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About the Site

DCSki is an award-winning independent on-line publication covering outdoor recreation in the Mid-Atlantic region, including the states Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. During the winter, DCSki focuses on skiing and snowboarding. In the summer, DCSki covers activities such as mountain biking and hiking.

DCSki’s history dates back to 1994, when it was distributed via e-mail. DCSki hit the Web in the summer of 1997, and over the past decade, countless skiers and snowboarders have become regular readers, trusting DCSki to provide accurate and balanced reporting.

DCSki is full of useful features such as an event calendar, interactive message forums, weather, resort profiles, listings of area ski clubs, and much more. Hundreds of original articles are published each year, providing tips on skiing and reviews of far-away resorts. Plus, you can find out what ski conditions are really like. (We’ll let you know when that “mixed precipitation” is really rain.)

But DCSki is much more than a comprehensive snowsports publication -- it is also a community of winter sports enthusiasts. Readers have posted over 40,000 messages on a wide range of subjects: commenting on articles, providing firsthand trip reports, or offering reviews of ski areas. DCSki's readers come from across Mid-Atlantic to the far reaches of the globe, from a variety of backgrounds but with one common trait: a passion for skiing or snowboarding.

Please note: DCSki is not a ski club -- it is an independent on-line publication that is not affiliated with any specific ski club.

Feedback and Article Suggestions

DCSki welcomes news tips, article suggestions, event information, and even guest columns. Got a question about the site? How about a suggestion? We’re eager to hear your comments - positive, negative, or anything in between.

The buck stops at the desk of DCSki’s Editor, M. Scott Smith. Visit this page to learn how to contact Scott.

Under the Hood

DCSki is hosted on a dedicated, dual-processor, 64-bit Apple XServe G5 -- the same computer that powers one of the fastest supercomputers in the world. The server is capable of handling the busiest winter days without missing a beat. Our server is located in a secure Equinix data center in Virginia, providing exceptional bandwidth and physical protection.

On the software side, DCSki was implemented from scratch using open source technologies such as Apache, PHP, and MySQL. Every page on DCSki is generated dynamically using this custom software, pulling from a wide variety of content sources in the blink of an eye.

About DCSki’s Editor, Scott

DCSki is operated by M. Scott Smith. Scott writes the articles, takes the photographs, designs the pages, programs the site, pays the bills, and occasionally catches a wink of sleep. (Every now and then, he gets to ski. Not as often as he'd like, though!)

Scott graduated summa cum laude from Drexel University with a major in computer science and a minor in mathematics. In addition to DCSki, Scott works full-time as a computer scientist and researcher.

Scott loves outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, kayaking, skiing, and mountain biking. He is an avid photographer and writer, and also plays keyboards and drums. He loves to travel and explore. Scott grew up in Colorado and currently resides in Maryland.

Scott is a member of the Eastern Ski Writers Association and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association. He has also served as a Contributing Editor for Eastern Slopes Magazine. He welcomes e-mail from readers.

Scott maintains a personal web log at www.mscottsmith.org, where he gathers together random thoughts that usually have nothing to do with skiing. But he also occasionally posts “behind the scenes” looks at events he covers for DCSki, as well as high-resolution photos he shoots at ski resorts.

Want to Advertise on DCSki?

DCSki is funded in part through the generous support of advertisers. For information on advertising packages, including rates, please see the Advertise page.

DCSki Privacy Policy

To view DCSki's Privacy Policy, click here.

DCSki is sponsored in part by the following companies:


Canaan Realty: IMAGINE A PLACE THAT'S YOURS ALONE... Because adventures come in all shapes and sizes, so do our vacation rentals. Whether you are looking for adventure, recreation, or simply relaxation, we have four breathtaking seasons for you to enjoy. Slopeside, lakefront or secluded, Canaan Realty proudly offers a choice selection of vacation homes and condominiums. Call upon our friendly staff to help you plan the perfect ski vacation, weekend getaway or reunion with family and friends. Once you've stayed with Canaan Realty, you'll see why we're the first choice for lodging in Canaan Valley. Virtual tours, pricing, availability and online reservations available at www.canaanrealty.com.

Canaan Valley Resort: Canaan Valley Resort, located outside Davis, West Virginia features 39 slopes for beginning, intermediate, and advanced West Virginia skiing. With a vertical drop of 850 feet and the longest run at 6,000 feet, the experience is as challenging as you want it to be. Night skiing is also offered for an exhilarating skiing experience. Canaan Valley Resort and Timberline Four Seasons Resort have joined forces for the 2007-2008 ski season to offer guests the ability to ski both mountains at their leisure for one price. The new two-day pass allows skiers to enjoy over 75 slopes and trails, making a truly memorable trip to the mountains. In addition to fun on the slopes, Canaan Valley Resort offers a plethora of outdoor activities to whet an appetite for adventure. Cross-country terrain abounds in the valley, and guests without skis can choose to slide down the tube park, try their hands at airboarding or lace up their skates on the covered ice rink.

