Cannon To Finally Open Tram on 2/2

[riverc0il]

wow, looks like the tram will finally open for the season on 2/2 (just in time for the super bowl twofer, too bad the pats are not in the big game, that usually keeps crowds down ). they are just getting avalanche going for this weekend and they are saying maybe banshee. i never thought about it before, but i have to guess they don't have snow making equipment that can blow open the cut back? or did they just decided not to go for it sooner until avi was open?

hard to believe the tram is going to run for less than two months for the entire entire season as it usually bows out at the end of march. kinda puts the season in perspective in some sense, though things are about to start going off, so the season is still young. looking forward to getting back to cannon, it has been too long...

EDIT: they changed the date to 2/3
EDIT: they changed the date back to the original 2/2 :roll:

 

[Lftgly]

Count me as pissed. Best ski lift in New Hampshire. How do they think they can win the game of attracting skiers away from the bigger areas with more ammenities if they don't play their winning hand?

 

[riverc0il]

indeed. i think all cannon pass holders have a right to be pissed. i can't imagine why they couldn't have blown snow on the cut back to get the tram up and running sooner. good call about not being able to draw people away from other resorts without the tram going. there are only two trams in new england, so that is a big draw. and cannon's tram actually accesses terrain that most skiers would find interesting vs. that other tram that only accesses two crappy groomers for the those that prefer two planks on the snow at all times. jay is a case in point about the leverage of a tram, it never ceases to amaze me the amount of groomer folks queuing up for a 30 minute wait to ski vermonter and the top fifth of northway. but cannon has some serious beef on the upper trails and good top to bottom skiing off the tram. eventually, cost savings translates into lost revenue... point of diminishing returns and all that.

 

[Doug]

Valid points, guys, but remember we're talking about a mountain that does not present itself well to new or 'growing' skiers. The mere sight of the mountain from the valley station parking lot or the front 5 from 93 is more than enough to turn some away. Let's face it, Cannon has been doing all they can to change the image of a terror mountain to one that is kinder/gentler to newbies and anyone not up to flying through Bypass or Paulie's Ext onto Avalanche. We all know where the snowmaking goes first - greens and blues. You're simply outnumbered. If you're not doing the entire 2100+ vertical feet....there's is little need for the 'box' unless you want the fastlane to the summit. I wonder if there is any data on number of tickets sold with and without TRAM II in operation?

BTW...are you guys old enough to remember riding the old girl and the ungodly lines that use to form on busy weekends?

 

[Patrick]

Best ski lift in New Hampshire. How do they think they can win the game of attracting skiers away from the bigger areas with more ammenities if they don't play their winning hand?

I agree.

I wouldn't even consider skiing Cannon when the tram isn't open. The competition is strong, too many options. Lftgly is correct.

In my eyes, Tram is to Cannon, what the single chair is to MRG. It means a good part of the vibe and the experience.

 

[riverc0il]

good points all and i don't disagree, specifically about not really needing the tram any ways (especially if you are lapping what i normally lap!). but from the eyes of the casual skier, as i mentioned in my jay peak tram aside, whereas "the real deal" skiers know the tram is strictly their for the occasional ride of convenience, first tracks, or uber cold days, the casual skier and tourist might not choose cannon if they see the tram isn't running. your typical tourist skier that only gets a few days/weekends a year is really impressed by a rare lift like a tram or a gondi and it certainly could be a deal maker or breaker.

BTW...are you guys old enough to remember riding the old girl and the ungodly lines that use to form on busy weekends?

my time at cannon only goes back about 10 years. the only time i have been in the old girl has been entering the ski museum. :lol: interestingly enough, cannon now has some of the shortest lines in new hampshire and rarely more than a one tram wait, if any wait, except on the really good weekends.

I wouldn't even consider skiing Cannon when the tram isn't open. The competition is strong, too many options. Lftgly is correct.

In my eyes, Tram is to Cannon, what the single chair is to MRG. It means a good part of the vibe and the experience.

i am curious why you have that opinion of the tram? i wouldn't elevate the tram even close to an equivalent as the single. the single attracts great skiers, but cannon's tram? it is convenience only if you are skiing the front face and want a quick zip to the top. when i ski cannon, i almost never take the tram unless the rare day tramline or kinsman is open. maybe once per day, sometimes twice. i would actually be encouraged to ski cannon when the tram wasn't running because that would limit the crowds since fewer people would show up with such a premier lift not running. at least i would be encouraged pending the right terrain was available.

 

[Patrick]

In my eyes, Tram is to Cannon, what the single chair is to MRG. It means a good part of the vibe and the experience.

i am curious why you have that opinion of the tram? i wouldn't elevate the tram even close to an equivalent as the single. the single attracts great skiers, but cannon's tram?

I haven't talking about the tram at that level. I just meant that it was a classic and rare lift in the East. A convenient lift that allows you to ski the whole vertical of over 2000ft with only one lift. Not many lift are like that in the East. That's why I mentioned it that it was FOR Cannon, the equivalent of the single for Mad. Classic (tram at Cannon since the 30s), Rare and Convenient. The same could be said of the Tram at Jackson.