Cannon Mt. - 2/23/03

[Lftgly]

Free skiing at Cannon Mt! Well, the lifts weren't operating, but the trails were open if you wanted to hike. I saw at least one pair of boot tracks ahead of me. <BR> <BR>Cannon was closed Sunday, in spite of excellent spring conditions. They claimed it was due to the "freezing rain" they were getting at 6:30AM, but I think it had more to due with the death on Saturday, and two in the hospital from collision on Friday. I bet they didn't want to risk the media spotlight if anyone so much as sprained an ankle on Sunday. After all the days they have operated this season with much worse snow conditions, it was ironic that they were closed with such good snow. <BR> <BR>At 11:30, the summits were still in the clouds, but breaks of sunshine were hitting the lower slopes and valleys. I skinned to the summit, where it was 40-45F, and pretty damp in the blowing fog, but not a sign of ice. Perfect inch or three of mashed potatoes on a firm base all the way down. They had groomed all the usual trails in anticipation of opening, so it was wall-to-wall corduroy as I skinned up. <BR> <BR>I descended via Taft, which had been groomed, then hiked up the saddle. The old Taft Race Course was nicely bumped up, but the moguls were very soft. Took the safe bet, Baron's Run back to Peabody, which was also soft bumps the whole way down. Almost went back up for seconds! <BR> <BR>On the way up, I went by the spot where the guy went off trail Saturday, below the intersection where Skylight ends at Upper Ravine. You could see where he went over the snowmaking pipes and into the trees. I've had close calls making that right-hand turn when it's icy, but Saturday was reportedly good conditions, and it hadn't started to snow yet. They think it may have been a hit&run, with someone cutting him off, and are asking any witnesses to come forward. Maybe he just caught an edge at high speed. Don't know the cause of death, but a helmet didn't save him. There but for the grace of God go I.