Driving up to the notch, I was amazed how beautiful the day was beginning. Bright blue skies without a cloud to be seen on the whole drive up Interstate 93. The Franconia Ridge was as majestic as I have ever seen it with its white capped peaks fronting a sky of bright blue. Visibility from the top of the quad was about as far and clear as I’ve ever seen it from cannon. everything was perfect about the weather except one thing: the wind.
Cannon opened with Middle and Lower Cannon and Ravine, Big and Short link, and Spookie on the Peabody Slopes with Zoomer Triple Chair turning for Gary’s on the Front Face. The Tube Park was replaced by a handle tow beginners area (great call!) and the Tuckerbrook Quad was spinning, but I did not get over there.
The HSQ was essentially only useful for uploading to ski down to the Zoomer chair. The wind was ferocious, just about as bad as cannon can get and still have that lift turning. The brutal wind made the ride on the Peabody Quad extremely uncomfortable and it was avoided by everyone as much as possible. Conditions off all trails from the quad were boiler plate. By 11ish, Big/Short link and Ravine got roped and a sign was placed at the loading area of the quad stating the lift serviced terrain for experts only. To bad the Eaglecliff Triple wasn’t turning as Lower Cannon had okay snow in between the blown off sections and would have been a more enjoyable ride getting over to Gary’s.
Gary’s was not at it’s best but had it’s moments. Skier’s right featured a few inches of man made pow that blew over from Rocket where the guns were going like crazy. During the morning it was kinda tough to ski, but once it got broken up it was really nice. The rest of the trail was hard pack with moth ball frozen granular.
Not the best day at cannon today, but they should have some more trails opening hopefully tomorrow, definitely by next weekend. It is definitely not Cannon’s fault the wind took all the snow off the trails and dumped it into the woods. I am sure the groomers will fix it up for tomorrow, but it just shows how bad most ski areas are hurting for some natural snow.