I went to Ski Liberty with a friend and my two younger children on Sunday, March 5, 2000. Liberty is still almost 100% open. They apparently had a great season for snowmaking. Despite the above average temperatures our region has had since mid-February there were only a couple of short trails closed on the back side. However, there are some bare spots and given the forecast for more warm days this week “you better get it ‘cause it’s going fast.”
This was my first visit to Ski Liberty in 6 or 8 years. I used to ski there more often in the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s as a kid when the area was known as Charnita. For a mountain with only 600’ of vertical, Liberty knows how to make the most of it. Yesterday over a dozen trails were still open, certainly enough terrain to keep my group busy for a day checking it all out. We had a very good day of sunny spring skiing. Temps were close to 70 degrees. I forgot the sunscreen, so we all have the raccoon look today. The snow was a little like mashed potatoes when we started, but it seemed to get a little quicker as the day went on and skiers scrapped off some of the slush and exposed the harder surface underneath. There were people on the mountain, but not enough to cause any real lift lines.
Lift rates usually come down (although not yet at Liberty).
They start cooking food on outside grills and broadcasting Jimmy Buffet music and everyone generally gets in a party mood.
When you pass the ski area’s golf course at 9am and the place is mobbed you know the crowds on the slope are going to be minimal.
Everybody between 15-30 can wear t-shirts and get soaking wet without freezing.
Snowboarders have a lot more fun with slush than ice.
Skiers have a lot more fun with soft and forgiving bumps.
Did I say small crowds?
The babes shed several outer layers of clothing.
It beats spring cleaning at home while waiting for the NCAA March Madness B-Ball tourney to start.
An ice cold après-ski beer tastes a whole lot better when the air temps are 70 degrees.
Husband, father and retired civilian employee of the Department of Navy, Jim Kenney is a D.C. area native and has been skiing recreationally since 1967. Jim's ski reporting garnered the 2009 West Virginia Division of Tourism's Stars of the Industry Award for Best Web/Internet/E-Magazine Article.
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