South mountain at Loon

[Vortex]

I have seen the shirts that say I survived grand junction

. sled and Riv both had good points. Unless you really like Loon most would agree with you guys. The pass holders know how to do it. The day skier that comes a couple times a year will say the ride is short and I can live with it or never come back.

The folks that ski 20+ days and buy day tickets probably would go elswhere. Kind of I why I put the mention of passes when I posted this thread. Loon asks alot of Money to ski a Sat with the volume of people on the hill.

 

[Talisman]

The access is great, probably the best of any place in the Northeast.

I think the access to Cannon is better with two (2) exits off of Interstate 93. Cannon is a little further North than Loon, but not driving through North Woodstock and Lincoln is an advantage.

 

[jsul]

Loon is the mountain most avid skiers stay away from. I rent a place in Lincoln and ski Loon 20+ days. Drive time and the Threedom pass are two reasons. The main reason is the seeded bump runs that both Loon and WV provide. I ski mid week and you couldn't pay me to ski Loon on a Saturday. The parking lot looks like a Patriots game. I find the quality of the snow making to be good. Loon makes alot of snow but does get icy in the afternoon. Bretton Woods is the best groomed terrain but I don't like the courderoy.

I enjoy skiing seeded runs at Loon and improving my skills. As soon as a good powder dump hits Loon is the last place I'd go. Wildcat last April was by far the best skiing I've ever done in New England. Wildcat is an icey cold mountain until March then it can be epic.

I think value wise Loon is the best mountain in Dec,Jan, Feb for the skier coming from the Boston area. They make a ton of snow. It's a two hour commute. I have two days off midweek and places like K's, Stowe, Loaf, Sunday riv are too far in the middle of winter because I don't think they are that much different then Loon. Having said that give me THE CHUTE at Stowe in March just as the temps hit 35-40 degrees now thats epic.

 

[SIKSKIER]

So sorry Bob.No offense but there is no day I would ski Loon over Cannon except when Cannon is closed.For the record,I do ski Loon 3 or 4 times a year but,you guessed it,after Cannon has closed for the season.

 

[Vortex]

I get where you guys are coming from. Again my point was on season pass purchases. ie taking into account the season length. Seems like I continue to be a quantity over quality guy somewhat. If your open I think your quality is better than than if your closed.:razz:


Siksier you spoke with your money being a Cannon regular with a pass and residence.:beer:

I just like knowing in Dec there will be coverage. Many days though as the season goes on.... we would be bitching Cannon go a foot we got nothing.uke:

I'll wave on my way to Maine.

 

[JimG.]

Loon is the mountain most avid skiers stay away from. I rent a place in Lincoln and ski Loon 20+ days. Drive time and the Threedom pass are two reasons. The main reason is the seeded bump runs that both Loon and WV provide. I ski mid week and you couldn't pay me to ski Loon on a Saturday. The parking lot looks like a Patriots game. I find the quality of the snow making to be good. Loon makes alot of snow but does get icy in the afternoon. Bretton Woods is the best groomed terrain but I don't like the courderoy.

I enjoy skiing seeded runs at Loon and improving my skills. As soon as a good powder dump hits Loon is the last place I'd go. Wildcat last April was by far the best skiing I've ever done in New England. Wildcat is an icey cold mountain until March then it can be epic.

I think value wise Loon is the best mountain in Dec,Jan, Feb for the skier coming from the Boston area. They make a ton of snow. It's a two hour commute. I have two days off midweek and places like K's, Stowe, Loaf, Sunday riv are too far in the middle of winter because I don't think they are that much different then Loon. Having said that give me THE CHUTE at Stowe in March just as the temps hit 35-40 degrees now thats epic.

I agree that Loon seeds bump runs very nicely.

 

[AMAC2233]

Looks like they've started back up with the trail cutting at South Peak. There is a trail on the far skier's left that comes off Cruiser about half way down. This is the trail on the map that is to the far left, highlighted as a future trail. I am guessing that it will be a beginner trail, as the bottom of South Peak is relatively flat.
3/16/08:

Driving by this morning, the 19th, it looked like they were burning brush on what will soon be "Ripsaw." (This trail should actually be legitimate.) I saw a lot of rising smoke from what looked like the bottom of the trail. Sorry, no pictures.

Back to the discussion on Loon's seeded bumps. This past Monday, they seeded fresh bumps on Lower Flume which were the best bumps (seeded) that I've skiied in a long time.

 

[Bumpsis]

I'm of the same opinion as the "no fans of Loon" that already voiced their opinion. I also pick up the same wrong vibe about the place as ctenidae. The place is a rip off if you're not on a pass or some other discount and I have yet to ski it when it's not icy. The new south peak trails are just plain boring and actually, one would have to pay me good money to put up with the crowds on weekends. I skied Loon once this year, mid week, just to check out the South peak. Nothing special - just hype: "do you want a condo with that ticket?"

But there is a good side: the moguls in east basin when the snow is soft - spring skiing. If you can pick a nice sunny spring day in the middle of the week and you like moguls, Loon's east basin is a good choice and it's an easy drive for me (Boston).

 

[davidhowland14]

Good to see they're continueing to be aggressive with south peak. Maybe telemechanic can fill us in on what was going on?

That side of the mtn seemed like it had a lot of potential.

 

[Vortex]

Going for the Mountain Dew vertical challenge.

. I would like to see what south peak has. I'll probably make a few more trips that my pass will work there after Easter.

Loon will always get pounded here and many people will go there and be happy.

If I was a day skier only and a pass holder... I would be here every wekkend. As a property owner I found myself looking to change it up after a few years.

Now that it will be on my pass after the 23rd and next year. I see myself making it here 15 days a year. Mid week its great. Walking Boss, flume, Angel street and Rum runner. ... Brook way is beautiful to just cruise and watch the stream. They are fun trails. I just skied a 1/2 day. Not enough to interest me for a full day. I ski open to close many days currently at the River.

 

[Telemechanic]

Good to see they're continuing to be aggressive with south peak. Maybe telemechanic can fill us in on what was going on?

AMAC2233's report pretty much covers it. The trail crew is working on "Ripsaw" right now. They are on the less steep run out so most of the tree removal is being done by an excavator because the trees are only 11 years old: tall and skinny. Ripsaw will be a legit expert trail next year with snow making. The as-yet unnamed trail west of Cruiser (we call it trail 46) is cut through to a clearing near South Mountain bridge near Lincoln. It won't have snowmaking next year as it won't access any lifts or facilities until sometime in the future. We built it to help Centex sell properties in their resort. Eventually it will access the resort center, homeowner trails and a beginner slope that could be used for teaching, tubing or park terrain. It hasn't been decided. There will also be a connecting lift to return skiers to Cruiser. All sometime down the road.

I skied Ripsaw 11 years ago and it was steep with a nice double fall line pitch where it crosses the Lincoln Quad. It wasn't graded or completely stumped so it was especially challenging. It was only skiable because we had a lot of snow in '96-'97. I'm interested to see how it skis in '08-'09 when its finished.

I'm glad I work at Loon because I get to see it at its best like midweek days with no crowds and fresh snow or soft spring bumps for example. I hope those who fall into the category of people who dislike Loon but have only skied it when its crowded with bad conditions will have an opportunity to try it on a better day. I especially like all the people I've worked with over the years and the regulars who come to ski year after year. When I get bored, and it happens every year, I can find a cheap or better option at another ski area. If I was just a recreational skier I'd probably find myself frequenting otherr ski areas because Loon only has a handful of the types of trails I like: Dipper, Triple, Upper Flying and the tree skiing not on the maps.