loon , nh 1-16-08

[joegm]

loon said they received 5 to 6 on their web site from monday/tuesday event.....a complete fabrication.. my buddy gil was there and it was 2...just thought i would throw that out there',,
wed: more of the same...just awful rock salt on top of pure sheet metal and a frighteningly thin base ...it was a very nice mid winter day ,,, blue sky , about 25 with minimal wind...just awful surface conditions however....nothing off piste is skiable,,, nothing that has not been groomed is skiable...
south peak expansion assesment: skied over to the much ballyhoed big south peak expansion :roll: ... the two blue square trails they have open are stunningly flat....the bottom of both of the trails have just awful run outs to the lift a la from what i remember at jay peak and sugarbush...the top section of the skiers left run called cruiser has some pitch at the top of the trail for about 500 feet ,,, this is the better of the 2 trails ,,, the other trail is just awful from the get go and a total waste of time...in reality that trail is a green to be honest ....so imho , the big expansion ,is , quite frankly , probably quite useless to most fto readers.. :roll: what a joke... ps.. not that loon itself isnt quite useless to most fto readers :wink:

 

[riverc0il]

so imho , the big expansion ,is , quite frankly , probably quite useless to most fto readers.. :roll: what a joke... ps.. not that loon itself isnt quite useless to most fto readers :wink:

:lol:

How does the lift line look and any other trails they might open up for next season? If I remember correctly, I thought they had four or five trails planned for that lift. Any chance those additions will do much for that peak? True, useless for most FTO'ers, but unfortunately, we probably don't pay the bills at places like Loon. It will be worth it for many people just because it is new.

 

[Harvey]

Come on don't sugarcoat it for us joe tell us how you really feel. :lol:

 

[Tony Crocker]

Loon is one of the areas NASJA plans to visit at the annual meeting March 26-30. One more reason not to go IMHO. Does anyplace have a worse batting average on FTO trip reports?

 

[Patrick]

One more reason not to go IMHO. Does anyplace have a worse batting average on FTO trip reports?

Probably not, but mind you that most of these reports are from Joe. :lol: :wink: I remember him trashing Sugarloaf and Stowe also, which I think are at the top of the East.

However I've never been to Loon and it's never been high of my "next to visit" list. Eventually, maybe.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Apparently, I missed the memo... why does JoeGM keep going back to Loon, especially during time periods when there's zero chance of decent conditions?

 

[Tony Crocker]

NASJA will be on a fixed schedule, like Joe seems to be most of the time. Odds of late March skiing being good anywhere in the East are fair-to-middling, but at Loon they are probably abysmal. If I were going, I would have a car and run off to someplace like Wildcat or Burke on my own.

 

[Patrick]

Odds of late March skiing being good anywhere in the East are fair-to-middling.

Here we go again. :roll:

If I were going, I would have a car and run off to someplace like Wildcat or Burke on my own.

Yes, that would make sense. Cannon is also worth a stop (but pretty different than Burke/Wildcat).

 

[Tony Crocker]

NASJA is going to Cannon too. In terms of snow, my opinion of Cannon from FTO reports is only a bit better than Loon, thus adding to the pessimism about the time of year. But in terms of terrain I'm sure I'd enjoy it if more than the current 65% of runs were open.

Some of the attractions of the region, like Tucks and the New England Ski Museum, I've already seen. And NASJA does go somewhere East every 5 years or so: thus I'll evaluate each meeting on it own merits.

I still have an open mind about Lutsen next year. The NASJA officers who have been there say they will do a good job and that it's a unique experience, which I would probably never do on my own.

 

[joegm]

Ill try and address each question posed ( whether is was a good / valid question/comment or not)

River ( good/valid question ) surely you jest :wink: … as unbelievable as this may be ( or it may be entirely too believable depending upon your loon experience ) the lift line trail will not be a legally sanctioned skiable trail :roll: … I can’t even comment any more on that as it is just so ridiculous :twisted: … the alleged additional trails look to number maybe 2 plus 2 glades…the map they have put out for future expansion, is , in my opinion, a crock..... the non gladed ones have at least 4 years of tree growth in them…wouldn’t bet 5 cents as to when you would see them open… the tree lines might have some, and I mean some potential in terms of line… but it is loon and they get very little snow so the trees will probably be open about 5 days a year like they are now….

