Category: Trip Reports

2003-2004 Season, January, Wildcat

Wildcat, NH

Originally, I had planned on skiing cannon today. Saturday night became a lush fest in Boston and my head didn’t hit the pillow until around 4:30 A.M. so I altered my plans accordingly. Wildcat offers the Sunday Afternoon Cruise for $20 which fit my budget and my hangover. A very respectable price for three and a half hours of skiing on two thousand vertical feet and New Hampshire’s fastest Quad.

As per usual when evaluating Wildcat as a skiing destination, don’t believe the hype! Wildcat has one of the worst snow condition reports in New England. Most of my Wildcat trip reports come prefaced with that disclaimer.

The snow was scraped off on almost every trail from top to bottom. The holiday weekend crowds had hit the mountain hard but the lack of recent fresh snow really did conditions in. Slim pickings even on the edges of the trails where the snow usually piles up (some trails had okay edges, but mostly I was playing dangerously close to the trees for too little snow).

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2003-2004 Season, Cannon Mountain, December

Weekend at Cannon (Day Two: Powder Less Day)

Owl's Head Highway, Route 115
Owl's Head Highway, Route 115

Day Two at dawned with much pain due to epic powder turns on Saturday. The soreness started at my back and went all the way through my hamstrings. For a moment, I debated going home and calling it a weekend. But thoughts of Taft Slalom and Upper/Middle Hard danced in my head. It was on.

For the morning, I slowly nursed my legs back into condition by sticking mostly to the groomers. I ducked into the bumps on Gary’s and Rocket which were rather nice for this time of year. Props to Cannon for letting the bumps build up on the side of these trails! Lower Cannon/Toss Up had sweet packed powder that warranted several runs! Rarely do I afford that distinction to a run classified as a green circle. With the front face closed, and my body warming to the task… I ventured up the tram for a final shot at the best snow on the mountain. The snow you gotta duck a rope to get to. For the third time, Taft Slalom provided awesome turns with some small bumps developing. And despite gradually thinning cover, Upper and Middle Hard delivered on the goods yet again.

I packed it in around noon time, deciding my body had taken a beating and needed me to relent. My bases are utterly destroyed as I mostly skied the natural snow trails all weekend; which although had a foot of powder, had no base whatsoever. These two days cap a December for the record books. With a fourth epic day of turns this month, all of which rivals some of my best days in February, I will happy pay the piper to repair my skis for the delight of earning those powdery turns. The turns ski dreams are made of.

2003-2004 Season, Cannon Mountain, December, Powder Day

Weekend at Cannon (Day One: Powder Day)

Saddle

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.

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2003-2004 Season, Burke, December

Burke Mountain, VT

The sickest December I can remember continues. I pointed my vehicle towards Burke Mountain in Vermont figuring that they would have the second best snow in New England this weekend with exception of the Northern Green Mountains. I was not disappointed with the snow nor my decision.

All trails were open except Big Dipper (due to snow making) and Warren’s Way (due to racing). Cover was incredible for December during Burke’s second weekend of operation. The woods were skied very well and the natural snow trails were great. Awesome snow quality all over the mountain. I just wish I was in mid-season form! My sucking of wind and burning thighs indicated that my endurance was not on par with the snow quality!

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2003-2004 Season, Cannon Mountain, December, Powder Day

Three Foot Powdah Day, Cannon Style

Mount Lafayette

Where to begin? As I approached the Franconia Notch, all the sky was blue. The Franconia Ridge was as illustrious as I have ever seen it. The peaks of Mounts Flume, Liberty, Lincoln, and Lafayette were caked with brilliantly white snow against a back drop of the deepest blue.

Then enter the fog. As per usual, Grumpy Old Man Cannon had an ugly dark cloud sitting upon his shoulder, daring any to challenge it.

Driving north through the notch, I spied the Front Face trails of Cannon Mountain. Many powder turns had already been etched into the Front Five the day before from creative and eager skiers (Zoomer Triple was not turning, but still many turns were made! That is dedication!). However, much more of the powder had been left untouched than had already been tracked. I pulled of the Interstate at the Peabody Base Slopes exit eagerly anticipating the fine skiing to be had.

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