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Early Snow Provides Hint of Strong Ski Season
By M. Scott Smith, DCSki Editor

November 1, 2008 —

In this campaign season, voters may have been wary of an “October Surprise,” but mid-Atlantic skiers and boarders were treated to an October Surprise that they probably have no quarrel with. During late October, nearly a foot of snow fell over the higher elevations of West Virginia, and some Pennsylvania ski areas also reported receiving their first dusting of snow. The natural snowfall allowed cross country skiers to get an early season start at the White Grass Touring Center near Canaan Valley, and even allowed North Carolina’s Cataloochee Ski Area to open two slopes for downhill skiing on October 28. And cold weather also allowed Snowshoe Mountain Resort to fire up its snowguns.

“Our snowmakers are reporting the guns have put out something like 4-5 feet of snow since Monday,” October 27, 2008, said Snowshoe’s Laura Parquette, although she noted a lot had been blown around.

Snowshoe planned to make snow through today, November 1, when temperatures were expected to rise. Snowshoe will be making snow throughout November whenever temperatures allow. Snowshoe traditionally aims to open slopes before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Kudos go to North Carolina’s Cataloochee Ski Area, which snagged one of the earliest opening dates in the nation when it opened two beginner trails for downhill skiing on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 1 p.m., thanks to a concerted snowmaking effort. This was the first time Cataloochee had made snow in October. Cataloochee remains open this weekend, but will not be offering skiing from November 3-7.

Related Links:

• Elk River Touring Center
• White Grass Ski Touring Center
• Cataloochee Ski Area
• Snowshoe Mountain Resort

Related DCSki Stories:

Firsthand Report: Snowshoe in the Rain (January 22)
Can skiing in the pelting rain at Snowshoe be fun? If you’re DCSki Columnist Matthew Graham, it sure can be. He describes his recent rainy adventure in this Firsthand Report.
(1 reader comment)

Firsthand Report: Snowshoe Mountain Resort (January 13)
Connie Lawn and Charles Sneiderman spent the weekend at West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort. They filed this Firsthand Report.
(7 reader comments)

Mid-Atlantic Ski Season Gains Momentum (December 27, 2012)
A shot of cold air and some natural snow has helped launch the 2012-2013 winter season in a big way. Find out the status of Mid-Atlantic ski areas.

The Weekly Altitude (November 25, 2012)
The Weekly Altitude provides a look at what’s happening in the Mid-Atlantic ski and snowboard scene. In this weeks issue: Ready, Set, Fire the Snowguns!; Kickstarter Project aims to develop Adventure Case for iPhone; North Carolina Ski Areas Association Offers “Gold Cards.”

Great Glades Almighty! (November 12, 2012)
What’s so great about glade skiing? Is it the adrenaline rush of a high speed slalom through the trees or maybe the seductive siren song of better, softer snow? DCSki Columnist Jim Kenney explores this question, while sharing his own favorite glades.

Firsthand Report and Top Five Tips: Snowshoe Mountain Resort (February 5, 2012)
DCSki Columnist Matthew Graham recently visited West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort, finding some of the snow that may have been missing this mild winter. Matthew provides five key tips for maximizing your time on the slopes at Snowshoe.
(3 reader comments)

Snow and Cold Push Opening Dates within Reach (December 7, 2011)
Mother Nature has been keeping the cold to herself so far this winter, but the arrival of snow on Wednesday has many local resorts pushing to open for the season in the next week or two.
(1 reader comment)

Skiing Opportunities for Thanksgiving (Updated) (November 20, 2011)
Want some skiing to go with your turkey on Thanksgiving day? At least two mid-Atlantic resorts are willing to oblige.
(1 reader comment)

What’s New for 2011: Snowshoe Mountain Resort (October 29, 2011)
Snowshoe Mountain Resort has made a number of enhancements for the 2011-2012 winter season.

West Virginia Resorts Offer Statewide Mountain Pass (October 22, 2011)
West Virginia ski areas have once again partnered to offer a statewide “Mountain Pass.”
(5 reader comments)

Lodging Near Snowshoe (extracted from the DCSki Lodging Finder):

• Chestnut Ridge Country Inn
• Elk River Inn and Restaurant

About the Author

M. Scott Smith is the founder and Editor of DCSki. Scott loves outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, kayaking, skiing, and mountain biking. He is an avid photographer and writer. To read other articles by Scott, click here.

 

 

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