Conditions Report
Report from Sunday, December 3, 2023
When looking for mountains to get my first turns in for the season, I was looking for a close place to ski with enough terrain to keep me satisfied for the whole day. After looking at mountains like Cannon, Pats Peak, and even Killington, I decided on Loon Mountain in New Hampshire. For my first time at Loon, I was impressed by its early season conditions and outstanding facilities.
The generous folks at Loon Mountain provided a lift pass for the day. However, I was happy when I saw that Loon provides very reasonable 1-day passes, with some starting as low as $60. The mountain is a part of the Boyne Resort group and is also on the IKON Pass. For skiers, the mountain is very accessible for getting lift tickets and finding a day to visit. Loon also has a convenient area to pick up lift tickets when you arrive, as long as you have a confirmation. In addition, RFID cards are free, something that other resorts make you pay for.
As for the location of the mountain, Loon is about 2 hours away from Boston and Burlington, Vermont. For skiers in the Greater Boston area especially, I would recommend visiting Loon for a one-day ski trip. The mountain is close enough to drive there and back in one day. Plus, the size will provide for some great skiing. Loon is a Goldilocks zone in many ways.
Regarding mountain details, Loon has 13 lifts, 73 trails, and over 400 acres of terrain. Of those 13 lifts, the Kancamagus 8 is the newest, opening in December 2021. The 8-seat lift travels at 1,100 feet per second. The other lifts at Loon were all great during my experience. The mountain has modern, high-speed chairs, as well as a gondola. Loon also opens at 8 a.m., earlier than other mountains around New England. We were able to get plenty of turns in during our time there. The resort also plans to expand, adding new trails and lifts.
Loon welcomed skiers for the first time this season on November 22. When I visited on December 3, 11 days after opening, the resort had a great selection of runs. All 2,100 feet of vertical, 18 trails and two parks were open. I’m very impressed at Loon’s ability to open this amount of terrain this early. The snowmaking team has been working hard. There were almost no barren spots on snowmaking trails. Nearly every trail was groomed. The variety of terrain was quite good for being this early in the season. While no black trails have opened as of yet, the blues at the top of the mountain provide steep terrain with a few moguls in the mix. The resort has some great beginner terrain and long green trails that I enjoyed. I also appreciate the amount of side hits Loon had when I visited. Those were fun to lap!
The snow quality at Loon was also a strength. My friends and I agreed that the snow was soft, a positive in our view. Getting on edge was easy in the snow. We also didn’t have to wait for it to soften up since the night before was quite warm. The snow didn’t have too much friction; we enjoyed many laps. Toward the end of the day, we did have a snowstorm. Around 2 inches fell while we were there. We all enjoyed the bit of powder at the end of the day. It was a bit of a gift for staying until the end of the day. The mountain is poised to receive a few more inches this week, hopefully facilitating the opening of a couple of new trails.
One of Loon’s most notable qualities is its friendly, welcoming staff. From when I picked up my lift pass from Taylor, the communications manager at Loon, to my last gondola ride, the staff was a central highlight. The staff were passionate about their work and willing to go above and beyond for guests. A few examples were when I saw an employee hiking down a closed trail to pick up a ski, and another employee spotted my friend’s skis in the gondola and gave them to him. This happened multiple times when we rode the gondola, too!
I look forward to the next time I get to visit. Its staff, proximity to Boston, facilities, and terrain options make it a standout choice for a day trip or a vacation. Loon also offers extensive accommodations at the mountain, and there are many hotels in the area. Considering the excellent conditions for early December, I can’t wait to explore Loon later in the season.
