Does anyone know if Timberline is making any features on the Lower Dew Drop terrain park? Does anyone know why they filled in the half pipe? I know it was a sorry excuse for a pipe, but it kept a lot of folks entertained not only building, but taking jumps, and that always kept the lift ride a little more entertaining. Was it liability issues, or are they going to make some terrain park features there now too?

Also, the website says they are blowing snow on Off the Wall...Can't they also make snow on The Drop? Does anyone know if they are?

I think they are going to start building features on Lower Dew this week. They filled in the halfpipe because is was little more than a ditch and they are planning on putting a second park in its location. They are making snow on OTW and not the Drop because OTW has fixed snowmaking. They have to use moveable guns on the Drop which are now being used all over the mountain to build up the base that was lost during last week's warm temps.

If Timberline had rails, I'd go there over any other resort in WV. Let's face it, they've got small crowds, great terrain, awesome snowfall amounts, and generally pretty good service. You don't get a whole lot better anywhere else.

Come on, they've got a perfect place to put in some rails. Right under that lift where the halfpipe used to be. It's the perfect gradient, and has great spectator action. Heck, I'd personally go up there and help them put rails in for no cost at all. Rails require a lot less snowmaking to be open, you could have them open by Christmas week.

I know they're a tad bit expensive, and I would NOT recommend they weld their own (seriously, no joking), but you could get a pretty good rail park going for under $5,000. A nice 20' flat rail, 20-30' flat-down rail, 15' A-Frame, 30' rainbow, then some smaller rails: 10' and 15' flat rails... all of these flatbars minus the rainbow rail. There's actually company that sells packages of rails to sites, ships them out with everything but skirting.

Come on Timberline, get with it!

Canaanman:

I couldn't agree with you more and I'm not a park rat. Timberline needs to do more with it's terrain park. I'd like to see rails and I'd also like to see them invest in a pipe groomer.

This weekend, btw, was a perfect example of small crowds. The place was a ghost town. Some of the race team kids set up a mock downhill course on White Lightning.

Also, I noticed some snowboarders doing that low carving deal. Very cool....

Canaanman:

Who sells rails? Just curious. Would be cool to see what they cost. With all the body shops and with the number of Arc welders in WV I can't imagine that they couldn't find someone to make some rails for the snowboarders to play on. Last year, Lower Dew drop had a lot of features, albeit not rails, but they had ramps and the like. I think the thaw prevented them from even getting around to that level of snowmaking.

There are companies that sell rails... prices are higher than some would expect. But I'd rather have them spend the money than get the made by non-professionals (or they could consult with Canaan or Snowshoe, both of which have rails).

Rail Makers:
http://www.heinetools.com/ (most expensive I've come across, but they're Hood-approved)

http://www.railbuilders.com (where Snowshoe gets theirs made)

http://www.fallline.com (sells RailBuilders rails)
Direct Link: http://www.fallline.com/ski/terrainparkmain.html

http://www.bluejayrails.com (another company, not nearly as awesome as RailBuilders).

Rails wouldn't be very difficult to manufacture. Buy several hundred feet of steel tubing, cut to various lengths, and weld on bases.