Age-65 ski free Cannon Mtn
 

Turning 65 a couple months ago supposedly makes me eligible to ski, totally for free, at the super duper Cannon Mountain on non-holiday Mon-Tues-Wed-Thurs-Fri. Cannon is owned by the State of NH, and last year there was some movement in the legislature to change this freebie for seniors policy.

Honestly, it seems hard to believe, and I will not really believe it until I get my free day pass, and am skiing the legend, skiing Cannon.

With Chris Sununu winning the recent governor's election, it seems possible and perhaps plausible this free ski Cannon policy could be changing sometime soon. With this in mind, one can get a photo season free pass for $29, the photo pass processing fee or something, and hopefully cement the pass for the season.

Who knows what will happen to the free Cannon skiing ..... only time will tell.... but it seems very unusual.....I mean.....does it take incoming money to operate a ski area? Best to go get that freebie pass while it is still doable ....... and let someone else cover the ski area costs! Does Bernie Sanders and the State of Vermont have a similar freebie ski area......do not think so?

So, with all these moldy oldies using Cannon for free on weekdays, the base lodge area and the bar lounge must resemble a nursing home or something??????

Not too surprising if I bump into Hillary!

Enjoy, FLL. Your grandchildren (kids under 5, get the same price.)

At different times, the legislature gave directives to parks management. One, to let 65+ ski free on weekdays. The other, to run the parks ,(including Cannon) in a businesslike manner consistent with what the rest of the industry was doing. It obviously is not fair to other ski areas or to the owners of Cannon (you and me) to undercut the rest of the ski areas. In order for the 65+ plan to change would require new legislation. Cannon's marketing plans are approved in the spring, before most bills can get to the Governor's desk. You should be good for 2016-17 and probably 2017-18. The season pass you refer to is a good deal as it saves you waiting in line to get a day pass. $39, same as last year.

The entire NH park system is funded by user fees, with many free access parks. We make a little money at Cannon (not last season) the Flume, Hampton Beach parking (beach is free), and campgrounds. No taxpayer dollars go to the parks.

Worth it
 

Congrats FLL. Free skiing at Cannon and collecting social security are among the few benefits of aging. How much can it be costing Cannon to give the perk. It's not as if everyone over 65 skiing there would have bought a ticket anyway. A few more chairs filled mid-week isn't adding to operations cost and the elderly are more likely to bring paying friends, ski half-days, take lots of breaks and spend money in the cafes. Possibly cash positive.

Moldy oldies
 

I may be moldy but I can sure smoke the young ones on the course!

Here to gate crashing! :cheers::cheers::cheers:

Age-65 non holiday, mid-week passes:

Cannon age-65; no charge for NH residents

Gunstock age-65; $149
..............age-70, Belknap County residents; $25

Waterville Valley age-65; $509


Either Gunstock seems like a good value, or Waterville seems over priced, or something, and Cannon seems like my type steal of a deal.

Oh well, as everybody knows, skiing is all about the weather?

Challenge accepted.:laugh:Oh wait,I'm a moldy oldy also.:eek:

If you want a season pass at Cannon for 65+ its $39 for midweek and $396 for fulltime.The deal for weekday tickets is only for NH residents.Its $53 for every other 65+ so take advantage of the NH taxes you've paid.

Gunrock Senior Pass
 

It is not on the website, last year the same 65+ pass is only available week days and there are black out holidays weekdays. If you got kids/grandkids its a big deal. 65 plus will have to pay the same rate as adults for the season pass. You would need to wait till you are 70+ to get a decent deal. 80+ for non Belknap residents.

Gunstock does not appeal to me as there is no senior racing events and the mountain is so small and tame, one can ski the whole mountain in under 3 hours. Boring!

I'm anxious to see what Tenney Mountain will bring us!

If you're still skiing at 65 you deserve to be doing it for free.:)

Other deals
 

Bretton Woods still has its Sunday afternoon for $20 deal (at least for Carroll County Residents). Loon doesn't have any hint that its Sunday afternoon for $25 deal is still on this year. What else is out there for skiing cheaply?

The Gunstock age 70+; Belmont county resident charge of $25 is a one time processing charge for a life time pass. That is it, no further charge for life. Prime time, no black outs. It was $10 when I got mine. Living 4 miles away it is a pretty good deal. For variety we can go up to Cannon for free M-F.

No Pats Tuesday at Waterville?
 

Called Waterville today, hoping to ski there tomorrow (Tuesday). They said, no Pats Tuesday deals yet, and maybe not at all this year. Bumma. :(

Waterville Valley live cam showing the base area framed by two lifts; Valley Run-left, and White's Peak-right ..... hi-speed detached quads ..... plus some other shots ...... www.waterville.com/cams/ ..... this is a live 24/7 video cam ..... how's about taht!

Like .... looking at these over a few day's time ..... isn't there a big difference between a sunny day, and a cloudy day ........ and similarly....between day light, and night darkness .... like .....who knew?

I've heard, because of the drought, a lot of ski mountains have to conserve their snow making water, saving it for Xmass vacation.

Cannon is blasting the guns today. Pretty good conditions but ever present fog makes the top a challenge. Those coming down out of the fog report 'sick' conditions.

lg