Cannon Mountain (New Hampshire)
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| Cannon Mountain | |
|---|---|
 South-East face of Cannon Mountain. |
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| Elevation | 4,100 feet (1,250 m) |
| Location | New Hampshire, USA |
| Range | White Mountains Franconia |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | USGS Franconia |
| Easiest route | Kinsman Ridge Trail |
Cannon Mountain (formerly Profile Mountain) is a 4,100 foot (1,250 meter) peak in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Known for both its technical rock & ice climbing (particularly on Cannon Cliff, pictured) and its skiing (it is a state owned ski area), the mountain was home to the Old Man of the Mountain until the formation collapsed on May 3, 2003. It is the parent mountain of three mountains, with heights of 3,693, 3,700, and 3,769 feet (1,125, 1,127 and 1,148 meters), collectively known as "The Cannon Balls." The mountain is a type of geological formation known as an exfoliating granite dome which is layered like an onion. Cannon Mountain is located within Franconia Notch state park.
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[edit] History
In 1972, the US Board on Geographic Names officially changed the name from "Profile Mountain," which it had been called officially since 1917, to "Cannon Mountain." The two names both are derived from natural rock formations featured on the mountain; the former being the famous "Old Man of the Mountain" and the latter being a series of boulders which, when viewed from the foot of the mountain, resemble an antique artillery cannon.
Cannon's ski area is one of the oldest in North America. Trails had been cut on the mountain prior to 1933, but the mountain gained widespread recognition that year, when the Taft Slalom was cut as the first racing trail in North America. The mountain gained lift service with the construction of the first aerial tramway in North America, in 1938. A new tram was erected in 1980 with a vertical ascent of 2022 feet and a capacity of 140 people (two seventy-person cabins), roughly three times larger than the original lift.
The old tram base- and summit-stations remain intact, and one of the old cabins serves as the entranceway to the New England Ski Museum, opened in 1982 at the mountain's base area. The museum houses what it calls "the most extensive collection of historical ski equipment, clothing, film, photographs, literature, and artwork in the East" and is one of four museums in the U.S. to be recognized by the United States Ski Association as a Regional Museum.
[edit] Mountain Use
Cannon Mountain and the surrounding base area are used year-round for a variety of recreational purposes, including sports such as hiking, climbing and skiing, as well as being a popular tourist destination.
[edit] Hiking
There are a number of trails that criss-cross Cannon Mountain and the surrounding region (a map can be found here), but only one trail, the Kinsman Ridge Trail, can be taken un-interrupted from the trailhead to the summit. This trail begins in the Aerial Tramway parking lot and ascends the north face of the mountain, which is shared by the ski area. Two other features of the mountain which attract hikers are the Appalachian Trail and the Appalachian Mountain Club-maintained Lonesome Lake Hut. The base of the cliff face can be approached via an ambiguous path up the right side of the talus field (see fresh talus field rock in picture).
[edit] Climbing
Cannon Cliff (pictured above) is the largest vertical rock face in the Northeast at roughly 1,000 feet (300 meters) in height and more than a mile (1.6 km) long. As written in a description of climbing possibilities on Cannon, "Some of the aid lines are long and difficult enough to require a bivy, making Cannon the only Big Wall in the northeast." Cannon is popular both in the summer months with free- and aid-climbers alike, and in the winter it attracts both ice climbers and mixed climbers (climbers who ascend routes with some pitches of ice and some pitches of rock). There is a log book climbers are asked to sign into and out of. If an unusual amount of time passes before a climber signs out, a search party is formed. Several guide books exist for Cannon and Franconia Notch, most notably 'Secrets of the Notch' by Jon Sykes which covers both rock and ice routes.
Notable rock climbing routes:
- Whitney-Gilman Ridge: 5.8, 5 pitches. This prominent arête in the center of the face is possibly Cannon's signature climb. The 3rd pitch (the 'Pipe Pitch') features outstanding exposure over the Black Dike. Protection is a mix of trad and fixed bolts and pitons. First ascent Bradley Gilman & Hassler Whitney August 3rd 1929
- Moby Grape: 5.8, 9 pitches. Ascends the tallest section of the cliff. Starts with Reppy's Crack; superb climbing all the way up. First ascent Joe Cote & Roger Martin July 1972
Notable ice climbing routes:
- The Black Dike: 4+/5-, 500 ft tall;3 pitches. A popular mixed ice climb. First ascent John Bouchard December 18th 1971 (solo)
- Omega: 5+, 3 pitches. Mixed climbing. Hardest ice climb in the region. First ascent John Bouchard & Rainsford Rouner 1976
[edit] Skiing
The Cannon Mountain Ski Area is state owned and offers nine lifts and servicing 165 acres of skiing (158 with snowmaking). Until 1984, the north-northwestern face of Cannon was operated under the name Mittersill Ski Area (the current area occupies the north-north eastern 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. US Olympic skier Bode Miller grew up skiing at Cannon.
Cannon Mountain Ski Area Facts:
- Vertical drop: 2,146'
- Summit: 4,186'
- Base Elevation: 2,000'
- Ski acreage: 165 skiable acres
- Snowmaking: 158 acres
- Snowfall: 150" annual average
- Exposure: North - Northeast
- Ski season: Early December to Early April
- Lifts: 9 total: 1 70-passenger Aerial Tramway; 1 Detachable Quad Chair; 2 Fixed Grip Quad Chairs, 3 Triple Chairs; 1 Rope Tow, 1 Wonder Carpet
- Lift capacity: 11,000 skiers/hour
- Trails/Glades: 55: 9 Novice (17%); 26 Intermediate (47%); 20 Expert (36%)
- Trail mileage: Approx. 22 miles
- Longest run: 2.3 miles
- Ski School: Full-service PSIA Ski and Snowboard School; Irv Fountain, Director
- Youth Programs: Brookside Learning Center offers all-day and part-day programs, plus childcare for ages six months and older. Seasonal programs available.
- Retail/Rentals: 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.
[edit] Tourism
Cannon has a number of non-sport related features which make it a popular tourist attraction. The aerial tramway operates year round, and in the summer is the only way up the mountain other than hiking. Though the lift terminates at the summit of the ski area, which is not the peak of the mountain itself, two hiking trails (The Cannon Mountain Short Trail and the Rim Trail) provide a way to the summit. The tramway opens for the summer season on May 27 and closes October 16, which is open daily from 9am to 5pm. There, an observation tower provides a panoramic view of the White Mountains Region. Another attraction until the spring of 2003 was the Old Man of the Mountain; However, the "Old Man of the Mountain Historic Site" remains an attraction. Also notable is Profile Lake, a lake popular with both fly fisherman and anglers. Lastly, the New England Ski Museum attracts skiers to the area in the off-season, as well.
[edit] Resources
- Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report from United States Board on Geographic Names
- Information from summitpost.org
- A Skiing History website with information on the Taft Slalom and the Aerial Tramway
- Article on Aerial Tramway
- ↑ Plans for Mittersill Expansion.
- ↑ Story on Bode Miller
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- WikiSatellite view at WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image from TerraServer-USA
- Surrounding area map from Google Maps
- Location in the United States from the Census Bureau
- Cannon Mountain Ski Area Homepage
- EPA Federal Register of Cannon/Mittersill Land Exchange; White Mountain National Forest, Grafton County, NH
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