Cannon Mountain Ski Area
Encyclopedia
Cannon Mountain Ski Area, located on Cannon Mountain
in the White Mountains
of New Hampshire
, is a state-owned resort (within Franconia Notch State Park
) that offers nine lifts servicing 165 acre (0.6677319 km²) of skiing (158 with snowmaking). Cannon Mountain has the most vertical of any ski area in New Hampshire, and the seventh largest in New England.
It also has the only aerial tram in New Hampshire. Cannon has 22 miles (35.4 km) of trails and a north-northeast exposure; its season extends from early December to early April. US Olympic skier Bode Miller
grew up skiing at Cannon.
in North America. From its construction in 1938 to its 1980 retirement, the first tram carried 6,581,338 passengers up the 2.1 miles (3.4 km) route to near the summit of Cannon Mountain. On May 24, 1980, the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway II was dedicated.
Alexander Bright, a famous skier, conceived the idea of building a tramway in New Hampshire during his trip to Europe as a member of the US Olympic Ski Team in 1933. In Europe, Bright had seen passenger-carrying tramways and recognized that building one in New Hampshire could foster the growth of skiing and summer tourism in the White Mountains.
Bright persuaded L.R. Batemen of the American Steel and Wire Company to conduct a preliminary survey to locate a suitable site for a tramway and to estimate construction costs. In November 1933, the first physical survey of Franconia Notch
was made by Batemen, E.J. Lloyd and Roland Peabody of Franconia
, who was called in as an advisor because of his knowledge of the area and his enthusiasm for recreation development in the White Mountains.
Bright’s idea appealed to an increasing numbers of people and groups associate with winter sports, and Peabody, through his enthusiasm, aroused the support of the NH legislature.
In the spring of 1934, after estimating construction costs, completing research on operating costs and potential income, and examining seven promising sites for a tramway, a committee appointed by Governor John G. Winant unanimously recommended Cannon Mountain.
Environmental concerns were a principal reason for selecting the Cannon site. At Cannon, it was possible to build a tramway with only minor cutting of forests and without marring the scenic beauty of the Notch. In addition, the area was already a major route for tourists in the White Mountains.
Legislation was drafted and passed in 1935, but the project hit a snag when federal financing, a provision of the legislation, proved unavailable. In June 1937, a bill was passed by the NH legislature and signed into law by Governor Francis P. Murphy
authorizing a $250,000 bond issue to finance erection of the tramway. Later Roland E. Peabody was named Managing Director of the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway.
In August, American Steel Wire Company was awarded the construction contract and the project rapidly took shape.
As the contractor began construction of the tramway, a 200-man CCC
camp began work on a parking area and developing the Coppermine, Trucker Brook, Kinsman and Cannon ski trails. Old logging roads on the mountain had been used for skiing since 1929, and the famous Richard Taft Race Course had been developed in 1931-1932.
To build the final passenger tramway it was first necessary to construct a freight tramway to carry materials. Carrying cement and materials by backpack, four dozen men completed the formidable task in December. Construction of the tramway continued through the winter, with almost all the work, pouring 32 carloads of cement, assembling 232 tons of steel and four miles (6 km) of cable, done by hand. It was considered an outstanding engineering feat of the period. On June 28, 1938, after nine months of construction and one year after the passage of legislation, North America’s first aerial tramway was dedicated.
The opening attracted newspapermen, photographers, newsreel cameramen and syndicated writers from across the nation. Later Lowell Thomas made evening news broadcasts from both the valley and mountain stations.
The tramway quickly became a major tourist attraction, carrying 163,000 passengers in its first year.
As its proponents had predicted, the tramway proved not only a sound financial investment for the state, but also confirmed the viability of skiing as an industry in New Hampshire. Cannon Mountain, with the highest vertical drop of any ski mountain in the state, became the pinnacle of Eastern skiing. The success of the state’s venture attracted the interest and investment of the private sector, and the ski industry in NH grew and prospered.
In early 1965, Commissioner George Gilman of the Department of Resources and Economic Development recognized the need to begin planning for the replacement of the original tramway. Although still in prime operating condition, thanks to a diligent maintenance program, the cost of custom-made replacement parts and the tramway’s limited passenger capacity made replacement desirable and economically practical.
The replacement project was authorized by the NH legislature in 1977 after a study by consulting engineer Robert Heron proved the project feasible.
