MRV so it is the most direct and easiest route south of 118 though 25 gets frost heaves too, it is probably a better road than 118 I would imagine. BigBog's 2.5 hours all interstate is overly optimistic unless you drive at least 75 on the highway. I would leave at least 3 hours for K to Loon no matter which route you take.

Killington to Loon does not make much sense from a trip planning perspective when you could reach any other Green Mountain ski area in 2 hours or less from Killington but going either north or south along Route 100. Why Loon specifically?

 

[WJenness]

BobR's suggestion is probably best. I live in Plymouth and take 25/25a en route to the MRV so it is the most direct and easiest route south of 118 though 25 gets frost heaves too, it is probably a better road than 118 I would imagine. BigBog's 2.5 hours all interstate is overly optimistic unless you drive at least 75 on the highway. I would leave at least 3 hours for K to Loon no matter which route you take.

Killington to Loon does not make much sense from a trip planning perspective when you could reach any other Green Mountain ski area in 2 hours or less from Killington but going either north or south along Route 100. Why Loon specifically?

$5 says his son has a race there. (But just guessing)

-w

 

[thetrailboss]

$5 says his son has a race there. (But just guessing)

-w

X2.

 

[SkiDork]

You guessed right. The EQS B championships will be held there this year, and he's already got 1 win so unless he tanks for the entire season he's sure to get an invite.

The comps will be middle of March so frost heaves _shouldn't_ be too much of an issue...

Since it looks like it'll be at least 2 hours each way, I may just decide to stay there for the weekend. It's a lot of fun, the kids have a blast running around the hotel , playing guitar hero etc. and the parents and coaches all get to go out to dinner together etc.

I'll try to rent my place out for that weekend to cover the cost of the trip.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[bobbutts]

The comps will be middle of March so frost heaves _shouldn't_ be too much of an issue...

I'm not really a frost heaves expert, but I highly doubt they will have fixed anything during the winter, so early spring should be about the worst

I had mega frost heaves in april taking back roads to stratton.. had to slam the brakes a few times to avoid being eaten up

 

[SkiDork]

I'm not really a frost heaves expert, but I highly doubt they will have fixed anything during the winter, so early spring should be about the worst

I had mega frost heaves in april taking back roads to stratton.. had to slam the brakes a few times to avoid being eaten up

You're right. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[bigbob]

Let me know which weekend it is and as long as my pass is not blacked out I will try and catch up with you and show you around. I still owe your wife a case of Long trail!

 

[riverc0il]

The comps will be middle of March so frost heaves _shouldn't_ be too much of an issue...

HA!! Wow, you are in for a surprise. Fasten your seat belt and drive 10 below the speed limit on 25a coming into Rumney if you know what is good for your car and your head... There were days last year (in March no less) that I had all four wheels off the pavement, no exaggeration.

 

[SkiDork]

Let me know which weekend it is and as long as my pass is not blacked out I will try and catch up with you and show you around. I still owe your wife a case of Long trail!

it's 3/14 3/15

 

[SkiDork]

getting closer to this...

Follow up question to directions:

I'll be coming straight up 91 from Mass. Whats the best way to get over to 93 so I can get to Lincoln/Loon etc?

Thanks,.

 

[billski]

It's been 30+ years - anyone have any ideas about conditions, crowds, etc. From the website it looks like they have the base and I can't believe there will be big crowds but that's the reputation. The mountains close proximity to Boston may work to its' advantage with this skier!

Here's my $0.02 on crowds. It's got the major metro attraction so it gets pretty busy. I've become crowd adverse, skiing midweek and at far flung places on odd days, so take my opinion and chuck it... anyways. Loon has a tremendous uphill capacity. The downside is that you'll have a lot of folks on a lot of slopes all at once. Keeps ski patrol pretty busy. It is also advisable to get your tracks earlier rather than later as things get scraped off pretty quickly. Lunch can be extremely busy at the bases. I sometimes like Camp 3 better, but more often than not, you'll find me at the summit eating Jamaican food, where you can almost always find a seat. Unless you're there early you'll either be in for a long walk after parking your car near the river or from an remote parking lot with shuttle. It's a nice place, they do the groomer thing well, others can comment on that. There are some limited glades, I don't know much about off-piste there. Hope this helps. If not, ask for your money back

 

[Angus]

getting closer to this...

Follow up question to directions:

I'll be coming straight up 91 from Mass. Whats the best way to get over to 93 so I can get to Lincoln/Loon etc?

Thanks,.

Wow, seeing a thread I started almost a year ago threw me for a loop - I thought someone had hijacked my user id!

Anyway, I'm using google maps and rt. 25 is the optimized result but can verify from prior comments, it's a tough road in the winter.

But how about 91, 89, to 4 (you'd only be on 89 for a short distance) to 118 - this is the wildcard - I don't think I've ever driven this road - to 25 to Tenney Hwy (3A) to 93 - time-wise, it's the same as rt 25.

does anyone know anything about route 118 in the winter?

Alternative is stay on 4, pick-up 104 in Danbury (you'll be at the road entrance to Ragged Mtn btw and take 104 out to 93 - again, it doesn't appear you lose a lot of time -

routes 4 and 104 are "good" winter roads!

 

[bigbob]

How about getting off I-91 in Brattelboro, crossing over into NH on Rt 9, go through Keene, continue on Rt 9 To I-89 South to Concord, Get on I-93, 1 hour or less from Concord to Loon. I would gess Loon is 2 + hrs from I-91 this way. Rt 9 is a decent road.

 

[Angus]

that rt.9 idea is a good one but according to google maps - almost 30 minutes slower. rt 9 is good road in the winter - you could also pass by 1) granite gorge and 2) pats peak or thereabouts in henniker. plus crotched could be a nice side excursion.