How is that Liberty, Whitetail and Massanutten are 100% open (or will be tomorrow) and CV and Timberline are only around half open? Is it a dollar issue, they can't afford to blow? Don't have the water? Something else? Seems odd given the season total snowfall and bases the WV resorts are reporting...
Some of the resorts, particularly Whitetail, have much greater snowmaking capacity than Timberline. The other factor is a difference in snowmaking strategy. Many of the resorts get as many runs open as possible which often translates in opening trails on a skinny base hoping that a warm weather spell doesn't hit which would wipe out the trail. Timberline blows an incredibly deep base before they will open a trail and then move the guns to the next trail. As a result it takes them longer to open a trail but they almost never lose a trail to weather once they open.
I was wondering the same. Timberline barely has anything but its beginner slopes open. I'll wait to head out that way until they get more open.
Actually, Timberline has Off the Wall (Expert) and Whitelighting (Expert) open which is pretty much half of their expert runs. Almost Heaven is opening today and Dew Drop is open which is pretty much half of their intermediate runs and Salamander is open which is the main beginner run. So there is plenty of terrain and almost a foot of natural snow. Plus minimal lines.
I honestly don't know Timberline that well, but according to their report, the four trails you mention constitute 4 out of 23 of their intermediate/advanced/expert slopes. I know some of those 23 aren't much of anything, but in my mind, that doesn't equal half. I'll wait until later in the season if they're charging full price.
TomH wrote:
Some of the resorts, particularly Whitetail, have much greater snowmaking capacity than Timberline. The other factor is a difference in snowmaking strategy. Many of the resorts get as many runs open as possible which often translates in opening trails on a skinny base hoping that a warm weather spell doesn't hit which would wipe out the trail. Timberline blows an incredibly deep base before they will open a trail and then move the guns to the next trail. As a result it takes them longer to open a trail but they almost never lose a trail to weather once they open.
Ahhh... very interesting and definitely true of the Snow Time resorts... gotta love the the pros and cons of Mid-Atlantic skiing!
Not counting the glades, there are essentially 8 trails available from the top of Timberline, not counting salamander:
The Drop, Off The Wall, White Lightening/Silver Streak, Thunderdraft, Tunderstruck, Almost Heaven, Dew Drop, Twister.
Of these 8, 4 are open (counting Almost Heaven). Granted, the lower part of some of these are not open, but the upper parts are more interesting anyway.
Of course, this does not count the glades, which are a big part of the TL experience and which I imagine are not open yet. I only get to make it out to the valley a couple times a year so I tend to wait until they are more fully open. But I would still say that only skiing OTW, WL, AH, and DD on fresh snow would compare favorably to most other ski days in the Mid-Atlantic.
Until the most recent cold spell the snow time resorts were also just building bases on a core set of trails. The snowmaking capacity they have is just quite high. One year I was there the night whitetail started making snow on limelight (it was grass when we got there) and then 36 hours later the trail was open with full coverage. The new Snowmakers whitetail installed on angel drop this year are impressive .
The snow time resorts invest a ton of money and snowmaking and it shows.
RodneyBD wrote:
TomH wrote:
Some of the resorts, particularly Whitetail, have much greater snowmaking capacity than Timberline. The other factor is a difference in snowmaking strategy. Many of the resorts get as many runs open as possible which often translates in opening trails on a skinny base hoping that a warm weather spell doesn't hit which would wipe out the trail. Timberline blows an incredibly deep base before they will open a trail and then move the guns to the next trail. As a result it takes them longer to open a trail but they almost never lose a trail to weather once they open.
Ahhh... very interesting and definitely true of the Snow Time resorts... gotta love the the pros and cons of Mid-Atlantic skiing!
Whitetail's Snowmaking is truly state of the art plus most of them are on permanent towers (maybe all of them). Timberline on the other hand has to move many of their snow guns which probably has alot to do with how they open runs. They have six new guns but nothing compared to Whitetail. WGO is right on target regarding the slopes that are open and how that relates to the relevant terrain. I'm sure Whitetail has more acreage open ( and will have many more skiers this weekend). Since Timberline has OTW open with lots of huge whales they probably have the most interesting advanced terrain open. They also have the most fresh. Some limited tree skiing possible on slopes with lots of fill in from snow making but you would have to not care about your skis or your body in my opinion. Now it is just time to go skiing which is what I'm about to do in the next 30 minutes!
Does Timberline still have the zipline? They seemed to push that for almost a year, but I have not heard about it for a while. That is worth at least two top to bottom trails not being open.
Hi All,
My friends and I are looking to make a day trip tomorrow to either CV/Timberline or Blue Knob. We've been to all 3 and love them all but any insight as to which one might have the best conditions? From tracking the snow this week it looks like CV/Tline probably received more snow than BK did but not positive. I realize they all have ski reports but hoping someone might have a first hand account to help us nail down our decision.
Cheers!
TerpSkier wrote:
Hi All,
My friends and I are looking to make a day trip tomorrow to either CV/Timberline or Blue Knob. We've been to all 3 and love them all but any insight as to which one might have the best conditions? From tracking the snow this week it looks like CV/Tline probably received more snow than BK did but not positive. I realize they all have ski reports but hoping someone might have a first hand account to help us nail down our decision.
Cheers!
If you want to know what I'd do, I'll be at Timberline tomorrow. It's going to be cold, but the best day for me. I'll be in a bright orange jacket, silver helmet, and black pants. Give me a yell if you see me.
David wrote:
TerpSkier wrote:
Hi All,
My friends and I are looking to make a day trip tomorrow to either CV/Timberline or Blue Knob. We've been to all 3 and love them all but any insight as to which one might have the best conditions? From tracking the snow this week it looks like CV/Tline probably received more snow than BK did but not positive. I realize they all have ski reports but hoping someone might have a first hand account to help us nail down our decision.
Cheers!
If you want to know what I'd do, I'll be at Timberline tomorrow. It's going to be cold, but the best day for me. I'll be in a bright orange jacket, silver helmet, and black pants. Give me a yell if you see me.
You'll meet him since he'll run into you (literally) on the slopes. Unless you are quick on your feet and always looking uphill.
David wrote:
If you want to know what I'd do, I'll be at Timberline tomorrow. It's going to be cold, but the best day for me. I'll be in a bright orange jacket, silver helmet, and black pants. Give me a yell if you see me.
Yes too cold for lifts! Better grab your xc ski's and ski off into the woods and be warm :)
chaga wrote:
Yes too cold for lifts! Better grab your xc ski's and ski off into the woods and be warm :)
Good advice. When its cold enough you dont want to be up in the breeze on a lift. A backcountry climb is good for both the soul and the internal engine. Theres a lot less wind on the surface and climbing, as opposed to sitting, generates a lot of body heat.
Easy, the resorts you mentioned have powerful large modern snowmaking capabilities...timberline does not.
TomH wrote:
Some of the resorts, particularly Whitetail, have much greater snowmaking capacity than Timberline. The other factor is a difference in snowmaking strategy. Many of the resorts get as many runs open as possible which often translates in opening trails on a skinny base hoping that a warm weather spell doesn't hit which would wipe out the trail. Timberline blows an incredibly deep base before they will open a trail and then move the guns to the next trail. As a result it takes them longer to open a trail but they almost never lose a trail to weather once they open.
Plus lots of leaks in their snow making pipes this year...
Already Lower Thunder out for the season wrt snow making. Hopefully The Drop is ok.
In the next ten years whitetail will have to change out their techno alpin's. Plastic does not belong in snowmaking. Why have the wizzards survived for 20+ years? METAL! They should of put some SMI'S or hkd
