Tag Archive for: cannon mountain

mikemaginn

Mystery Glimpse: Bumpin’ Gonds

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What Ski Area Is This?

And what’s the story behind these yellow and blue gondolas?

Special thanks to Dana Mathios, curator of the Colorado Snowsports Museum, for providing this week’s photo.

Last Week

This is a photo of Cannon Mountain, Franconia, NH, home of America’s first aerial tramway which began operation in 1938 and was renovated in the 80s. Taken from the air by a passing friendly aviator, the resort has a reputation as one comment pointed out for being “too cold and too fast”.  Regardless, one feature of Cannon that endears the state-owned resort to SeniorsSkiing.com is that seniors 65-plus ski for free. That is, if you are a New Hampshire resident.  Still, that’s a gift.

That wide swath you see on the right side of the mountain is the training hill for myriad ski teams. At the very base is the Mittersill Alpine Resort.  A reader reports the training hill was closed for 40 years, but it’s clearly back in operation, accessible from the base by a t-bar.  Quaint, no?

Here’s a short video showing the ride up the tram.

 

 

 

Cannon
mikemaginn

Cannon Mountain Update: Seniors To Continue Free Skiing

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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

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.

 

Cannon
mikemaginn

Update: Free Senior Skiing at Reinstated In NH House Bill

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Now The State Senate Must Approve.

Cannon Mountain is a state-owned area, famous for its aerial tram and free skiing for 65+ seniors. Credit: Cannon Mountain

Cannon Mountain is a state-owned area, famous for its aerial tram and free skiing for 65+ seniors.
Credit: Cannon Mountain

A bill that would have eliminated free skiing for NH seniors has been amended to reinstate the senior benefit and is being sent back to the Senate for approval. The bill would have charged seniors different rates for weekday and weekend skiing and was an attempt to cover the large deficit at state-owned Cannon Mountain. NH residents over 65 had skied for free at the resort for years. According to New England Ski Industry, projections show Cannon nearly $2-million in the red for 2016. Charging seniors was viewed as a way to partially fill the gap.

The challenge to free senior skiing isn’t over. The State Senate has to approve the amended bill.

The change came when senior skiers meet in a forum with state representatives and ski area management. A coalition of Republican and Democratic representatives worked together to strike the provision.

Apparently, senior skiers have a loud voice in New Hampshire.

Representative Leon Rideout raised the elephant-in-the-room question that has hung over Cannon Mountain for years: “Why is the state in the ski business?” So, the spotlight from this controversy is back on the whole concept of state management. Add to that the operational deficit and a tramway evacuation incident last winter that hit the national news, and you have an opportunity for big changes.

We’ll keep you posted on events as they occur.

Cannon
mikemaginn

Free Senior Skiing Under Threat In NH

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State Legislature Considers Ending Decades Of Free Senior Skiing At Cannon Mountain.

Cannon Mountain is a state-owned area, famous for its aerial tram and free skiing for 65+ seniors. Credit: Cannon Mountain

Cannon Mountain is a state-owned area, famous for its aerial tram and free skiing for 65+ seniors.
Credit: Cannon Mountain

Since 1973, state-owned Cannon Mountain has been the only ski area in New Hampshire to offer free skiing to seniors 65-plus.  This year, a second attempt to end free skiing for seniors was introduced to the legislature.  The change would mean seniors would pay a discount of two-thirds ticket price on weekends and one-third on weekdays.  Free skiing is currently only available during the week.

Supporters of the repeal of free skiing say that the additional revenue is needed to help the NH Division of Parks and Recreation become self-sufficent, a requirement of 1991 legislation.  Opponents say that many seniors in the region are far from wealthy and view the change as a “tax” on seniors who usually ski during the week when the slopes are nearly empty.

In a close vote, the bill, SB 411, was passed by the House and now goes to the House Ways and Means Committee for review before coming back to the House for a final vote.

There are currently about 97 ski areas that offer free skiing in North America, according to the National Ski Area Association.  A handful of small resorts start free skiing at 65, while the majority offer the privilege to 70+ skiers.  An adult ticket currently cost $75 at Cannon; the senior discount would mean a $50 weekend ticket and $25 for weekday.

SeniorsSkiing.com has recommended that the free skiing benchmark should be raised from 65 to 70, still providing access to skiing for the many skiers in the region while creating a reasonable discount for 65-70.  A season pass reflecting a deep discount for 65-70 is also recommended.  We hope the State Legislature of New Hampshire acts with a sense of compromise and fairness in this matter.

What are your thoughts?

Get Into The Spirit: Cannon Mountain Aerial Footage

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If You Need Some Inspiration To Get Out There, Here It Is.

Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire looks deep in snow as of today.  Wonderful and dramatic shots of a beautiful and venerable ski area.  Credit White Mountains TV 16.