why do so many people go to loon?

[MikeTrainor]

I went there 2 Thursdays ago(the week before school vacation). There were alot of people and I was waiting in lines! I didn't think there was anything great there I can't understand why so many people ski there. Go up the road to Cannon and nothing. What are they doing differently?

 

[andyzee]

I think it's for the opportunity to ski with BobR.

 

[LVNLARG]

I scratch my head at this one too...I don't think much of it....

 

[Rushski]

As I've said before, the one trail I used to love they changed drastically. It is Rumrunner which used to be narrow and twisty, now it is wide, straight and dull...

And it sounds like their expansion will be all condos and very little new terrain. Just what skiers need.

 

[riverc0il]

i have a few guesses. i no particular order:

a) closest 2k vert mountain to boston (okay, cannon ain't much further but...)
b) lots of condos (thus the country club atmosphere the place has)
c) they build huge parks and pipes and advertise to the young crowd
d) cheap season pass in combination with other booth creek mountains
e) the terrain is actually decent when it isn't crowded (read: not on the weekends)
f) dependable and reliable snowmaking and grooming system

so i can see why a lot of folks ski loon. i am surprised the crowd factor hasn't reduced the amount of people willing to ski their. loon's weekend day ticket price is outrageous for what they offer. loon does have some nice terrain, but because of the traffic it is usually scraped down worse than what the wind does to cannon. i don't see how people can complain about cannon wind blown hard pack when they ski at crowded mountains that are so utterly scraped down within one hour of the lifts starting on the weekends.

while certainly more crowded than cannon mid-week, the lines and crowds are not so outrageous that i can't overlook them and enjoy the terrain. late season the lines aren't so bad either. i enjoy loon's terrain when the conditions are right and the crowds are down which is rare. it has its appeals. but why more people don't make the 15 minute drive further north to cannon is beyond me. better trails, tougher trails, more 'options', cheaper prices, better view (though loon is pretty good as far as views go), and fewer people. it fits my bill why still being close to home (both from MA and now).

 

[skibum1321]

I think alot of it has to do with the fact that they groom almost everything. Cannon has the image of being a tougher mountain with more ungroomed. This is the type of terrain that appeals to most of their crowd. Quite frankly, they can have it. You won't ever see me near that mountain.

 

[riverc0il]

skibum, as a serious skier that spends a lot of his time at places like cannon, burke, mrg, magic, etc. i don't think you should rule out a mid-week trip to loon to see what it has to offer. they do have some excellent trees such as mike's way and they do have as many bump trails as cannon when i last went. they do have some nice terrain and views if you can plan a day around the crowds

that said, i certainly appreciate the fact that most skiers coming up from MA get off 93 at the lincoln exit and leave cannon pleasently uncrowded.

 

[nelsapbm]

I think probably one of the biggest reasons is that it is an easy day trip for folks from the Boston area. You can be there in 2 hours and it's practically right off the interstate.
I went ONCE on a weekend and never again. I have been during the week though, and it's a much more pleasant experience.

 

[thetrailboss]

Most of the reasons have been named, but truth be told is that it is very easy to get to and there is a 'buzz' of sorts. I thought it was OK the days I've been. Some of the terrain gets boring.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

In a word, Marketing.

Some might limit their definition of "marketing" to communication, including advertising and PR, which are things Loon does well. Marketing also includes delivering a product that people are interested in. Loon has great resort "products" which the bulk of the snowsports consumers are interested in.

Loon is a resort, Cannon is a ski area. Loon has condos, hotels, eating, drinking, day care, and many other things. Oh yes, they have cruisers with good snowmaking, lots of grooming, parks, pipes, etc.. They also have some bump runs and glades.

Cannon has skiing. Steeps, glades, bump runs and some great crew-zahs. They also don't spend a lot on advertising.

I like to ski. Most of the snowsporting public likes to go to resorts. I spend very little money at resorts (or even at ski areas), the average John Q. Public going to a resort spends a lot. Who do you think Loon would rather see?

 

[ctenidae]

I was there on Sunday, and it was amazingly uncrowded. Almost entirely empty. The weather was fairly crappy, but not bad enough to make much difference. I probably would have enjoyed it more, except I was having one of those days where my legs and feet just didn't work right. Don't know what the problem was- just an off day. That, combined with the poor conditions- patches of boilerplate edged with big lumps of piled up crud, didn't help any, either. Even still, I can see some of the attraction- it's a pretty big mountain, has lots of trails, and a pretty wide variety of terrain. I don't feel any strong need to go back there, but I didn't hate it. If it had been more crowded, maybe, but my experience wasn't bad (aaside from my own problems). Dinner at The Common Man was good, though.

 

[billski]

Most of the reasons have been named, but truth be told is that it is very easy to get to and there is a 'buzz' of sorts. I thought it was OK the days I've been. Some of the terrain gets boring.

Forgot to mention publicity. Big PR machine (save for Wa-wa). Cannon has nearly no money for publicity. The sales manager at Cannon told me last year he wasn't even allowed to go to the Boston Ski and Sports show. Also, Cannon has no nearby amenities: no slopeside accomodations, restaurants, bars, pool halls, etc. What you gonna do after hours but leave. For people with a busy life, Loon is a dependable venue. Easy to book your trip in advance and know the conditions will be OK.

