Played hooky yesterday and bagged my first powder day of the year. Lots of great pics and supporting info here,
http://www.whitegrass.com/report.htmlwhich includes this thumbnail,
http://www.whitegrass.com/NewReport/DSC01244sm.jpg titled, Denis heading UP.
The morning was best and I got 3 runs on the open slope. After a long lunch and recuperation I decided to try for the National Nordic Reserve, a 4000'+ wonderland and a personal favorite in midwinter when it is easily accessed by a $5 single lift ride. Now however it is ~ 3 miles and 1200' of climb in the deep snow. No matter, I'd just take it slow with my old man's trudge, enjoy the scenery and see how far I could get. Above 4000' there was well over a foot of powder. I got to Bald Knob, whew - almost there - and pointed the skis east and downhill and just stopped. The snow was too deep to move and starting to set up as temps warmed. I turned around at that point; no sense going another 3/4 mile each way only to find more snow too deep to move. There was a set of tracks & nice turns, almost filled in now. Someone had gotten there when it was good. On the way back to Whitegrass I ran into Robert and the mystery was solved. Robert is the King of getting to the powder before you do. He has been doing it for years and is well known in the Canaan Valley. Lower down in Springer Orchard we found good powder and the kind of turns you dream about all summer. All in all a great day and only Dec. 5.
