Cannon Mountain Ski Area, New Hampshire - New England Ski Area Expansions

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Cannon Mountain Ski Area
Franconia, New Hampshire

Overview

Cannon Mountain is located adjacent to Franconia Notch in New Hampshire's White Mountains. Read more about Cannon Mountain.

Contents

Cannon Mountain Expansions: Zoomer Area | Tuckerbrook Area | Mittersill | Northern Base Area

Zoomer Area - 1962 - Open

Zoomer as seen on the 1962-63 trail map

While skiers had traversed across the slope above Echo Lake to the tramway for years, there had only been one small (Banshee) rope tow complex in place.

As part of a major expansion project, the Zoomer complex was built in 1962. Along with the Peabody double, the Zoomer double was the first chairlift in Cannon's history. This 1,800 foot long Roebling double climbed skier's left of the Zoomer slope from near Echo Lake to the Peabody slopes. In addition, a 1,500 foot long T-Bar was installed on the Banshee slope. This T-Bar was only used for a decade or two.

Zoomer as seen on the 2009 trail map

Four new trails were opened in conjunction with the new chairlift - Avalanche, Rocket, Gary's, and Toss-Up.

In 1984, a new 630 vertical foot by 1,640 foot long Doppelmayr triple chairlift replaced the aging Zoomer double.

The Zoomer complex as seen from Mt. Lafayette

The bottom terminal of the Zoomer triple chairlift (2003)

The Zoomer slope (2008)

Tuckerbrook Area - 2003 - Open

Tuckerbrook Proposal Map (1998)

With a lack of beginner terrain, Cannon looked to offer an isolated lower mountain area. In addition, with plans to connect and reopen Mittersill, developing terrain between the two areas was an obvious choice.

Plans released in 1998 called for a new chairlift serving three main trails, as well as connectors on either side of the complex. In addition, a chairlift was planned to extend from the bottom of Mittersill to the top of the Tuckerbrook area.

The Tuckerbrook Area in the 2009 Cannon trail map

The complex was developed in 2003 with a handful of additional short trails and glades. A new 1,324 foot long Doppelmayr CTEC fixed grip quad was installed, covering 281 vertical feet.

An additional connector trail, Raven Ridge, was added for the 2008 season.

With the acquisition of the Mittersill area in 2008 and subsequent terrain opening in 2009, the Tuckerbrook area allowed for a relatively easy connection from the Taft Cutoff Trail to the main base area. As of now, there are no immediate plans for the connector lift from Mittersill to the top of the Tuckerbrook area.

Installation of the Tuckerbrook Quad (2003)

The bottom terminal of the Tuckerbrook Quad chairlift (2004)

Mittersill - 2009 - Open

Mittersill Proposal Map (1998)

After closing in 1984, the Mittersill ski area slowly fell into disrepair. After losing the federal Special Use Permit, the ski area land was transferred to the state and federal governments.

In 1998, the State of New Hampshire released maps showing proposed expansion of the Cannon Mountain ski area into Mittersill. While backcountry skiers had been using the trails for years, much of the area had grown in. In addition, the lifts on site were beyond repair.

The 1998 plans showed three lifts starting from the Mittersill base area, with one of them (perhaps a high speed detachable quad) ending above the original Mittersill double chairlift. Intermediate and expert trails would have been cut, some new and others original. Many of the trails would have featured tree islands.

Plans were scaled back, however, due in part to the declaring of a Bicknell’s Thrush bird habitat atop Mittersill. After adjustments to the proposal were made, the state was able to finalize a land swap with the federal government in 2008, gaining control of the former ski area.

A nearly $10,000,000 capital budget was announced in 2008. A chairlift and base lodge were proposed for 2009 through 2012, while a snowmaking system was expected for 2013.

In May of 2010, Doppelmayr was awarded a $2,631,490 contract to build a brand new fixed grip double chairlift, following the same line as the former Hall double chairlift. The new chairlift opened on January 1, 2011, but closed the next day due to a lack of snow.

Grooming made its debut at Mittersill on February 11, 2011.

2009-2010 Cannon Map

The old Mittersill double chair (2008)

The old Mittersill T-Bar and double chair (2008)

The top of the old Mittersill double chair (2008)

The top of the old Mittersill double chair (2009)

The bottom of the old Mittersill double chair as removal work nears (2010)

The recleared Mittersill double chair lift line (2010)

The top terminal footings of the Mittersill double chair (2010)

The Mittersill double chair lift line (2010)

The Mittersill double chair bottom terminal (2010)

The Mittersill double chair lift line (2010)

The Mittersill double chair bottom terminal (2010)

The Mittersill double chair bottom terminal (2011)

The Mittersill double chair (2011)

The top of the Mittersill double chair (2011)

Northern Base Area - Late 1960s - Cancelled

The proposed Northern Base Area as seen from Eagle Cliff (2010)

After developing the Zoomer and Peabody areas with new chairlifts in the early 1960s, some considered the base area to be crowded, inadequate, and detached.

In early 1967 a study was released, with the recommendation to build a new, central base area adjacent Echo Lake, between Zoomer and Peabody.

Part of an overall $1.8 million project, the new base area was to feature a lodge, 15 acres of parking lots, and two new lifts (900 and 1,200 feet long) plus one replacement lift (replacing the T-Bar from the Peabody base) to tie into the existing area.

It is not known how much further this proposal made it beyond initial New Hampshire State House legislation. The T-Bar out of the Peabody base would be replaced a few years after this proposal.

The approximate location of the proposed Northern Base Area as seen on the 2010 Cannon trail map

Resources

Cannon Mountain - NewEnglandSkiHistory.com

Cannon Mountain - official site

Cannon Mountain - New England's Alpine CCC Ski Trails

Mittersill Ski Area - New England Lost Ski Areas Project

Cannon Mountain - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide

Last updated: March 24, 2011