I would suggest that Waterville and Loon are more head-to-head competition. Same reasons everyone mentioned apply to both.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Forgot to mention publicity. Big PR machine (save for Wa-wa). Cannon has nearly no money for publicity. The sales manager at Cannon told me last year he wasn't even allowed to go to the Boston Ski and Sports show. Also, Cannon has no nearby amenities: no slopeside accomodations, restaurants, bars, pool halls, etc. What you gonna do after hours but leave. For people with a busy life, Loon is a dependable venue. Easy to book your trip in advance and know the conditions will be OK..

Loon makes it simple and dependable. Great access, easy to book, easy to know they'll be plenty to do. High probability that the snow will be good enough, if not better.

I would suggest that Waterville and Loon are more head-to-head competition. Same reasons everyone mentioned apply to both.

They are some much alike, it's no surprise that they're both owned by Booth Creek

 

[MikeTrainor]

At the same time you could argue all the same things for Attitash. Condo’s, plenty of places to eat and plenty of things to do North Conway, snowmaking, and grooming but it seems they don’t get nearly as many people. I do agree that Loon does have some nice runs however I find a lot of the runs are the same, especially heading down to the lodge, no matter what blue you take it is the same run. I guess it is marketing and the “buzz” thing as previously discussed

 

[billski]

time diff

At the same time you could argue all the same things for Attitash. Condo’s, plenty of places to eat and plenty of things to do North Conway, snowmaking, and grooming but it seems they don’t get nearly as many people. I do agree that Loon does have some nice runs however I find a lot of the runs are the same, especially heading down to the lodge, no matter what blue you take it is the same run. I guess it is marketing and the “buzz” thing as previously discussed

The diff of course is commute from metro boston (primary market) is 3hr for Attitash, 2hrs Loon

 

[Greg]

The answer is easy: Triple Trouble. Great run!

Seriously though, Loon has some great terrain and some of the best seeded bump runs around. I rarely ski it on weekends so I can't comment there, but it's great mid-week. It's all about knowing skier traffic patterns as it is at any "crowded" mountain. If you're going to wait for the gondola or Kanc Quad, sure it's gonna seem crowded, even on a weekday. We stay slopeside midweek each year and it's great. Lincoln is also a great little ski town too!

Edit: Wow. how many "greats" did I just use? Five? :roll:

 

[Charlie Schuessler]

I'm a Threedom Pass holder and ski at Loon Mountain almost exclusively of the other two areas (Waterville Valley & Mount Cranmore)...so why do I ski LM?

From my house driving to loon or Waterville Valley is the same amount of time, LM terrain is better skiing than WVV. LM seems more capable of handling weekend crowds better. LM’s terrain is the most easily accessible to me than other areas (Killington, Snow, Sugarbush, and Mad River Glen) so for day trips, LM is the place.

Cannon Mountain is only a handful of minutes more away, but the weather & terrain are much less predictable. The effect of weather caused by the Notch on Cannon's trails can make the place less enjoyable, where LM is less effected by the Notch.

I visit LM often and have learned how to get around avoiding lines. Although you won’t find this fellow there on Saturdays ("honey-do day" at our house), I spend a significant amount of Sunday’s enjoying terrain only a handful of people enjoy all day long...

I can't recall leaving there after a day of skiing being disappointed.

 

[Buckeye Skier 1330]

It's all about knowing skier traffic patterns as it is at any "crowded" mountain. If you're going to wait for the gondola or Kanc Quad, sure it's gonna seem crowded, even on a weekday.

We're going to be there at least one weekday next week. What will be the best lifts to use? I figured there would be a decent amount of people midweek but not so many that lift lines would be a factor. We do enjoy a nice gondola ride!

 

[Charlie Schuessler]

We're going to be there at least one weekday next week. What will be the best lifts to use? I figured there would be a decent amount of people midweek but not so many that lift lines would be a factor. We do enjoy a nice gondola ride!

Weekday lifts do not have lines to be concered about....just ski right to the chair...the Gondola on the other hand you may wait for up to 6-cars (roughly 20-24 people) which is not bad at all...

 

[riverc0il]

Also, Cannon has no nearby amenities: no slopeside accomodations, restaurants, bars, pool halls, etc

incorrect regarding the bar, there is a bar in the peabody lodge that is quite lively apres ski on the weekends. north lincoln, north woodstock, and littleton all count for nearby amenities for cannon. definitely no slope side but more than enough accomodations, restaurants, bars, etc. at those three towns. lack of slope side certainly doesn't stop people from going to places like stowe for over nighters, not that they don't have slopeside any more, but in the past. waterville also does not have any slope side, but the drive into the village isn't too far from the mountain. no more than cannon to franconia though.

I can't recall leaving there after a day of skiing being disappointed.

charlie, having skied with you... i think you have such a great attitude about skiing and in general that i doubt you'd leave hardly any mountain disappointed! :lol: