Frigid Temperatures Settle over Region

Snowshoe is at 100%. West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort received 10 inches of natural snow over the past week, and has added to it with plenty of snowmaking. The resort now has 100% of its terrain open with packed powder conditions and an average base of 30-50 inches. Photo provided by Snowshoe Mountain Resort.

Cold, thaw, cold. That’s a cycle which is all too familiar to Mid-Atlantic winter sports enthusiasts, and sometimes the thermometer can bounce from one extreme to the other. After a stretch of warm temperatures in early January, the mercury dipped well below freezing over the past week. Resorts which had suffered from a drawn-out melt quickly sprang into action and fired up the snowguns, running them around the clock all last week.

A few days of snowmaking can make quite a large difference, as recent visitors to Mid-Atlantic resorts discovered. Resorts faced crowds over the past weekend as skiers and boarders flocked to the slopes. Base depths are back up, some resorts already have 100% of their terrain open, and the rest are zeroing in on that goal. With cold temperatures set to persist throughout the upcoming week, snowmaking will continue. Many resorts are now focusing snowmaking on trails which are not yet open, but it’s still wise to bring goggles and check with the resort before visiting.

Connie Lawn’s Notes from Whitetail - Thursday, January 8

Into the swirling slopes of snowguns, snowboards, and skis. That was Whitetail on Thursday, January 8. The good news is, the slopes are back! Whitetail had the blowers going full blast on most slopes. That must have cost a pretty penny. But, the slopes which had been bare a few days before, due to the thaw, were covered. They were also well groomed, with actual powder in some areas.

It is so weird to be skiing in a mini blizzard, which is what happens when you ski through snow blowers. Across the road, the fields were brown and dry. On Thursday, the runs were incredible, even with the machines in operation. The ones I found to be in best condition were Angel Drop, Drop In, and Exhibition. Since Thursday, Whitetail has opened Bold Decision and Fallmount. Far Side is set to open on Monday, and Whitetail should open its final three trails within the next several days, reaching 100%.

It is a shame the thaw occurred when it did. It interfered with the plans of many over the Holidays and during Thursday’s “Learn to Ski and Board Day.” But, there are many more events and holidays approaching, and a few three day weekends coming up. Again, I am a big fan of half day and twilight skiing, which you can do in our wonderful local areas. Forget about the lousy Washington-area drivers - go play in the snow!

- Submitted by Connie Lawn

Canaan Valley Resort to host Winter Games Competition

On January 24, 2004, West Virginia’s Canaan Valley Resort will be sponsoring an on-slope “Winter Games Celebration,” including team and individual games such as Snow Volleyball, Snow Flag Football, a Canaan Valley Resort Trivia Challenge, Snow Castle Contest, Mug Relay Race, Frozen T-Shirt Contest, Ice Cream Eating Contest, and more.

“Some call this crazy, some call it weird, but we call it fun,” said Chuck Trader, Managing Director for Canaan Valley Resort. “The Winter Games competition is an opportunity for friends and family to come together, work as a team and have a great time in the snow.”

For additional information on the event, contact the resort at 800-622-4121 or visit www.canaanresort.com.