In July 1978, a contract for the replacement project was awarded to Nuova Agudio. Preliminary construction begun in July 1978, with the lower terminal completed in April 1979. During the summer of 1979, helicopters were briefly used to airlift some major components. Unlike the original construction project in 1937, there was no need to erect a freight tramway since the existing tramway could be used as the work-horse for moving materials up the mountain. Even as construction proceeded heavy summer passenger traffic was maintained. Construction continued though the cold but nearly snowless winter of 1979-1980. In February 1980, the tramway successfully passed a series of stringent operational tests conducted by Nuova Agudio and was approved for passenger traffic by the State of New Hampshire.
Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway II transcends the famous slopes of Cannon Mountain for 5359 feet (1,633.4 m). Its two cabins, each with a capacity for 80 passengers and one attendant, travel at a speed of 1500 feet (457.2 m) per minute, with an hourly passenger capacity of 1,540 or 770 in each direction, or more than three times the capacity of the original tramway.
The Tuckerbrook quad chair serves beginner trails—Bear Paw, Deer Run, Fleitman and Coyote Crossing—that are segregated from the upper mountain. From the Peabody Base Area, take Brookside to the Tuckerbrook area. The bottom half of Cannon has four long runs suitable for beginners: Lower Cannon, Parkway, Gremlin and Turnpike. This area is most easily accessed via the Eagle Triple Chair, from the Peabody Base Area.
The Brookside learning area, a beginner skiing area, is segregated from the rest of the mountain. It is serviced by its own triple chairlift as well as two surface lifts. Its location allows novices to progress to the nearby short beginner trails off the Tuckerbrook quad chair.
Intermediate - 48%
Although touted as an expert’s mountain, the ski area offers slopes for lower ski levels. From the summit, Vista Way, Tramway or Upper Cannon, descend through the forest. These feed into a collection of intermediate runs, including Middle Cannon and Middle Ravine. An alternate route, Cannonball Express Quad, is also available.
The Tram Cutback is an intermediate return route to the tram from Gary’s, considered the easiest of the Front Five.
Expert and Advanced - 35%
Expert trails include the Tramline Trail, a narrow trail that descends via a series of cliff steps.
One of the longest glades in the east is Kinsman Glade, on skier’s right of the tramline. The Front Five trails are accessed via Paulie’s Extension or Lower Cannon. Three of them, Avalanche, Paulie’s Folly and Zoomer, are marked black. The other two, Rocket and Gary’s, have less pitch and no bumps.
From the summit, trails include Upper Cannon, Skylight or Upper Ravine.
Cannon was rated #6 for scenery in North America in the October 2008 issue of SKI Magazine.
In its October 2007 issue, SKI Magazine named Cannon Mountain among the highest rated ski areas in the East, scoring #1 for value, #2 for accessibility, #4 for scenery, #7 for challenge, and #9 for variety of terrain. Cannon Mountain was named one of "Seven Great Places to Ski with Your Kids" in the November 2007 issue of SKI Magazine.
A $2.6 million Doppelmayr
double chairlift was ordered, to be installed for the 2010-2011 ski season.
Slopeside ski shops located at Peabody Base Lodge and Tram Base; plus ski/snowboard rental & service shop at Peabody Base Lodge. A slopeside High Performance Tuning Center at Peabody Base Lodge. All rental skis are "shaped" skis; all rental snowboards feature "step in" bindings.
Cannon Mountain (New Hampshire)
Cannon Mountain is a peak in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Known for both its technical rock and ice climbing and its skiing , the mountain was home to the Old Man of the Mountain until the formation collapsed on May 3, 2003...
in the White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, is a state-owned resort (within Franconia Notch State Park
Franconia Notch State Park
Franconia Notch State Park is located in the White Mountains in northern New Hampshire and straddles of Interstate 93 as it passes through Franconia Notch, a mountain pass between the Kinsman Range and Franconia Range...
) that offers nine lifts servicing 165 acre (0.6677319 km²) of skiing (158 with snowmaking). Cannon Mountain has the most vertical of any ski area in New Hampshire, and the seventh largest in New England.
It also has the only aerial tram in New Hampshire. Cannon has 22 miles (35.4 km) of trails and a north-northeast exposure; its season extends from early December to early April. US Olympic skier Bode Miller
Bode Miller
Samuel Bode Miller is an American alpine ski racer. He is an Olympic and World Championship gold medalist, a two-time overall World Cup champion in 2005 and 2008, and is generally considered the greatest American alpine skier of all time...
grew up skiing at Cannon.
