Cannon Mountain Update: Seniors To Continue Free Skiing
House Rebels Against Bill That Would Have Ended Free Senior Skiing.
Cannon Mountain is a state-owned area, famous for its aerial tram and free skiing for 65+ seniors.
Credit: Cannon Mountain
Senior resident skiers can breath a sigh of relief after NH legislators agreed to drop a plan that would have ended free skiing for seniors.
House and Senate representatives had agreed to a plan where resident NH seniors would begin to pay $5 a day for lift tickets, increasing by $5 a year until it reached one-third the regular adult rate. But one (unidentified) representative said he (or she) could not support a bill that “would push granny over a cliff.” In a final vote, the idea was defeated.
The effort started as a way to balance the budget for the state’s park system which is supposed to be self-supporting. However, making ends meet has been difficult and funding needed maintenance and upgrades has been proving difficult.
Several representatives said the amount of revenue from the $5 a day plan was minuscule.
So free skiing for resident senior skiers lives on. At least for one more year.
This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (July 29)
Trump and Hillary on Skis, How to Hike, Hiking With Wild Flowers, New Stein Eriksen Exhibit, Ski Club Just For Seniors.
Wildflower Festival hike at Alta
Credit: Maura Olivos
Note of explanation to SeniorsSkiing.com’s non-US readers: The U.S. is in the middle of a Presidential Campaign. Please be understanding and stifle any laughter.
A quick search shows that both major party candidates have some snow skiing experience. Donald Trump’s ex, Ivana, was a Czech racer in her youth. And Hillary Clinton was reported “skiing on a sunny day” several years ago in Park City, Utah, when daughter, Chelsea turned 19.
Whichever candidate you favor, you’ve probably experienced some heartburn. When that happens, I usually pop a few antacids and head for the trail.
Two of this week’s features are about hiking. Steve Hines’ piece, How I Choose Hikes, provides excellent advice for anyone thinking about hoisting a daypack and going for a walk. And Sue Z’s account of hiking Alta’s wildflower-carpeted Albion Basin is a treat. So are the fantastic photos by Alta’s Maura Olivos.
Harriet Wallis made it up to the Alf Engen Ski Museum in Park City for the opening of its new Stein Eriksen exhibit. Harriet has a terrific ear for anecdotes, and her article made us chuckle.
Finally, the 70+ Ski Club is the first SeniorsSkiing.com advertiser to use its sponsored content page. That page tells the story of the oldest and largest ski club of its kind. It was founded by his famed radio-broadcasting grandfather, Lloyd Lambert, a name many of you in the Northeast will remember.
Last week we promised publication of the list of Trail Masters, those of you who reported skiing your age or more last season. We’ve rescheduled publication for mid-August.
As always, thank you for following SeniorsSkiing.com, especially during these hot summer days. The interesting thing is that every week—even during the summer—your numbers are growing. It’s a reminder that there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away!
The Alf Engen Ski Museum in Park City opened the Stein Eriksen exhibit this month.
Credit: Harriet Wallis
How I Choose Hikes
Outdoor Expert Says Consider Your Purpose For Walking.
[Editor Note: Steve Hines will be teaching a hiking boot fitting workshop at the REI in Reading, MA., on August 10 at 6:30 pm. If you are in the area, drop by REI at 279 Salem St. and say hi.]
I like to hike. I hike for exercise, escape/“mental health” and to enjoy the companionship of friends and family. If there were no other responsibilities to take care of or if I could make my living hiking, I suppose I would hike every day. Henry David Thoreau had a humble opinion when he quipped that any hike that took less than half a day wasn’t worth it. Focusing on day hikes is my purpose here. Backpacking is a different topic. I select hikes based on a loose set of criteria.
Day hikes can stretch from a few hours (Thoreau notwithstanding) to a dawn to dusk affair. Some folks make a weekend or a vacation out of it by hiking all day and staying at a comfortable lodge or hotel each night. For me, day hikes are any where from four to 15 miles. Below are some tips and suggestions for choosing your next hike into the back country.
Exercise
I often hike for exercise. If I want a good workout, I’ll pick a trail or location I know and am familiar with distances and terrain. I’m looking for a trail that provides a good cardio workout with some interesting features like rock scrambles. Generally, these hikes are moderate to strenuous and along trails I’m familiar with.
Escape
I often like to escape my routines here in the city and find the best scenery to take my mind off civilization. I like mountain views most but also enjoy lakes, rivers and dense forest trails. Purists also like to differentiate between hiking and climbing. In that classification, hiking is along flat trails with little or no elevation gain while climbing involves elevation gain and loss to peaks over 2,000 feet above sea level. Climbers like to differentiate between technical or aided climbing and scrambling or “walk up” summits.
Companionship
I adjust my hiking destinations according to who I’m hiking with. Generally families with small children prefer flat or gently rolling terrain. I’ve certainly chosen hikes and climbs with folks who are younger and/or in better shape than I am. I try for some consensus or form groups with similar interests.
Scales The hiking guide books I use generally describe hikes on a three point scale:
Easy: Short or flat hikes of very limited duration. Good for families and those with small children.
Moderate: Longer hikes with some elevation gain. Usually longer and requires some level of fitness.
Strenuous: Long hikes requiring at least a day’s time. They often have serious elevation gain and loss. Strenuous hikes/climbs provide wonderful views from summits and “height of land”.
| Tips | |||
| Motivation | Easy | Moderate | Strenuous |
| Escape | A walk in the woods can clear your mind. Take the same hike in all four seasons | Scenery often gets nicer as you gain elevation | Rest often and take photos.
High peaks offer great views |
| Exercise | Start slow and move through the levels | Hills and mountains build your quads (great for pre-ski season) | Gives a better cardio workout |
| Companionship | Stay easy when children are along | Appeals to a wider range of your friends | Invite only the fittest in your circle |
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