Where is the school vacation crowd?

[hiroto]

Yesterday I was skiing at Cannon Mt with my son. We had a wonderful time with
surprise 5~6 inches of fresh powder. What was more surprising was that the
mountain was empty. We mostly rode the tramway but at most it was
only half full.

We usually avoid this week for skiing expecting long line. My friend also
observed that it was not crowded at Sunapee last Sunday. How are the
other montains?

 

[thetrailboss]

Yesterday I was skiing at Cannon Mt with my son. We had a wonderful time with
surprise 5~6 inches of fresh powder. What was more surprising was that the
mountain was empty. We mostly rode the tramway but at most it was
only half full.

We usually avoid this week for skiing expecting long line. My friend also
observed that it was not crowded at Sunapee last Sunday. How are the
other montains?

Welcome to the forum, Hiroto. Hope to see you in here some more.

I've been watching the cams from our hill, Pat's, and there has been a relatively large crowd there. I don't know where the folks are...maybe more of the destination resorts such as Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Stowe, etc. Like Cannon, Pat's is a day area, but it is close enough to the Boston Rat Race to get the crowds on holidays. With that said, we've only had a couple days when things have been real busy.

 

[bvibert]

When I went to work Tuesday night at Ski Sundown here in CT they said there were lots of people there during the day on Monday and Tuesday. At night was a totally differnt story though, not crowded at all.

BTW, welcome to the forums!

 

[JimG.]

Easter is early this year, on 3/27. Some schools did not give the kids this week off and they will have a spring break to coincide with the Easter holiday in March.

That's the case for my kids anyway.

 

[hammer]

There was a decent crowd at Pats Peak last Sunday, but that could have been just the weekend crowd.

I hope that the crowds are a bit lighter...I'll be at Ragged tomorrow, and it would be nice to have some space.

 

[Big Game]

I think some school systems in CT screwed kids out of the full week of Feb vacation because of snow days...probably more so in Mass because Boston has gotten much more snow than us.

 

[SAB]

Also remember that NH schools do not get this week off. They get next week off. Some people hypothesize that is done to keep the numbers up at the ski areas for an extra week! Since Cannon isn't a big 'destination' resort, the Mass. crowds that go for a full week probably went elsewhere.

Isn't Cannon a great place!

SAB

 

[hammer]

Also remember that NH schools do not get this week off. They get next week off. Some people hypothesize that is done to keep the numbers up at the ski areas for an extra week!

Maybe it's done so that the NH residents don't have to crowd in with the MA residents at the airports, ski areas, etc. :wink:

 

[Vortex]

Good points i'm just glad I have the NH week with less people. Another point is alot of the pass holders buy the cheap passes that are not good holiday periods. Loon on Sat and Sunday had very short lines and awesome snow. I asked someone on the SR board today how the lines were yesterday... she said horrible. I guess it depends on where you are.

 

[hiroto]

thetrailboss and bvibert, thank you for your warm welcome.

Also remember that NH schools do not get this week off. They get next week off. Some people hypothesize that is done to keep the numbers up at the ski areas for an extra week! Since Cannon isn't a big 'destination' resort, the Mass. crowds that go for a full week probably went elsewhere.

Isn't Cannon a great place!

SAB

Yes, I'm familiar with that NH vacation offset. Yesterday there was a lady
(I assume NH local) pissed off and turned around at the ticket counter
because she was expecting midweek rate and they were charging holiday
rate. I think a mountain like Cannon should forget about this "holiday" rate
for (non NH) school vacation. What the point if the mountain is empty anyway?

 

[hammer]

Another point is alot of the pass holders buy the cheap passes that are not good holiday periods.

Yep...and the holiday periods are during the MA vacation week and not the NH vacation week.
Sometimes it s**ks being a MA resident. :angry:

 

[Vortex]

I live 1 mile from the border any further and I would have your pain. Hope you still get turns in Hammer. That poor lady she probably was expecting the $15 dollar Nh rate at Cannon yesterday.

 

[hammer]

I live 1 mile from the border any further and I would have your pain. Hope you still get turns in Hammer. That poor lady she probably was expecting the $15 dollar Nh rate at Cannon yesterday.

I can't get out during the week so these special midweek discounts don't do me much good anyway.

It matters not...on most trips this season, I've managed to save at least a few bucks by using SkiNH passes, which are good for any day.

I just think it's interesting how the Feb. holiday period is only during the MA vacation week...

 

[Vortex]

Hammer all my years it has been that way. When I grew up in Vermont we always soaked the Mass skiers, its how we survived. I take almost all my vacation in the Winter so I go mid week in week long sections. Ski Nh is a geat deal you did it smart. I have friends that buy in together on these. Last year I bought a couple of Cannon ones. Everyone should look at that site sometime www.skinh.com

 

[thetrailboss]

Hammer all my years it has been that way. When I grew up in Vermont we always soaked the Mass skiers, its how we survived. I take almost all my vacation in the Winter so I go mid week in week long sections. Ski Nh is a geat deal you did it smart. I have friends that buy in together on these. Last year I bought a couple of Cannon ones. Everyone should look at that site sometime www.skinh.com

Yes, Southern New England usually takes President's Week off while Northern New England goes one week later to accomodate Town Meeting Day, etc.

Why just consider MA week the holiday? Simple. That is when the highest demand is because MA has a lot of skiers and families who can get off that week. Holidays=more people have free time=higher demand for skiing=more staff to run the mtn facilities=more overhead=higher prices. I try to avoid holiday periods when I can... :x

Now as Hammer pointed out, NH Schools are off NEXT week and some resorts are also considering that week a holiday period and are selling tix according to that rate schedule (e.g. Pat's Peak).

It's all about supply and demand...in two weeks there will be some GREAT deals and the skiing will be better (knock on wood) :wink:

 

[Vortex]

I forgot about town meeting day. That is Tues next week I think. I heard rumors SugarBush was doing some promtions for that. Nashua has it nice We get Monday Presidents day so we get a long weekend, and then the following week, with less people. In years past North Conway has taken the Mass week off so the kids can work in the shops and ski areas, not sure if that is happening this year.
Loon, Cranmore, Attitash, have next week as a non holdiay week after Sunday. I have viewed their sites to Confirm. Planning on going to those places as well as the River and Burke. Yes has TB mentioned the AZ trip to Burke lets go. :wink:

 

[stomachdoc]

Waterville Valley has been very quiet this week, no liftlines, and great snow and conditions. I recall that vacation week has been more crowded in the past. President's weekend wasn't bad either. I think that the snow on Monday kept potential day trippers away.

 

[billski]

Bershire East

Tried to stay a bit "local" to avoid Mass. School Vac. week. Was suprised by lack of people at Berkshire East on Thursday or the local feeder area "Ski Ward" on Monday.

I would like to take credit for good planning on my part, but I just thing there was more in play than good premonition. In any event, I was very pleased.

 

[hiroto]

Went to Nashoba this morning with my daughter. Nice packed powder
from Friday morning snow. Beautiful and warm weather. But again,
it was hardly crowded. A dozen people in front of us at the chairlift at the most.

 

[KingM]

We were definitely slower than last year in the Mad River Valley. Last year we turned away dozens of reservations but this year there were days when we barely hit 50% occupancy. Granted, it was still much better than a typical week, but a lot of the crowds just didn't come.

Apart from the other theories offered, I heard that some Boston-area schools canceled their break because they'd taken several snow days after the Nor'easter. I don't know if this is true, but we didn't have many guests from Mass/RI/CT, so it seems plausible.