Crocker ( good / valid comment ) I doubt it.. but to be fair, I don’t think anyplace stowe or wherever is worth a s#*t right now..more on that later

Patrick ( not good / inaccurate comment ) pat and I are on the same page 99.9% of the time…. I have never trashed stowe as a hill…I think stowe is the best hill in the east… mrg when it is right….if I had a critique of stowe it was about them building a mogul course and tearing it down after the comp left town…not one person addressed that on this site so I have to believe no one can provide a valid answer/justification for that stupid policy….but let’s make it clear, I’ve never trashed stowe as a hill… sugarloaf is a different story…I went to sugarloaf three times…all three times it was not a good experience at all…the negative part was not due to anything that was out of their control as that would be just dumb to critique a hill for things that were out of their control….the trashing was based on outright lying/fraud about terrain open / and what was on the terrain….too far of place to drive to based on a website report that was a pack of lies… I stand by the sugarloaf trashing which was also based on lift layout and runouts


Jamesdelux ( not good comment ) ive addressed this before and will do so again although I don’t know why to be honest …I have property in Lincoln… Lincoln is a great spot.. it is a great family 4 season area…it is a 2 hour drive from my house…it is convenient and I can go to any ski hill anywhere in new England from Lincoln in 2 hours…loon used to provide the only thing my buddies and i are interested in skiing...maintained mogul runs...they have gotten away from that in the last 2 years, so while i am not at the moment, thrilled with the place, there is a reason why i go there about 50% opf the time...I never rip loon for what they can’t control….I do for what they can.. ( see river’s question/comment) …and james,if you had any sense of what is going on in new england right now , you would know that there is zero % chance of decent conditions anywhere in new England right now.. that’s why I went to loon this week and last…i'm a skier, i go pretty much regardless...i'm not complaining about the conditions that loon can;t control... im just telling u what it is right now...i post it here cause this is called the no bull ski reports... it's why the admin has this section of the site...why would I go somewhere else and pay money to ski crap when I can roll out of bed , ski for free on my pass and ski the same crap???? Maybe you can answer that question? take a look at the last 7 days of reports on this forum... there are hardly any... no one is skiing... at least i am skiing and putting up the report

Crocker ( good comment ) cat would be the call for sure…71 miles from Lincoln 80 minute drive.. if that thing is not on a weekend , id love to ski with you for a day at cat.. u ever been there? Yes cannon is , imo, when it’s all factored in, not any better than loon on any given day…. If you can catch it after fresh snow, yeah maybe they pick up more…but on any given day, the only thing that is more attractive is the lack of idiots skiing there…they make very little snow there so the surface is often junk unless you like chasing sticks


By the way I skied there this morning for half a day …the surface was better than yesterday on select trails as they have been blowing the heck out of some trail for about 48 hours

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Jamesdelux ( not good comment ) ive addressed this before and will do so again although I don’t know why to be honest …

I figured that was coming. I make a point of checking out your posts because the all-moguls/all-the-time point of view and stream-of-consciousness is cool, but holy christ, the lack of punctuation and no paragraph breaks make me dizzy so I usually bail after the first few lines.

As far as everything being total garbage in the northeast right now, for the most part, yeah, but I think even you would have been ok with the bumps I found at Camelback the other night. That's ok, I normally wouldn't pay attention to a TR from Pennsylvania either.

 

[joegm]

if you have access to bumps right now that can actually be skied, then you got it over everyone man...look at the mad river glen reports from the past week...i don't care how little the hill is.. i wouldnt be ashamed one bit about a small hill in PA...im jealous....

 

[Patrick]

Crocker ( good / valid comment ) I doubt it.. but to be fair, I don’t think anyplace stowe or wherever is worth a s#*t right now..more on that later

Well, I heard some surprising good (not great) reports from the Great White North.

Patrick ( not good / inaccurate comment ) pat and I are on the same page 99.9% of the time…. I have never trashed stowe as a hill…I stand by the sugarloaf trashing which was also based on lift layout and runouts

I was partly kidding of course, but your rants are classics. I come to enjoy them and you put the "No BS reports" back in FTO.

 

[joegm]

i completely neglected to qualify that as being a US statement only...i have no authority/insight/ information at all to comment on our friend's terrain in the far north....i did not mean to equate the two at all :wink:
hopefully it is better up there for you guys

 

[Geoff]

NASJA will be on a fixed schedule, like Joe seems to be most of the time. Odds of late March skiing being good anywhere in the East are fair-to-middling, but at Loon they are probably abysmal. If I were going, I would have a car and run off to someplace like Wildcat or Burke on my own.

Actually, the odds of good skiing in late March are pretty good. That's the beginning of spring skiing. You might find powder and packed powder but you're more likely to find corn snow. Of course, you also might find un-thawed death crunch on a cloudy day. When I'm riding the lift this Sunday in subzero temperatures, I'll be longing for those sunny spring days when I'm skiing in a long sleeve T-shirt and sunglasses.

 

[BobR]

Loon is what it is.

They try and make alot of snow. Not at the same level as the River, but alot for the region. Check the conditions in April, Loon compared to others. Loon will have a very competive base.

This is not the premier glade mountain. It never has claimed to be nor will it ever be. If its a season without alot of natural snow.... Loon would be my 1st choice in the region. It was any way. 35 to 40 days a year for 8 years.

The river is just a better value and I don't mind making the ride. I drive right past Loons' exit on my way. Slope side lodging is great with teen kids.