Hidden Valley Resort: Hidden Valley Four Seasons Resort is the perfect place for a family getaway. With 28 slopes for skiing and snowboarding, terrain parks, a half pipe and snow tubing, there's something for everyone at this popular Mid-Atlantic family resort. New automated snowmaking ensures plenty of powder for winter sports and recreation! Off the slopes, visit the new ski and board shop, new eateries, and sports club. With a topnotch ski school and programs for beginners and children, Hidden Valley offers an ideal setting for all ages. Located in Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands, Hidden Valley is within easy driving distance (200 miles) of Baltimore and Washington D.C. For lodging information or reservations, please call 814-443-8000 ext. 259.

Liberty Mountain Resort: Your favorite ski area, Liberty Mountain Resort, has the perfect accommodations for your year-round needs. Plan a conference, reunion, or every bride's dream wedding! We feature in-house catering and multiple banquet rooms to host any event from the smallest of gatherings to the largest of celebrations. Our New Challenge Course at Boulder Ridge is the perfect way to spend a few unique hours with your group! Our custom-designed courses meet any group's needs, from high to low impact, emphasizing problem solving or high adrenaline adventure! Meal and lodging options complete the experience. The mountainside Liberty Hotel is perfect for extended stays. Other amenities include our outdoor swimming pool, hiking, and adjacent golf and billiards facilities. Area attractions & shopping are less than 10 miles away in historic Gettysburg, and outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking the Appalachian Trail or Catoctin Mountain State Park.

Pro-Fit Ski & Skate: Located in historic Leesburg, Virginia, Pro-Fit Ski & Skate offers expert custom boot fitting services, full ski/snowboard service and repair, and an excellent selection of skis, bindings, snowboards, clothing and accessories, and more. We have been certified "America's Best" by the MasterFit University Bootfitter Training Centers. Wall to Wall Clearance Sale - May 16-26! Hockey - Ski - Snowboard. Up to 70% OFF on all remaining ski & snowboard equipment and clothing! Visit our website for more information.

Sawmill: Own the slopes. Sawmill is the first and only true ski-in/ski-out, gated community offering in Snowshoe, West Virginia, where a miracle microclimate produces snow that rivals Colorado's champagne powder. As unique as the four-season location is Sawmill's elegant vacation homes, customizable to your exact desires. This is an extremely rare opportunity to select from among a handful of sites and homes, starting at $750,000 in a community that can never again be duplicated. So call now at 877.372.9645 or visit us at Sawmillwv.com and make your reservation to own the slopes.

Snowshoe Mountain Resort: We've added 3 new trails plus we've got the best offer of the year! Get 2 nights lodging and 2 days skiing for just $105 per person. Available midweek, non-holiday. Call 1-877-441-4FUN to make your reservations.

Timberline Resort Realty: TIMBERLINE RESORT REALTY offers rustic to luxury vacation rentals and beautiful properties for sale throughout Canaan Valley, Tucker County and surrounding areas. Just visiting for a few days? Choose beautiful LODGING ACCOMMODATIONS from our website. Or, prefer to own a MOUNTAIN GETAWAY? Explore the endless possibilities.

Whitetail Resort: Head to Whitetail for some of the best skiing and riding in the mid Atlantic Region! Enjoy nearly 1,000 feet of vertical and the Region's only High Speed Quad Chairlift. Spend less time on the road and more time carving down some expert terrain like Bold Decision or intermediate favorites Limelight and Snow Dancer! Don't worry, there is plenty of fun to be had for all ability levels, and for freestylers be sure to check out Jib Junction Terrain Park (not for the faint of heart)! We even have Park Place 101 for the beginner freestyler! Don't forget about Whitetail Adventure Tubing, fun for all ages!

Wintergreen Resort: STAY 2 NIGHTS AND SKI FREE! Located 2 1/2 hours from the Beltway, Wintergreen Resort boasts the most thrilling winter playground in the Mid-Atlantic. Nestled atop the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, Wintergreen Resort offers the most extensive beginner-to-expert terrain for skier and snowboarders alike and Virginia's largest tubing park. Call 1-800-266-2444 to learn how you can Stay 2 Nights and Ski FREE!

Wisp Resort: Wisp offers thirty-two slopes on 132 acres of skiable terrain that includes a new Super Pipe, two Rail Parks, Terrain Trails and Gardens and a new ski carpet at Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park. Maryland's only four-season resort also features new Burton Learn-to-Ride Programs for adults & kids, an upgraded ski & snowboard rental fleet from Rossignol, Elan and Burton, a Nordic Center featuring cross country skiing and snowshoeing and Sewickley Spa. Plus, Wisp has events all season long including the Freestyle Festival & Beachin' Weekend. Ski Free Packages and slopeside lodging are available at the remodeled Wisp Resort Hotel.
Wisp Resort
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