You're right about the patience thing. Still, it's a killer having to stay home when Snowshoe is going to get such a beautiful dump. I guess we will just have to wait until the 15th ... we're up there for 4 days the weekend before xmas. Should be optimal conditions by then!

On an optimistic note, the NOAA forecast for CV looks pretty good:

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/ifps/MapClick.php?CityName=Davis&state=WV&site=PBZ

Significant lake effect could give them enough snow (along with what they make at night fron Tuesday onwards) to turn lemons into lemonade. Hard to say.

Thanks for the Wisp update Tommo. I'm basically scratching the Wisp idea based on your thoughts.

Well...If that forecast turns out to be accurate, Wisp may get the front face trails open by the weekend. It'd still just be 1/4 of the area, but you could at least make some decent turns.

As to the expansion, the lifts are complete, all the snowmaking wands are up, lights are in place, and the control vaults are being finalized. On the other hand, the slopes are still freshly graded and relatively little grass was able to take hold. So, until the ground freezes and they can build a significant base, the risk of sinking ankle deep into mud is a very real issue.

As to CV, I've never seen them open anything significant before Christmas week. The beginner's triangle and maybe part of valley view/the drop, would be quite an accomplishment for this weekend. But, then again....

Personally, I'd put my money on Whitegrass as having the best conditions by Saturday And that'd be a GREAT time, indeed!

Overall areas around the great lakes look to be getting a warmer than average winter which may make for some good lake effect. It could be a decent winter.

Looking at the dolly sod cam earlier today, looks like cv blew from the mid station down to the triangle, Tline was white on white lightning/ silver streak and the base up to the mid-station.

Hey Fred, looked like the rails are up .

Just for verification...CV will open Friday...

Hopefully with a foot of fresh sweetness...

CV's webpage says last 24 hours....10" of fresh...

Thanks Kris.

NOAA UPDATE looks encouraging (maybe 14 more inches with luck).

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/ifps/MapClick.php?CityName=Davis&state=WV&site=PBZ

John are you up in the Valley today? If so, what's the word on open trails for this weekend at CV? Also, since you are right there. How are the conditions at TLine? Any idea if they are trying to open early?

Rick:

No. I am in DC.

Timberline never opens early. Their opening date is the 8th and it's cast in stone.

As for CV, I have no idea. If they can open something significant, I may drive up this weekend. I also thought of coming up and day tripping to Wisp one day (probably Sunday). It's only an hour versus Snowshoe, which is two hours.

As KimW and other T-liners will tell you, T-line ain't the best when it comes to the early season. They basically don't care about it, so season pass holders usually end up commuting to other mountains during the first few weeks of the season. Some of us also ski WG, which is always fun when we get natural snow.

I know, they want a 3' base. I was being hopeful... I'm thinking the same thing about the weekend depending on CV. I think WISP would be a mad house, but so would the shoe. But, WISP probably has more people that are there for the holiday weekend with or without snow. I'm still waiting on the families skis to get tuned. Supposed to be ready today. Then again they awere supposed to be ready yesterday.... Good luck what ever you do.

If you havent already...check out the dolly sods cam...its awesome...

Dolly Sods

I'd be very suprised if Wisp is crowded at all. No one plans for ski trips in Novemmber, so the only folks who'll be skiing are people up there for the weekend who happen to be skiers and who feel like going out and a few day trippers. I'm sure there will be some folks, but I've never seen anything even approaching a crowd this early in the year.

As to conditions, Kennedy posted that Wisp is trying to open Face, SC, Wisp trail, and a couple of connecting runs. Those seem certain at this point, and I'm hoping for at least a couple more. Given that the weather looks perfect for snowmaking for the next several days, the opportunity to lay down a pretty good base is there. On the other hand, I'm sure it's a money losing proposition to make a whole lot of snow this early in the year - they won't be able to count on any heavy skier days until Xmas.... But, hey, it'll be skiing on TG weekend! What's not to like about that?

I've never experienced big crowds in the early season either. You have to be pretty dedicated to change your plans at the last moment and go skiing the weekend after Thanksgiving. I called Ski Center and my skis are ready. The car is in the garage right now and snow tires are being installed.

The snows ahve been on for 2 weeks. I am going home to change my oil, wiper blades, and put some rainx on the glass. Its nearly "Go Time"...

yep, looks like the plan is WhiteGrass fer sure. Maybe poach a run or two at CV or Tline depending on what I find....now just need to get home to pull the gear out and do the packing shuffle......

If you check out the snow pictures from Mon/Tue at CVR on their website, you'll notice they are blowing snow like gang busters on the green triangle. If CVR trail opening history is any indication, it's pretty much a given that the green triangle (Sissy Schuss, Bunny Buster & the "B" Slope) will certainly be open this weekend. Doesn't hold a lot of appeal for me unless they can drop their tickets to $10 or so. I'd be in. Even turns on a mild green is better than driving to the mad house that Snowshoe is going to be. And though it goes against some previous posts---I'm betting WISP will end up swamped as well. Holiday weekend with snow in the air. The Shoe and WISP are the only options for ski freaks. I expect them to be there en masse and with the limited trail openings, I'm betting on both resorts offering long lift lines and packed WRODs. For those of you making the trip to either, I hope I'm wrong---but I'll stick with CVR this weekend to be on the safe side. I might venture out to Wisp on the 12/3 & 12/4 weekend if reports from this Thangiving break come back positive and then back to Tline for their first weekend on 12/10 & 12/11. The greens at CVR can be a yawn but after 7 months without and a few stops in the pub, even Sissy Schuss can start looking like a killer midwest steep if the blood chemistry is right.
There is a ray of hope from what I could see. CVR also has their blowers going full tilt on the center blue/black mid-station combo (Valley Vista and The Face). If they can get these slopes open for the weekend that would certainly make things more interesting. This run can be a lot of fun with the right group. And again, at this stage of the game, I'd take a ten foot hill and some shaved ice. Given the forecast and assuming continued success with the guns, this mid-station opening is certainly possible with some artful grooming. Either way...I'll be at the CVR ticket window bright and early with the rest of the powder hounds.