When the sugarloaf loon and River pass come into effect next year. I will be back at loon a decent amount of times. My ride up or my ride back or if I get out early I'll make some late afternoon turns. I don't buy many day tickets. I'm cheap I have a pass I use it.

Loon gets bashed all the time and yet people go. It was easy with a 1.5 hour ride home on Sunday with the fam all together with young kids. Pass prices were reasonable and kids programs were affordable and well run. It has a country club feel after lunch. Not a hardcore attitude in general.

They are at Cannon or Wildcat. and some at Burke. A decent amount of Loon folks make the Jay peak run from their condo's as well. Ie joe's point is right on about local.

The lines... everyoene complains about them. Honestly there is a way to ski Loon and not get really nailed. Mid week its very nice with the good vertical. The key to lincoln is its 4 season appeal. Actually anything from exit 27 to 32 has that. IMO

I like this region more in the summer than the winter.

 

[riverc0il]

When I'm riding the lift this Sunday in subzero temperatures, I'll be longing for those sunny spring days when I'm skiing in a long sleeve T-shirt and sunglasses.

I don't care how cold it is, this Sunday I will be skiing powder and will decidedly not be longing for sunny spring days. Sub-zero days after a rain/freeze event skiing on man made frozen groomer tracks? Then I will be longing for the warm weather and corn snow.

 

[riverc0il]

Loon gets bashed all the time and yet people go.

Loon is a good mountain with lots of good things going for it. The reasons it gets bashed so frequently has less to do with the mountain itself an more to do with what surrounds it and who skis at Loon. I used to love Loon when I was a kid and the family was skiing one or two of the big mountains per season.

Loon at present has a country club feel to it with the price being way higher than what the mountain is worth and has to offer. Crowding is horrible. Yes, there are ways to work every mountain to reduce line times. But Loon on a weekend is so far and above worse than almost any other mountain out there (perhaps except Sunday River? ) that even knowing the mountain reduces wait time to what I would consider my highest extreme before I get impatient (about five minutes or so, Single Chair excluded). When you combine the price, the crowds, the lift lines, the atmosphere (most skiers and riders probably enjoy that aspect), etc. what surrounds the mountain detracts from the potential experience the mountain has to offer.

When I have skied Loon mid-week or during less crowded times of the year, I have enjoyed the mountain. But as previously stated, it is what it is. Most people see it as the biggest and best skiing that is the closest to Boston. And it is... just barely as Cannon has better and bigger skiing just up the interstate but a drastically different experience. The four season aspect seals the deal for many folks looking for a skiing home.

What boggles my mind is why people don't just drive a slightly longer distance for far superior mountains, especially coming from Boston Metro. Three hours instead of two isn't that bad and you can hit almost any where in Vermont at three hours.

Then again, I got pretty attached to Cannon when I was a Boston Metro skier... but that was as a day tripper rather than a weekend get away or second home owner. Three hours each way is dramatically easier when you are doing overnights.

 

[BobR]

Key is home owner vs day tripper or Day ticket buyer vs season pass holder. Cannon can be great.. it can be cold and be on wind hold. in a low natural snow year...... It can get 10 inches when lincoln gets rains. Its season is shorter. Great for a day ticket. Good deal on passes also.


but value is there at Loon IMO.

Country club feel ... many hitting the lounges apres ski or taking the kids to the movies or going shoppin in Lincoln.. Early apres ski. Party cause it does get busy. Many of the folks are not hard core 1/2 day is great. They chose loon cause its easy. They don't want to drive the extra distance, becasue its not worth it to them Sure there are exceptions. A good percentage of the lodging is on a shuttle service. allows alot of flexibility. Makes it fun for a diverse group.

This has been a good year. lift Lines... no comparison for Sunday River to Loon. I ski on ski off most days at Sunday river unless I have the urge to ski barker or jordan. Jordan before 10.30 is fine. Barker is always busy. 28 days at the river so far. 3 days over the vacation there were lines of over 10 min at both lifts. thats it. The new pass structure with alot of key black out dates has worked well. That is casue i don't have a black out pass. :wink:

We will always be on different sides of the fence Riv. Both have passion, both get out alot and enjoy it. Just different views of stuff. Found some cool stashes at the River.

 

[Patrick]

NASJA will be on a fixed schedule, like Joe seems to be most of the time. Odds of late March skiing being good anywhere in the East are fair-to-middling, but at Loon they are probably abysmal. If I were going, I would have a car and run off to someplace like Wildcat or Burke on my own.

Actually, the odds of good skiing in late March are pretty good. That's the beginning of spring skiing. You might find powder and packed powder but you're more likely to find corn snow.

Give up Geoff, you're never going to convince Tony that odds of of good skiing in the East are pretty good. I've tried and tried and tried here last year , but it's like the Eastern Spring Snow debate last year...nothing is going to convince him that he's wrong. :twisted: