Cannon
It was an uninspired early season day skiing at Cannon.
The writing for this season was already on the wall.
Category: December
Cannon: Opening Weekend
Cannon’s opening weekend was impressive considering warm November temperatures that pushed the first day back into December. The end of November storm definitely helped. But Cannon’s firepower clearly did the overwhelming majority of the work.
Upper mountain trails included Tramway, Upper Cannon, Upper Ravine, and Taft Slalom. The Links, Middle Cannon, Middle Ravine, Spookie, Rock Garden, and Gremlin were all open at mid-mountain. Everything funneled into Lower Cannon and Lower Gremlin.
I started on the upper mountain and lapped the Cannonball Quad until a line developed. Then I skied back down to the Peabody for more ski on lift rides until the Cannonball Quad emptied out. It was good practice for staying ahead of the crowd.
Due to the previous night’s rain/freeze, conditions were hard and firm. The upper mountain was pleasantly edgeable until mid-morning. Lower mountain was decidedly loose granular and serviceable but not much fun. I called it after a few hours.
Anticipation and Indifference
I have never been less excited for a ski season; yet I have never been more ready for turns. My perspective has radically changed. I am not closely following weather forecasts nor skiing news. But I am ready to go, I am ready for turns and I want them desperately. Call it indifferent anticipation.
I found myself at Mittersill, removed from opening weekend lifts and the purportedly masked crowds. It was a race against the sun. But temperature profile was inverted, so the race was lost before my first uphill step. The natural snow was already manked despite my early start time.
The skiing was sublime where the snow was untouched, survival where the snow was already tracked. It was more survival than sublime. Turns are turns. I just want to be outside, in the mountains, and skiing. My expectations for the season are already exceeded despite having only two days tallied before the solstice.
The Earned Turn Season Begins
I have struggled to identify the theme or story for this post. The much delayed start to my 2020-2021 season follows the premature ending of last season; the longest amount of time that I have been off skis in twenty years. Returning to skiing should feel special. But it is hard to feel triumphant given the state of things.
Cannon historically does very well with early season wallops. The green mountain spine has its upslope, Cannon has its Gulf of Maine bombers. If this storm parked in the Gulf rather than blowing through, Cannon would have received three feet instead of a foot and a half.
I know from past experience that summit efforts are a waste of time in these conditions. The Front Five are weather protected and steep whereas the higher terrain is windy, too shallow for dense snow turns, and exposed to snow making. The best option is to stay down low, lapping the best snow at the steepest angles.
I skied Avalanche, Paulie’s, Zoomer, Zoomer Lift, and Banshee Lift; only stopping because my skins were no longer sticky due to snow exposure. The struggle of trying to keep my skins clipped was frustrating and exhausting. I had more laps in the tank. It was the best early season form I’ve had in years.
I will need that form this season. My Jay pass is currently useless due to the travel restrictions. I will get a few days with the Indy pass. But a majority of my winter days this season will likely be earned. I’ve long wanted to commit a season to more turn earning than lift riding. This is going to be that season.
So Bad It’s Good
Hysterical laughter and a huge grin — an odd reaction to the lunar landscape. Someone listening nearby might think I had gone mad. But there was nobody on the nearby trails. Despite the holiday weekend, only a few regulars lined up for the 8:15am first tracks tram. I had Upper Ravine all to myself; and I was loving it.
The skiing was like watching a really bad movie: the more cringe worthy the conditions, the funnier it was. I was unironically enjoying objectively awful conditions. I kept thinking “one more run and then pack it in”. But I kept finding the desire for yet another heinous lap.
Had I experienced these conditions last year, I would have been rather salty. Actually, I wouldn’t have even gone to the mountain despite having a season pass and nothing better to do. But instead, I found a way to enjoy myself despite experiencing one of the worst days of the season.
That said, I lasted less than two hours and I did not go back on Sunday. I may be feeling more like my old self again, but I am not a masochist.