Loon 1/20/24

snowphoenix

https://newenglandskiconditions.com/viewreport.php?reportid=3377

Had the best day of my season so far at Loon yesterday. Patrol dropped ropes on roughly a dozen natural-snow trails and glades yesterday, making for great powder/packed powder conditions on those trails in the morning, although there was some ice underneath and thin cover in places.

After a warm-up run off the Kanc 8, I headed to the East Basin double for some laps. Even on days like yesterday when Loon is sold out, this lift is always the least crowded while accessing some of my favorite terrain on the mountain. I almost never had to wait more than a few chairs for this lift.

Blue Ox

Big Dipper

Triple Trouble

Angel Street

Mike's Way

At around 11:00 I did some runs on the North Peak Express, which had a 1-2 minute wait. Sunset was decent while Flume and Walking Boss had a bit of ice but weren't awful. Walking Boss Woods was pretty nice. Afterwards I sampled the intermediate trails west of the gondola. Upper Speakeasy was very nice, Flying Fox and Upper Picked Rock were okay. Meanwhile the natural trails were starting to firm up a little bit as the crusty base under the newest snow started to break up into golf balls.

Riding up the North Peak Express

Sunset

Upper Walking Boss

Upper Flume

Upper Walking Boss Woods

Upper Speakeasy

Flying Fox

Upper Picked Rock

I went into the Governor Adams lodge for lunch just after 1:00, but the building was completely packed. There wasn't even one free table, and some people were eating their lunch while sitting on the floor. I used the restroom, grabbed my packed lunch and headed back outside and ate my lunch on the lift. As a result I was able to ski more runs than I would have been able to otherwise, but at the cost of missing a chance to warm up that my toes would've appreciated!

Soon after lunch, I took the Tote Road Quad over to South Peak. Conditions on the trails there were more icy than on most of the main mountain, despite lift lines being minimal. I also checked out the new beginner area and skied Wildwood, one of the new introductory glades there. I closed out my day with a few more runs off the Lincoln Express before finally heading back to the main mountain.

Cruiser

Wildwood Glade

Riding up the new Timbertown Quad

Jobber

It was a cold, cloudy day with a little snow falling in the late morning, but I kept myself reasonably warm by skiing plenty of moguls and steep terrain. All in all I managed a whopping 29 runs yesterday, a new record for me. Despite its crowds and relatively low elevation compared to other White Mountains ski areas, Loon is still quite enjoyable to ski when conditions are good!

ciscokid

One word Wow!

ski_it

One word Wow!

+1 But no crowds in the pics and even an empty chair

ciscokid

After reading the whole thing I must give you an attagirl.
( I have been assuming you are born female)

Yes agree w ski_it, place looks empty on a sold out Saturday?

I also like the straight honest facts, diversity of ski areas visited, all in a positive manner without a bunch of extra bs like me.

A price per day or use of pass is really only thing I’d like to see and your view on value received compared to other areas.

For all the time posting a great report it often bugs me not many here say great report. Kudos

Now you’re my pick for a positive pictured and honest evaluation of Tenney . If it doesn’t enough steeps and challenges and doesn’t warrant a visit I would understand.

⛷️

snowphoenix

After reading the whole thing I must give you an attagirl.
( I have been assuming you are born female)

Yes agree w ski_it, place looks empty on a sold out Saturday?

I also like the straight honest facts, diversity of ski areas visited, all in a positive manner without a bunch of extra bs like me.

A price per day or use of pass is really only thing I’d like to see and your view on value received compared to other areas.

For all the time posting a great report it often bugs me not many here say great report. Kudos

Now you’re my pick for a positive pictured and honest evaluation of Tenney . If it doesn’t enough steeps and challenges and doesn’t warrant a visit I would understand.

⛷️

Thanks as always for the kind words, ciscokid! These reports do sometimes take quite a while to type up, insert photos, etc. and I'm glad that they are enjoyable to read.

I'm a guy so I'll take your praise as an "attaboy".

Regarding the lack of crowds in the photos: when I ski on weekends at the larger resorts, my aim is to avoid the crowds and ski as much as possible, and I seem to have done pretty well this time around! Most of the photos in the first section of the report are from the East Basin area, which was not very crowded as it was basically all ungroomed, advanced terrain that appeals to a relatively small percentage of skiers. When I went to South Peak in the afternoon, the lines had also died down. If you look at the photos from North Peak, that lift was busier, with people on every chair. I'd imagine the cold kept some folks in the lodge -- as I said in my report, it was packed! I would think the gondola had a long line today but I don't often go down to that base area when I'm at Loon. When I ski on weekends at the larger resorts, my aim is to avoid the crowds and ski as much as possible, and I seem to have done pretty well this time around!

I won't go into the reasons why, but for the time being I would rather not discuss how much I pay to ski and my thoughts on ticket values. There may be some exceptions to this in future reports.

As for Tenney, I would really like to check out that mountain at some point. That said, it doesn't rank as high on my list for this season as certain other areas (e.g. Magic and Cannon) that are known for their challenge. I was considering going to Tenney during MLK weekend but they didn't have the double to the summit opened yet, and I had already made plans to ski Loon this past Saturday. I wouldn't count on it but there's still a chance I'll get to it sometime soon. Wish they had a more detailed snow report on their website so I could more easily find out which lifts and trails are open.

If/when I do make it to Tenney, you can certainly expect a report with plenty of pictures!

ski_it

Unless he took those pics before 8:30 I don’t he knows what busy is, does he Dr Jeff? ;)
Kidding.
I just meant to say by +1 that I really meant great pics, awesome looking skiing and thanks for the report.
Bring your rock skis if you go to Tenney

snowphoenix

Unless he took those pics before 8:30 I don’t he knows what busy is, does he Dr Jeff? ;)
Kidding.
I just meant to say by +1 that I really meant great pics, awesome looking skiing and thanks for the report.
Bring your rock skis if you go to Tenney

Thank you for the compliments ski_it.

I'd like to think I know what busy is; for a good number of years most of my skiing was at Mount Snow on weekends!

ciscokid

Man once again what a dipstick I am. Apologize for the assumptions, don’t know why I assimilate Phoenix with a female.
I never have skied Loon but my brother and family has been there the last couple of years while staying at the timeshare yearly early January in the Ashland/ Plymouth area. I know my sister in law mentioned positive memories of skiing Tenney as a kid back before marrying my brother in late eighties but still are not drawn to it now over the other biggies.He has nothing but good to say about Loon although I don’t see him seeking out the advanced/expert areas with his clan. Being it’s Boyne owned I figure it’s a decent product and being my bro prospers in NJ day ticket prices are not top concern for the few days he skis/ boards.

I have had 2 ski trips to NH since ‘05 skiing Cannon, BW, Wildcat,and Gunstock in ‘05 and Gstock, Cranmore, Black, Attitash, Wildcat and Crotched in ‘19.
Being now a 17 yr veteran of SJ/ Nelsap and a lost and resurrected ski area aficionado it’s always good to see semi lost areas comeback. Hence my concern for Tenney, Hickory, Mittersill, and others.

Once again I apologize and look forward to more great trips. Back on SJ 1 about 15 years ago we had a nomination for Snowjournalist of the year and I was nominated for whatever reason I don’t know. I didn’t even know how to link something on line or post pics off a digital camera and was even before smartphones. But in all honesty during that timeframe in technology of electronics old sj1had a certain allurement and was very funny with a great bunch of folks several of which are lost or elected to go elsewhere online.

We have had a few SJ gatherings over the years so I know and have met several Snowjournal members and have garnered many friends through SJ.

Ski on bro!
Attaboy