Tramway
Cannon Mountain was the site of the first passenger tramwayAerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
in North America. From its construction in 1938 to its 1980 retirement, the first tram carried 6,581,338 passengers up the 2.1 miles (3.4 km) route to near the summit of Cannon Mountain. On May 24, 1980, the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway II was dedicated.
Alexander Bright, a famous skier, conceived the idea of building a tramway in New Hampshire during his trip to Europe as a member of the US Olympic Ski Team in 1933. In Europe, Bright had seen passenger-carrying tramways and recognized that building one in New Hampshire could foster the growth of skiing and summer tourism in the White Mountains.
Bright persuaded L.R. Batemen of the American Steel and Wire Company to conduct a preliminary survey to locate a suitable site for a tramway and to estimate construction costs. In November 1933, the first physical survey of Franconia Notch
Franconia Notch
Franconia Notch is a major mountain pass through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Dominated by Cannon Mountain, it lies principally within Franconia Notch State Park and is traversed by the Franconia Notch Parkway Franconia Notch (el. 1950 ft. / 590 m.) is a major mountain pass through...
was made by Batemen, E.J. Lloyd and Roland Peabody of Franconia
Franconia, New Hampshire
Franconia is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,104 at the 2010 census. Set in the White Mountains, Franconia is home to the northern half of Franconia Notch State Park. Parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the eastern and southern portions...
, who was called in as an advisor because of his knowledge of the area and his enthusiasm for recreation development in the White Mountains.
Bright’s idea appealed to an increasing numbers of people and groups associate with winter sports, and Peabody, through his enthusiasm, aroused the support of the NH legislature.
In the spring of 1934, after estimating construction costs, completing research on operating costs and potential income, and examining seven promising sites for a tramway, a committee appointed by Governor John G. Winant unanimously recommended Cannon Mountain.
Environmental concerns were a principal reason for selecting the Cannon site. At Cannon, it was possible to build a tramway with only minor cutting of forests and without marring the scenic beauty of the Notch. In addition, the area was already a major route for tourists in the White Mountains.
Legislation was drafted and passed in 1935, but the project hit a snag when federal financing, a provision of the legislation, proved unavailable. In June 1937, a bill was passed by the NH legislature and signed into law by Governor Francis P. Murphy
Francis P. Murphy
Francis Parnell Murphy was a manufacturer and politician from Nashua, New Hampshire. He served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and on the Governor's Council before being twice elected as a Republican Governor.Murphy supported Roosevelt's New Deal policies and switched to the...
authorizing a $250,000 bond issue to finance erection of the tramway. Later Roland E. Peabody was named Managing Director of the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway.
In August, American Steel Wire Company was awarded the construction contract and the project rapidly took shape.
As the contractor began construction of the tramway, a 200-man CCC
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
camp began work on a parking area and developing the Coppermine, Trucker Brook, Kinsman and Cannon ski trails. Old logging roads on the mountain had been used for skiing since 1929, and the famous Richard Taft Race Course had been developed in 1931-1932.
To build the final passenger tramway it was first necessary to construct a freight tramway to carry materials. Carrying cement and materials by backpack, four dozen men completed the formidable task in December. Construction of the tramway continued through the winter, with almost all the work, pouring 32 carloads of cement, assembling 232 tons of steel and four miles (6 km) of cable, done by hand. It was considered an outstanding engineering feat of the period. On June 28, 1938, after nine months of construction and one year after the passage of legislation, North America’s first aerial tramway was dedicated.
The opening attracted newspapermen, photographers, newsreel cameramen and syndicated writers from across the nation. Later Lowell Thomas made evening news broadcasts from both the valley and mountain stations.
The tramway quickly became a major tourist attraction, carrying 163,000 passengers in its first year.
As its proponents had predicted, the tramway proved not only a sound financial investment for the state, but also confirmed the viability of skiing as an industry in New Hampshire. Cannon Mountain, with the highest vertical drop of any ski mountain in the state, became the pinnacle of Eastern skiing. The success of the state’s venture attracted the interest and investment of the private sector, and the ski industry in NH grew and prospered.
In early 1965, Commissioner George Gilman of the Department of Resources and Economic Development recognized the need to begin planning for the replacement of the original tramway. Although still in prime operating condition, thanks to a diligent maintenance program, the cost of custom-made replacement parts and the tramway’s limited passenger capacity made replacement desirable and economically practical.
