I don't know if anyone here remembers, but when Wisp first built the Main Street trail, the ski maps for that area showed no less than two or three additional runs there, mostly on the lefthand side (if you're looking up the mountain), and Main Street was supposed to be extended futher up the hill. The first time I went there after Main Street was opened- in high school- I kept looking to see where exactly the runs would go. Even at that time it was difficult to figure out how to wedge a run inbetween all those condos.

Either Wisp figured that condos and new homes were more profitable and decided to go with those instead of the ski runs, or they never really intended to build those ski runs in the first place. It leaves me a little suspicious as to what we're actually going to get with the new terrain.

My most vivid memory of Wisp came a couple winters ago, when unloading at the top of the mountain there was a HUGE poster advertising... their terrain? No. Skiers safety code? No. A new real estate purchase opportunity? YES. That got me thinking that Wisp- and probably other mid-Atlantic resorts- value skiing as just one amenity to attract people to what is more or less a planned development. Most resorts at least have the decency to pretend otherwise... not here!

Roger, Most other resorts don't have the summer get away mecca that is deep creek lake. I am convinced that you are correct and that skiing is just one more part of their bag of tricks rather than the whole bag. Still, I guess I have a nostalgic link with wisp (like yours with cannnan) and I usually go one weekend a season. I am curious about what this expansion is goign to be as well. It looks pretty small on their trail map.

Wisp was the first place I actually boarded a ski area. I learned one day at 7 springs but wasn't really good enough to move around the mountain. I guess I just kind of overlooked all of the flat areas. Since that was my first experience I guess I accepted it as the norm.

Here are some of the flats I've noticed but always just accepted there.

1. All of the trails that lead from the top to Boulder basically have a long flat before the sharp left hand turn back down the mountain. I've pushed many times here.

2. At the bottom of Boulder, if Chair 1 isn't open you have to find a way to make it all the way back over to the squirel cage chairs. I think I may have actually made it all the way over once without unstrapping but it was through a maze of beginners and involved alot of praying, leaning, and some parachuting using my coat.

3. Down Under has that wonderful traverse through the tunnel that every rental board user has to push through.

4. Possum is basically a short Salamander. You can make it pretty easy through here but when a beginner falls at the right spot they're pushin it.

5. Top of Squirel cage and Face.

The new mid stations being both set up at the top of all of the blues is great in my opinion. The old setup left them running only the riders left chair that let you off at the top of Face during the mid week. In order to get to the blue runs at the current mid stations you had to push forever from the peak down every weekday. Now, unless there is a ton of powder you can usually fly down Randals Run and either make it to the headwall or come really close to the headwall of Face/Squirel. The old station let you off a good ways from the headwall and you still had to push all the way to the headwall.

The chair 5 and 4 combo necessary to get from Main Street back to the summit is a necessary evil I guess. I wish you didn't have to push so far to get from the top of 5 to the entrance to 4. Thats another anoying traverse. I wonder why there is never a turn in a chirlift. For instance, why don't they have a midstation at the top of main street and then have the lift do a 90 degree turn and continue on over to the summit. They could eliminate one drive motor, 1 loading station with employees, and that terrible traverse. It'd also make it more reasonable to make Odin's Chute, Eye Opener, and Down Under laps. Now its just too annoying to do regularly. Me and my friends actually used to use a cutoff from Odins Chute to Boulder so we could run that run (which is quite nice, and just catch one lift back to the top of Odin. then again, if Chair 1 isn't open you have to traverse, lada lada lada.

The bottom line is, this place is a blast for its size and price. The traverses are quite annoying but just wax up that board and keep the speed for the traverses and you'll probably be fine, unless theres 12" everywhere. Then you'll have to work hard but you'll still be grinning ear to ear when you finally get to Devils Drop

My wife just read this and says I should just let the post stand so that maybe it'll keep people away ...especially all those blasted snowboarders