Cannon Mountain Ski Area

Infobox ski area
name = Cannon Mountain Ski Area
picture = Cannonmtnarticle.jpg
caption = Cannon Mountain as seen from the top of the Mittersill peak
location = Franconia, New Hampshire, US
nearest_city = Franconia, New Hampshire
lat_degrees = 44
lat_minutes = 09
lat_seconds = 28
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 71
long_minutes = 41
long_seconds = 56
long_direction = W
vertical = 2,186 ft (654.1 m)
top_elevation = 4,186 ft (1,275.9 m)
base_elevation = 2,000 ft (600 m)
skiable_area = 165 acres (0.7 km²)
number_trails = 60
longest_run = 2.3 miles (3.7 km)
liftsystem = 9 total: 1 70-passenger Aerial Tramway; 1 Detachable Quad Chair; 2 Fixed Grip Quad Chairs, 3 Triple Chairs; 1 Rope Tow, 1 Wonder Carpet
fast_quadchair = 6
quadchair = 6
triplechair = 6
doublechair = 4
lift_capacity = 11,000 skiers/hour
snowfall = 150 inches annual average
snowmaking = 158 acres (0.6 km²)
external_link = [http://www.cannonmt.com www.cannonmt.com] |

Cannon Mountain Ski Area, located on Cannon Mountain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, is a state-owned area (within Franconia Notch State Park) that offers nine lifts servicing convert|165|acre|km2|lk=on of skiing (158 with snowmaking). Cannon Mountain has the most vertical of any ski area in New Hampshire and also has the only aerial tram in New Hampshire. Cannon has convert|22|mi|km|lk=on of trails and a north-northeast exposure; its season extends from early December to early April. US Olympic skier Bode Miller grew up skiing at Cannon.

History

Trails

;Beginner and First-timer - 17%The Tuckerbrook quad chair serves beginner trails—Bear Paw, Deer Run, Fleitman and Coyote Crossing—that are segregated from the upper mountain. From the Peabody Base Area, take Brookside to the Tuckerbrook area. The bottom half of Cannon has four long runs that will suit beginners: Lower Cannon, Parkway, Gremlin and Turnpike, but be forewarned that a slew of intermediate runs feed into them. The Eagle Triple Chair, from the Peabody Base Area, is the best way to access this terrain. Advanced beginners can take the Peabody Express Quad.

The Brookside learning area adjacent to the Peabody Base Area is ideal for first-timers. The area is segregated from the rest of the mountain (so experts won’t zoom through). It is serviced by its own triple chairlift as well as two surface lifts. First-timers can then progress to the short beginner trails off the Tuckerbrook quad chair. [ [http://www.skisnowboard.com/cannon/layout.html Guide to Skiing at Cannon Mountain Resort, New Hampshire ] ]

;Intermediate - 48%Although touted as an expert’s mountain, the ski area offers slopes for lower ski levels. From the summit, Vista Way, Tramway or Upper Cannon, descend through the forest. These feed into a collection of intermediate runs, including Middle Cannon and Middle Ravine. an alternate route, Cannonball Express Quad, is also available.

Intermediates wishing to return to the tram via an easier route can follow the Tram Cutback from Gary’s, the easiest of the Front Five. [ [http://www.skisnowboard.com/cannon/layout.html Guide to Skiing at Cannon Mountain Resort, New Hampshire ] ]

;Expert and Advanced - 35%Expert trails include the Tramline Trail, a narrow trail that descends via a series of cliff steps.

One of the longest glades in the east is Kinsman Glade, on skier’s right of the tramline. The Front Five, as known to locals, appear to plunge into Echo Lake. These are accessed via Paulie’s Extension or Lower Cannon. Three of them, Avalanche, Paulie’s Folly and Zoomer, are marked black. The other two, Rocket and Gary’s, have less pitch and no bumps.

From the summit, trails include Upper Cannon, Skylight or Upper Ravine. [ [http://www.skisnowboard.com/cannon/layout.html Guide to Skiing at Cannon Mountain Resort, New Hampshire ] ]

Awards

In its October 2007 issue, Ski magazine named Cannon Mountain among the highest rated ski areas in the East, scoring #1 for value, #2 for accessibility, #4 for scenery, #7 for challenge, and #9 for variety of terrain. Cannon Mountain was also recently named one of seven greatest ski areas to ski with your kids in the November 2007 issue of Ski magazine [ [http://news.alpinezone.com/19752/ SKI Magazine Rates Cannon Mountain in Top Ten ] ]

Future expansion

Until 1984, the north-northwestern face of Cannon was operated under the name Mittersill Ski Area (the current area occupies the north-northeastern face). The trails are often skied by those that know the area as a result of their ease of accessibility (only a short hike is required from Taft Slalom to find them). However, in the late 1990s/early 2000s, the State of New Hampshire unveiled plans to purchase the north-northwestern face and use the already-cut trails as an expansion to the current ski area [ [http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/1999/April/Day-19/i9665.htm Cannon/Mittersill Land Exchange; White Mountain National Forest, Grafton County, NH | Federal Register Environmental Documents | USEPA ] ]

Rentals and ski school

Brookside Learning Center offers all-day and part-day youth programs, plus childcare for ages six months and older. Seasonal programs are available. Cannon offers a full-service PSIA Ski and Snowboard School.

Slopeside ski shops located at Peabody Base Lodge and Tram Base; plus ski/snowboard rental & service shop at Peabody Base Lodge. A slopeside High Performance Tuning Center at Peabody Base Lodge. All rental skis are "shaped" skis; all rental snowboards feature "step in" bindings.

References

External links

* [http://www.cannonmt.com Official website]
* [http://www.skireport.com/newhampshire/cannon_mountain/ Cannon Mountain Ski Report] at SkiReport.com