The replacement project was authorized by the NH legislature in 1977 after a study by consulting engineer Robert Heron proved the project feasible.
In July 1978, a contract for the replacement project was awarded to Nuova Agudio. Preliminary construction begun in July 1978, with the lower terminal completed in April 1979. During the summer of 1979, helicopters were briefly used to airlift some major components. Unlike the original construction project in 1937, there was no need to erect a freight tramway since the existing tramway could be used as the work-horse for moving materials up the mountain. Even as construction proceeded heavy summer passenger traffic was maintained. Construction continued though the cold but nearly snowless winter of 1979-1980. In February 1980, the tramway successfully passed a series of stringent operational tests conducted by Nuova Agudio and was approved for passenger traffic by the State of New Hampshire.
Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway II transcends the famous slopes of Cannon Mountain for 5359 feet (1,633.4 m). Its two cabins, each with a capacity for 80 passengers and one attendant, travel at a speed of 1500 feet (457.2 m) per minute, with an hourly passenger capacity of 1,540 or 770 in each direction, or more than three times the capacity of the original tramway.
Trails
Beginner and First-timer - 17%The Tuckerbrook quad chair serves beginner trails—Bear Paw, Deer Run, Fleitman and Coyote Crossing—that are segregated from the upper mountain. From the Peabody Base Area, take Brookside to the Tuckerbrook area. The bottom half of Cannon has four long runs suitable for beginners: Lower Cannon, Parkway, Gremlin and Turnpike. This area is most easily accessed via the Eagle Triple Chair, from the Peabody Base Area.
The Brookside learning area, a beginner skiing area, is segregated from the rest of the mountain. It is serviced by its own triple chairlift as well as two surface lifts. Its location allows novices to progress to the nearby short beginner trails off the Tuckerbrook quad chair.
Intermediate - 48%
Although touted as an expert’s mountain, the ski area offers slopes for lower ski levels. From the summit, Vista Way, Tramway or Upper Cannon, descend through the forest. These feed into a collection of intermediate runs, including Middle Cannon and Middle Ravine. An alternate route, Cannonball Express Quad, is also available.
The Tram Cutback is an intermediate return route to the tram from Gary’s, considered the easiest of the Front Five.
Expert and Advanced - 35%
Expert trails include the Tramline Trail, a narrow trail that descends via a series of cliff steps.
One of the longest glades in the east is Kinsman Glade, on skier’s right of the tramline. The Front Five trails are accessed via Paulie’s Extension or Lower Cannon. Three of them, Avalanche, Paulie’s Folly and Zoomer, are marked black. The other two, Rocket and Gary’s, have less pitch and no bumps.
From the summit, trails include Upper Cannon, Skylight or Upper Ravine.
Awards
In its October 2007 issue, SKI Magazine named Cannon Mountain among the highest rated ski areas in the East, scoring #1 for value, #2 for accessibility, #4 for scenery, #7 for challenge, and #9 for variety of terrain. Cannon Mountain was named one of "Seven Great Places to Ski with Your Kids" in the November 2007 issue of SKI Magazine.
Future expansion
Until 1984, the north-northwestern face of Cannon was operated under the name Mittersill Ski Area (Cannon Mountain Ski Area occupies the north-northeastern face). The trails are often skied by those that know the area as a result of their ease of accessibility (only a short hike is required from Taft Slalom to find them). However, in the late 1990s/early 2000s, the state of New Hampshire unveiled plans to purchase the north-northwestern face and use the already-cut trails as an expansion to the current ski area. The purchase was completed in 2008.A $2.6 million Doppelmayr
Doppelmayr
The Doppelmayr Garaventa Group is an Austrian-Swiss company that manufactures chairlifts, cable cars, gondolas, surface tows for ski and amusement parks as well as urban people movers and material handling systems. To date, Doppelmayr and Garaventa have produced over 13,700 installations in 78...
double chairlift was ordered, to be installed for the 2010-2011 ski season.
Rentals and ski school
Brookside Learning Center offers all-day and part-day youth programs, plus childcare for ages six months and older. Seasonal programs are available. Cannon offers a full-service PSIA Ski and Snowboard School.Slopeside ski shops located at Peabody Base Lodge and Tram Base; plus ski/snowboard rental & service shop at Peabody Base Lodge. A slopeside High Performance Tuning Center at Peabody Base Lodge. All rental skis are "shaped" skis; all rental snowboards feature "step in" bindings.