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So this was the year I finally made it out to Canaan Valley for two weekends. I found myself really liking Canaan Valley Resort with it's combination of good snow, low prices, and no crowds. But at the same time it clearly is not what it could be. After skiing around the mountain, what immediately struck me was that it would be so much better with a lift running from the bottom to the top of Dark Side of the Moon and with Prosperity open to the bottom and the tubing hill moved ANYWHERE else. Dark Side is one of the best trails But it takes forever to get back. Prosperity looks like it would be just as good, but the bulk of it is closed. What a waste. It could even be done by extending the beginner lift and making the current top a midstation.
What do the rest of you who spend a lot more time there than I do think?
Also, do they usually let Gravity bump up? Both times I was there it had proto-bumps on it and there wasn't anywhere to compete with The Drop and Off the Wall next door.
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Perfect condition. This is a one ski quiver...do your research...killer for spring skiing even out west, and best offer above $300 gets em.
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We are tossing around the idea of a weekend with relatives at Massanutten 3/19-3/21. I'm pretty conflicted right now. I would love another day on the snow, and I know my son would too. And I feel like the base is decent enough to last, but what do you think conditions will really be like with temps not forecasted to get below freezing between now and then? Riding in a 60-degree slush fest doesn't sound that appealing to me.
I did notice that a lot of low season rental rates just got extended from after the 2nd weekend in March (this weekend) to the end of the month. I understand they want to make more money while conditions last, but its almost another reason not to go.
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The post on used skis got me thinking : Do the skis make the skier or the skier make the skis?
I am of the opinion that it is much more about the skier than the equipment. A good skier should be able to ski on any kind of sticks in any conditions. Better skis will only make the skier marginally better and unless you’re a pro or ski daily you really will not notice.
Sure, rocking 1970's gear will effect your ability. Moreover badly tuned skis will slow you down and straight sticks are harder to turn than hour glass, but skier ability and attitude can make up for it all.
To paraphrase the former SECDEF " You ski the hill with the ski's you have, not the ski's you want" .
Bottom line : Stop you whinnying and JUST GO SKI!!
Your thoughts?
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Slow end of one season (best part and best skiing IMHO) and start of the next. Hope springs eternal.
Besides Ovie and the boys, another reason for excitement in DC sports.
Jesus Strasburg. The Real Deal? (Tom Boswell is one of the best baseball writers in the country. We're lucky to have him as our local columnist.)
Throw in March Madness and St. Patty's Day, and March rocks!
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Here is the gist of an email I received today. Lots of free skiing to be had in late season. Check out the Snowshoe website.
The Colonel 
March 9, 2010
Ski Free!
Experience the best conditions in our history and SKI FREE in the extended season when you stay 2 or more nights.
Click for more details...
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March Packages
Lift and Lodging packages start at just $138 per person per night!
Find out more...
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Kids Ski Free!
Your kids will ski FREE this month when you book a 3 or more night lift/lodging package.
More information
Kids Programs at Snowshoe
IN THE NEWS
Season Pass Savings
Snow Report
Vacation Tips
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Either yesterday or today there was a great article about a fellow in Md. making a living selling used ski equipment via the web...Anybody else catch it?
The Colonel
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http://www.dcski.com/articles/view_article.php?article_id=1248&mode=headlines
Just wanted to make sure all saw this great article/photos/video about the late Feb DCSki gathering at Blue Knob. Thanks to Vince Kenney, Jim K, and Rob Davis. What a great weekend - wonderful skiing and riding, wonderful folks. Near 24 participated, hope to get even more next year.
One thing that really helped folks connect with one another out on the slopes was the wearing of yellow plastic ribbons attached to our gloves or poles. Jimmy brought the ribbon and whenever you saw someone with "flowing yellow ribbons" you knew it was one of us!
The Colonel
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7S was awesome yesterday. Blue skies and great snow. 7S has terrain open for everyone. They had 5 terrain parks, 2 half pipes, and at least 8 bump runs open for your enjoyment. The trees was still had some untracked snow, but a majority of the woods had soft packed powder bumps in them. Even with the warm weather, I was amazed that a majority of the snow remained packed powder and never really turned to granular. For a Monday, I was surprised how many people were there (don't these people have jobs), there were no liftlines, but there were lots of people at the Foggy Goggle. 7S is in great condition, I highly recommend going there while the gettings still good.
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On March 6, "AJ" posted the following comments in the "Recent Comments" section under the "Community" chapter in DCSki. I wish to address the comments here, where more DCSkiers and Wintergreen managers might see them and provide their point-of-view.
The post follows:
"Comments on Wintergreen - Not so minty fresh... - posted by AJ
March 6 at 7:42 pm
Not so minty fresh... Unfortunately, I would have to rate Wintergreen as my most disappointing ski experience. The lift line management was unbelievably poor resulting in waiting in line for an hour to get the lift just prior to the 4pm closure of the black diamond skiing areas. There was almost a riot!
I will never go there again."
I could not ascertain what Wintergreen article is referenced, nor find "AJ" on the list of DCSki members. Nor was I at Wintergreen the 6th of March (when I assume he was), but I was there with my kids and my grandkids the previous weekend (Feb. 26-28) when the resort was "sold out" and quite crowded, possibly more crowded than the March 6th weekend. I too experienced large lift lines, especially at the Blue Ridge Express and Big Acorn quad chairs. The lift lines at the Highlands Express, serving the expert section were never real large. I thought Wintergreen did an admirable job of managing the lines for the Big Acorn and Blue Ridge Express, with a multitude of employees working the lines and moving them along fairly. However, at the Highland Express, on Feb. 27, I encountered an employee charged with managing the less than 5 minute line not paying full attention to the task at hand. Around 11:00, she was much more interested in taking photos and chatting with her Wintergreen "friends", ski patrollers, etc. at the skiers left upslope of the corral than keeping up with line management. On a number of occasions she had to quickly move folks from the outside (upslope) lines quickly to the chair loading area without going fairly from each of the 6-8 assembled lines. This caused some grumbling and muttering, and a couple of folks broke line when she continued to carry on her conversations and allow the upslope line to move to the loading area without calling for the down slope lines to do likewise, in logical order. Not a giant problem, but one that management should check and prevent a repeat, as some might not be as patient as I. If the lady mentioned above was working the huge line at the Blue Ridge Express (about 20+ minutes), I could see how a riot might gain momentum.
To the larger issue of having enough lifts at Wintergreen. Depends on the day, conditions, etc. Perhaps a high speed lift might help with the Big Acorn fixed quad crowd, but I am not sure whether this would cause overcrowding on the 5 runs off of this lift. Wintergreen is quite popular, and unlike CV, Timberline and Snowshoe, close to major population centers. With the great snow and conditions this winter, I suspect they might well set an attendance record, assuming the weekend snowfalls did not keep too many skiers/riders away due to road conditions. Should they limit ticket sales?, not many resorts really do this, especially hard to manage when the resort is an hour drive from several large cities.
Wintergreen is a great resort, with first class amenities and restaurants. The segregation of their "most difficult" slopes is unique in this area, and makes for only rare crowding on the Highlands slopes. Give it another chance before deciding never to return.
The Colonel
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