Fatality on Cannon??

[skibones]

Does anyone know about the fatality on Cannon Mt this weekend?

 

[Tuco]

Very little info so far other than it sounds to be a male skier went out of control on the Spookie Trail and them veered off into the woods and hit a tree.

 

[Early Bird]

Ski Accident

That's what I heard, too. He missed a turn on an intermediate trail, went onto a more difficult trail, then into the woods and hit a tree. Also, alcohol wasn't involved, and he was wearing a helmet. By the time he arrived at the hospital, he was dead. Double Bow had posted a hike Cannon yesterday.

 

[Amicus]

. . . it sounds to be a male skier went out of control on the Spookie Trail and them veered off into the woods and hit a tree.

That's what I heard, too. He missed a turn on an intermediate trail, went onto a more difficult trail, then into the woods and hit a tree.

I skied Cannon yesterday, and confirmed my recollection that Spookie is a Green (novice) trail - a fairly short connector half-way down, from the trails on the east side to Middle Cannon. So, I'd be curious what the more difficult trail actually was that led to this sad accident.

(Cannon has become one of my favorites - conditions were great yesterday on the trails that were open, allowing for a lot of thin cover. Not even a short lift line all day and no slush except in the p.m. on the sunny "Peabody" slopes - Rocket, etc.)

 

[Maddy]

Did a web search this am and this is all I could find about the incident.
A skier described "Spookie" as being less than 20 feet wide, not steep, but mentioned that the downhill side drops down "dramatically" into some very thick pines.
Maybe he just went over the edge on Spookie as he attempted to turn off on one the other connecting trails. (That trail name "Spookie" implies something).
Very sad indeed.
Not a good way to end the season and always a gentle reminder to be careful out there.

 

[Amicus]

A skier described "Spookie" as being less than 20 feet wide, not steep, but mentioned that the downhill side drops down "dramatically" into some very thick pines.

I didn't ski Spookie yesterday but did several times on my last visit to Cannon, in Feb., as it was a way around some trails closed for a race. It is narrow, so despite the gentle grade it has an element for misadventure, especially if the downhill side is a pine grove, which I don't recall. At even 5 mph, a pine tree can hit like anything, and if you're off-kilter, it could even be fatal.

I need to remind myself to be deeply thankful every time I emerge unscathed from the slopes (as today at Attitash, also great, on its closing day).