While Rhode Island and southern Boston Metro was getting slammed with almost two feet of fresh, I decided to head to my home mountain for some non-powder skiing. After having considered a four hour round trip drive to the flatlands for powder, I declined the option based on the latest weather runs early Sunday morning.

These forecasts substantially decreased snow totals outside the I-495 belt leaving Wachsuett without much fresh. And with decreasing snow fall later in the morning, what little fell at WaWa would most likely be groomed flat by opening bell. That left one 300 vertical foot trail at Blue Hills that would be tracked out in two runs. Or, I could just drive to Cannon and enjoy a relaxing day of skiing close to home. I chose to stay local and am more than satisfied with my decision.

Despite no new natural snow in over a week, Cannon skied very well thanks to their snow making and grooming teams. These efforts were substantially beefed up when the new GM took over three years ago and continue to offer up a product far superior to the Cannon of old. Available terrain include The Links, Ravine, Cannon, Extension, and Spookie from the Peabody Quad, Gary’s, Mickey’s, and Rocket from the Zoomer Triple, and some beginner terrain in the Tuckerbrook Family area. Ravine was whaled up but no other snow making operations were apparent.

After getting started on a stellar Middle Cannon (rarely in such good form!), I hit a somewhat “natural conditions” Extension (due to incomplete snow making coverage) which was as variable as can be expected. Naturally, I made my way down to Rocket where I would remain for the rest of the morning.

Rocket had variable scraped hard pack and machine groomed packed snow throughout with a small bump line developing on skier’s right. Due to not feeling technically proficient as of late, I worked my turns and technique a few times on the groomed before starting to hammer the bumps. The bumps had occasionally good but short lines interrupted by sections of varying patterns. Just one more run turned into just seven more runs as I was really enjoying working the bumps (or having the bumps work me. Either way).

While working Rocket over many times via quick laps on the Zoomer Triple, I couldn’t help but reflect that this used to be my weekly ritual. Hard pack be damned, I was going to ski Cannon no matter what the conditions were. It made me the skier that I am. The effort improved my technique. And since then, I became a Northern Vermont Powder Princess, rarely skiing hard pack and turning my nose up at even two-days-since-the-last-storm packed powder.

This season is a renewed commitment to enjoying skiing for everything that it has to offer and recommiting myself to good form and technique. Both of which requires skiing on less than ideal days. And both require remembering how to have fun while doing so. While skiing Rocket on Sunday, I realized that I never really forgot but rather only thought that I had.

I couldn’t help but take a quick tour of the improved base lodge facilities before I left. Of note was the well lit and spacious new ticketing area which replaced the cramped rental facility. A nice lounge area by the fire replaces the old ticket window in the Notchview Lodge in addition to more seating where the repair shop used to be located.

In the Peabody Lodge, an extension was added looker’s left for a new repair shop and rental shop. The feature of the Peabody Lodge renovation is a swank new pub looker’s right in the Peabody Lodge featuring a really long curvy bar with two cut ins and lots of tables serviced with plenty of standing room in between. Wow! Non-pub goers enjoy more room with an expanding seating section where the bar used to be. A sensational and stunning upgrade for Cannon, wow! Next time I am at Cannon, I will plan on staying for a post downhill libation and perhaps a sandwich (which I rarely do). The new pub is very inviting and looks sensational!