The 2002-2003 winter season in the Mid-Atlantic is headed for the history books as a banner season. Consistent cold temperatures and natural snow (with more on the way this weekend) have resulted in excellent conditions at local resorts, with great conditions stretching back all the way to late November.

The snow has been piling up at West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort. Photo provided by Snowshoe Mountain Resort.

“Since November 16 when Mountain Operations began snowmaking for the season, [Snowshoe] has only experienced six nights when the temperature has reached over the freezing mark,” remarked Joe Stevens, Communications Director of Snowshoe Mountain Resort.

Snowshoe currently has an 80-100 inch base and plans to make snow only at night for the remainder of the season. Snowshoe has received over a dozen feet of natural snow over the season, much of it still on the ground, resulting in good conditions for nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Most resorts, like Snowshoe, have had 100% of their terrain open since January.

A number of events are planned at local resorts, including the 6th annual Wild Thing Weekend, which will be held Saturday, February 22 at West Virginia’s Canaan Valley Resort. The event is being billed as a family-oriented “Mardi Gras on Snow.”

“It seems that folks start to get a touch of cabin fever at this point in the winter,” commented Chuck Trader, Managing Director for the resort. “Wild Thing Weekend is an opportunity to get outdoors and have fun with the family.”

The event will include scavenger hunts, kid races, big air contests, multiple themed ski and snowboard races, costumed skiing, and a “pond jump” across a frigid pool of water.

“Making it across the pond without getting wet has is quite difficult,” said Trader, “and because of that it has become a real crowd pleaser.”

The day’s festivities will close with a torchlight parade down the mountain. For more information on the event or to make reservations, contact Canaan Valley Resort at (800) 622-4121 or visit www.canaanresort.com.

Maryland’s Wisp at Deep Creek Mountain Resort has its own festivities planned, with the annual Winterblast Celebration expanding from its normal three days to a full week. Winterblast will run from March 1 through March 9 with a number of events including the Maryland Governor’s Cup, Pee Wee Racing, the Cardboard Box Derby, Downhill and Biker Cross Snow Races, and more. The Inaugural Wisp Winter Triathlon, to be held on Sunday, March 2, will be a unique adventure combining mountain biking, running and skiing through snowy trails, along with a snow tube down the mountain after every leg.

On March 4, the chefs at Wisp will face off with area chefs in a Gumbo cook-off with live music. Many other events are planned for the week; for more information, contact Wisp at (301) 387-4911 or visit www.skiwisp.com.