Christmas Eve flooded most New England Ski Areas with over an inch of rain. Flood warnings were set off throughout the region as snow melt and down pours combined into a skier’s worst nightmare. However, Cannon skiers were good this year as Santa delivered the abundant snowfall Christmas night. Rain changed over to snow and dumped a foot of fresh on the mostly bare slopes of Cannon! Friday skiers got a super powder day; those showing up Saturday had precious little time to pick through the remains of the spoils.
Saturday saw Cannon as busy as I have ever seen it. Busier than your average Super Bowl Sunday. All three lots were packed with cars and a shuttle bus transported skiers to and from the far away parking lots. Despite the crowds, most lifts were ski on most of the day. With a little knowledge of the mountain and its quirky patterns, one could completely avoid the crowds and still find patches of fresh snow.
I clicked into my older P40 Platinums anticipating a thin cover day, especially on my first Mittersill run of the year. After two groomer runs, I decided that my longer and less agile P40s were going to be retired completely. They do not even deserve the honor of being rock skis. Which is no slight to the mighty P40s! Rather, my new P50 Motions are just so good that I can not ski on anything less. Even over grass, dirt, and rocks. So I switched up skis and tracked over to the front face on much more comfortable footing.
By this time, the ropes had been dropped on Zoomer, Paulie’s, and Avalanche. I immediately tracked down the natural snow on Zoomer, quickly discovering that there was no base whatsoever under the powder. Powdery bumps built up where people were turning. However, these bumps were not to be skied like normal bumps! Turning in the trough resulted in scraping dirt, grass, or worse. Instead, I quickly learned after some base damage to turn on top of or over the bumps. I delighted in launching myself off bumps and combining a landing and turning on the next bump. I delighted in the remains of the foot deep powder dump while protecting my bases as much as possible.
I made several passes down Zoomer and ventured onto Paulie’s for an awesome run. Next up, I ducked the rope into my favorite former lift line for Upper, Middle, and Lower Closed. Upper Closed was a disaster. Already tracked and with minimal cover and lots of brush, I barely scraped down without incident. Before the exit, I noticed a snow making pipe was above the snow. Self arrest was the only measure of safety here as I threw myself down sideways, burying a pole in the powder, and having my skis spread eagle style above my butt. Just as I looked up to measure the carnage, a patroller skied by me on an open trail… turning a blind eye.
I collected myself and ventured down Middle Closed, clearly not learning my lesson. Decent coverage, but many obstacles and not terribly enjoyable. Lower Closed provided the best coverage and snow pack, but still not enjoyable for my efforts. A return to the lodge for a bite to eat saw a huge crowd gathering for the holiday weekend. I launched up the HSQ and noticed Middle Cannon looked thoroughly chewed up. I dropped into Paulie’s and headed over to the Tram for a shot at Mittersill.
Ducking the rope for Taft, I entered paradise. Taft Slalom featured well covered terrain with a slight moist man made topping due to snow making efforts on Upper Ravine. Avoiding the man made coating, I made awesome tracks down skiers left and released my first “WOO!!!!” of the afternoon. Leaving Upper and Middle Hard for later, I ventured up the saddle to Mittersill for my first run down Taft of the year. As always, it did not disappoint.
The snow on Taft Race Course was the stuff legends are made of. THIS is what the term “Packed Powder” is suppose to be in reference to. Sweet and delicious, I gobbled up every tasty turn I could manage before being dumped into my most sacred shrine of New England Skiing, the top of the defunct double chairlift. I paused in contemplation and meditation. Then I offered a two pole click; my salute and prayer to the snow gods, as I sped down the traverse to Baron’s Run.
The thing that always amazes me about Baron’s Run is that most skiers stay to the right as they descend. Obviously, trying to avoid the vegetation and twigs rising out of the snow on skier’s left. However, that is always where the best snow is and the more natural skiing which I enjoy. To my shock and awe, virtually untouched powder presented itself to me on skiers left, whereas skiers right was already packed down solid. I pointed my two planks into the foot of fresh and was off, experiencing knee deep sensations for the second time this December! Amazing! Before long, I began getting tangled with the undergrowth. Bringing me back down to Earth… quite literally. There be snow snakes in that there powder! I suffered much base damage and even a core shot but it was well earned.
Nearing the end of Baron’s run, I continued straight instead of the customary turn off back toward Cannon. I was blessed with further knee deep delights! I was also cursed with two stream crossings and a short section with no snow cover. I finally floated through another knee deep section before being dumped out into the new Tuckerbrook area. The new beginners area is just what Cannon was lacking! The gentle and short slopes are perfect for those just learning or trying to perfect some technique. The area is sheltered from the wind and has excellent views of Bald Rock and Lafayette. The Quad Chairlift is comfortable and roomy and is a very short ride. The lift attendants were most jovial and excited. Music was playing at both terminals. Ski Instructors were seemingly everywhere displaying a commitment to the family and new skier. Cannon has clearly taken a HUGE step forward in being the leading ski area of New Hampshire.
After lunch, I went back to the front (as I like to say) to salvage a few remaining worth while runs on Zoomer, Paulie’s, and Avalanche. Next up was a summit trip to explore the goods on the Hardscrabbles. Upper Hardscrabble was in the best shape I have ever seen the trail sporting awesome powder, great coverage, and occasional untracked on the side. Upper Hard dumped fluffily into Middle Hard, a natural snow lovers dream. I navigated the classic cut turns of Middle Hard by picking out the steepest fall line. A line made easy by the abundance of tracked up powder. The final pitch was a little rough, but dreamy nonetheless. I noted to another skier that “I can’t believe they have the two trails with the best snow on the mountain closed!” His response summed up my other thought precisely: “Fine by me!”
The Cannonball Quad opened up late in the day to whales and scraped natural snow on Profile and a scraped but delightful jaunt down Upper Cannon. Middle Cannon had formed some sweet bumps by late day that had most beginners and intermediates ready to throw in the towel. Big Link and Easy Link were as defunct of adequate coverage as ever.
The first afternoon of my two day Cannon weekend was in the books. An hour drive east to Gorham brought delightful views of the Northern Presidentials in all their Blue Bird Day glory. The Hikers Dice made for an excellent $15 overnight and I had my usual at Mr. Pizza; Bacon Hamburger with Fries and a Tuckerman Ale, topped off with a small vanilla cup of ice cream. Life is good.
