Category: Cannon Mountain

2020-2021 Season, Cannon Mountain, March

Beginning of the End: Cannon

Cross Road Bridge

I created this post on March 21, but I never wrote anything except the title. It is symptomatic of the ski season, there just wasn’t much to say. Nothing worth recording, no thoughts worth sharing, skiing not worth commenting on. But I will record the trip for posterities sake. The snow could have been firm, the snow could have been soft. Either way, I was going through the motions and I wasn’t excited enough to document it.

Probably because I was more excited about cycling than skiing. I just finished an indoor training program on a brand new indoor training. I was going into cycling season in the best cycling shape of my life. The temperatures were above average, the snow was below average, and the roads were clear of snow and sand.

Immediately after getting home from Cannon, I jumped on my road bike for my first outdoor ride of the season. The ski season might have sucked, but the road cycling season was off to a phenomenal start. I’ve never been less motivated for spring skiing, I’ve never been more motivated to push myself on my bike.

2020-2021 Season, Cannon Mountain, February

Neglecting the Narrative: Cannon

Lakeview Glade

The February vacation storm resembles the 2020-2021 season: a massive buildup of expectation vaporized into mediocrity. Possibilities of two feet of snow became two inches of mixed. The wind howled, intermittently pelting cars with rain and sleet. The lifts would eventually turn, but it was a tease compared to what might have been.

Lower mountain lifts opened as the weather relented. I skied all of the trails from Gary’s to Avalanche, and the glades in between. The snow was better than it had any right to be considering the weather. Tracked was often better than untracked, particularly in the trees where a thin layer of skied off snow could covered rocks.

The Peabody Quad eventually opened but not the upper mountain Cannonball Quad. The lower mountain trails were better than mid-mountain trails. Warming temperatures kept the snow soft and forgiving down low, not so much up high. The following evening, temperatures would plummet and turn moisture laden snow into concrete. Entering what should have been the snowiest part of the season, it was already the beginning of the end.

Echo Woods

I lost the narrative this winter. Not the skiing narrative. The skiing narrative followed the foreseen arc: stay local, earn turns, observe travel restrictions, and occasionally ski Cannon when it did not feel like a zoo. I did not ski much, but I did not care to ski much. It was a lost season. I took what I got and I was happy to not miss any epic days in VT (since there were none).

Rather, I mean the personal narrative. I spent more time on my bike indoor training than skiing. I am fitter going into the spring than I ever have been before. But I lost some personal discipline. I lost focus. I floundered aimlessly this winter without making much personal progress. I probably should not view stagnation as a setback. At least I can say that I am fit as fuck for cycling season.

The story goes on and the protagonist has noticed the obstacle and works to tear it down. Onward.

2020-2021 Season, Cannon Mountain, January

CANNON-19

My third day of the season happened during the third month of the season. Some years, I have skied three days before November. Most years, I have skied three days before December. Almost all years, I have skied three days before the new year. The 2001-2002 season was the last time that I skied my third day after the new year. Spoiler alert, that same trend and that same reference season repeats itself for my fourth ski day during February.

This was my first time riding the lifts with COVID-19 mitigation measures in effect. Cannon handled the situation admirably. Most guests conducted themselves in an appropriate manor. Just a few skiers had their masks down while in line. Lift corals were well positioned with reasonably good spacing. Indoor seating areas were spread out; but I would have preferred that no mask lowering be allowed indoors, even for eating (eat outside or in your car). I kept outside except for restroom breaks.

While in the queues, some skiers tested my patience. I knew full well that solo riding impacts lines due to the current restrictions. But the signs said to only ride chairs with people who arrived in the same vehicle. Yet, many singles requested to join me. I wish folks would just follow the rules and lay off the requests to pair up.

The biggest issue was that the conditions did not merit the lines. Cannon had powder day lines for groomed hard pack conditions. My own own patronage was just as much to blame as the other skiers and riders. But understanding that concept did not compensate for the ratio of turn quality to line wait. The experience was quite uncomfortable for mediocre skiing.

I will return to Cannon later in the season when all options are on the table and conditions improve. Until then, I will earn turns and ride my indoor bike trainer.

2020-2021 Season, Cannon Mountain, December, Earned Turns

Anticipation and Indifference

Taft Race Course

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.

Cannon

2020-2021 Season, Cannon Mountain, December, Earned Turns, Powder Day

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.