The promise of late April snow in Dixie - a dyed in the wool New Yawkah - an unlikely confluence on Apr. 24, 2005. Dan Barron, the Teleyank, was lured from the creature comforts of his digs in Manhattan for a long drive through the wilds of PA, western MD and finally into the land where
Mountaineers are Always Free, West by God Virginia, a long way indeed from Riverside Drive on the upper west side. We met at a motel on I-68 on Sat. evening, shared a few libations and stories and awoke on Sun. morning to see a thin coating of new snow outside. Dan, the early riser, made a quick trip to his car and came back excited by a Temp. of 24 F and snow falling sideways. After a conservative 2 hr, drive we arrived at our goal, arranged packs and started climbing. The surface was 4" of new light powder over an old manmade glacier, frozen in suncups in the 3 weeks since the lifts closed. We were greeted at the top by this view of the valley.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39407.jpg

Several of the choices were blown off but White Lightning looked good. Here is is from just above the headwall.
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?picid=39408

Dan sprays some powder in late April,
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?picid=39409

Denis follows suit,
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?picid=39410

To the rest of you who never got to WV this year; eat your hearts out.
See you next year,
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?picid=39411

And here is Dan's version, a great job of writing in my opinion.
http://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0504d&L=skivt-l&D=1&O=D&F=&S=&P=11127

that is great stuff!!

"With each broad valley, winter's retreat takes a fiercer last stand." Telemark Dan

Denis, I've been curious lately about the "Why" of telemark..these pictures and trip report gotta be part of the answer.

Thanks

Denis,

Great pictures. As I stated before when you got your picture in the newspaper at MRG. "Your da Man"

I thought about going up to the valley on Monday, but work got in the way. On Sunday, I told my daughter who is 8 1/2 years old that T-line was going to get a foot of fresh. She said lets go. I told her that the lifts weren't running and that she'd have to hike to the top. She stated "I don't care, lets go" What a great attitude huh! She takes after her mother.

SCWVA,

Your daughter was right. They got an official 10" by the time it stopped snowing yesterday morning. Chip posted a short video of the skiing on his Whitegrass page today.
http://www.whitegrass.com/downloads/lateaprilslopexc.MPG

Shhh, Don't tell her that. I missed out.

I need to buy some AT gear to take advantage of days like this past Sunday/Monday.

I just took a job in Manhattan...

is it really worth the drive ALL the way back down to Timberline?

Good story!