Sure, we may already have a few veggie and flower seeds ordered looking ahead to the hot, sunny growing season but let’s revel in the frosty now.
Yes, revel in the steely cold icy embrace of Jack Frost for at least another couple months because it is indeed this shivering, solid block of cold temperatures in the mountains that makes West Virginia stand out head and shoulders above its Mid-Atlantic peers this time of year.
With five downhill ski resorts and some of the premiere cross-country meccas – in WhiteGrass and Elk River Touring – West Virginia is the first best skiing if you’re coming up from the South and the clusters of resorts in Canaan Valley – and then the posh mountain-top convenience of Snowshoe Mountain – helps lure in more than 850,000 ski visits a year, and rightfully so. Our outdoors – our skiing,whitewater rafting, rockclimbing and mountain biking – is our Disney World – the thing that people will come from all over and far away to come do.
Thank goodness that early unseasonably warm January temps have been replaced with a five-star frosty January finish leaving the state’s four largest resorts: Snowshoe Mountain, Timberline, Canaan Valley and Winterplace all sporting nearly 100 percent of terrain open. The blast of cold has also opened trails at the state’s smallest slopes, at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling. The blast of real winter has also provided some increasingly rare opportunities to enjoy: from sleigh rides at Snowshoe Mountain to winter wonderland tele, back-country and cross-country ski exploration all over White Grass.
Regardless of what our furry little groundhog friends, Buckeye Chuck (Ohio) and Punxatawney Phil (Pa.) say, French Creek Freddie, here in WV, knows that in the mountains winter is sure to stay for its measured time. Well, or at least, we pray, hold the slopes through most of March. And with the 2022 Winter Olympics going on in China, survey says more than a few folks will be inspired to grab their snowboards and skis for some gnarly freestyling and downhill runs or lace up their ice skates for a few spins.
Here’s just a few of the new things and upcoming events to check out this season on the slopes and at the resorts.
Figure Skating Performances at Canaan
Head over to the Canaan Resort Ice Rink as they will be hosting two performances by the Charleston Figure Skating Club. From 7 to 8 p.m,. Friday, Feb. 4 and noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5. And 7-8 p.m. Friday, March 4 and noon to 1 p.m., Saturday, March 5. Meet and skate with the performers after the shows. Email recreation manager, David Vance at [email protected] for more info.
Uphill Skiing at Silver Creek
Over at Silver Creek, which is always a great place to escape the main Snowshoe crowds, during night skiing, is now also opening some of its slopes to Uphill Skiing (tele, cross country and back-country skiing) for folks who want to earn those turns. Lift tickets are only $20. Click here to learn more … https://www.snowshoemtn.com/things-to-do/activities/uphill-skiing
Sleigh Rides at Snowshoe Mountain
If you love winter and snow and have never done a sleigh ride, treat yourself. Autumn Breeze Stables, which has guided horse rides during summer and fall at Snowshoe, has sleigh rides when the weather is permitting. Cost is $49 per person. Go online at https://www.wvtrailrides.com/ for more info. Go online at https://www.snowshoemtn.com/discover-snowshoe/discover-the-resort-winter? To learn more about other adventures at Snowshoe including snowmobiling, adventure dining and RZR Backcountry Tours.
Expanded Tubing At Canaan
WV has three great tubing parks. At Winterplace, Silver Creek (at Snowshoe Mountain), and at Canaan Resort, in addition to sledding at Blackwater Falls State Park. At Canaan Resort, which is celebrating its 50th year during the 2021-2022 season, they’ve expanded the snow tubing area to now have 17 lanes, added a second magic carpet lift, and are offering some of the longest tubing lanes in the Mid-Atlantic at 1,200 feet long. Go online at https://www.canaanresort.com/ski-winter-activities/snow-tubing/ to find out more about snow tubing, and be sure to check out some of the other cool winter activities there from snowshoe rentals and ice skating.
Canaan and Timberline Using RFID Passes
Last season as part of its $16 million makeover, Timberline Mountain unveiled its convenient Radio-frequency identification (RFID) ski pass that allows for contactless access to the slopes. Canaan has added the RFID-enabled ski pass as well making it easier to get onto the mountain with less hassle.Go online at https://www.canaanresort.com/ski-winter-activities/rfid-lift/ to find out more about the new Canaan system.
College Days at Timberline
The first weekends of February (4-6) and March (4-6) at Timberline are College Days. Present your current, valid college ID at the ticket window to receive special college pricing (tickets must be purchased in person and cannot be purchased in advance). Daily lift tickets are $55 for a single day or $50 each for 2-3 days; ski or snowboard rentals are $29 for a single day or $24 each for 2-3 days. Go online at www.timberlinemountain.com for more info.
Watch Ski Racing at Timberline
If the Olympics has got you jonesing to see some live ski racing you can head to Timberline Mountain on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 26-27, when Timberline Mountain is hosting the 2022 SARA (Southern Alpine Racing Association) Master’s Championships. Go online at https://saraski.org/ to find out more about SARA, the youth ski racing league affiliated with US Ski & Snowboard. Host mountains are located throughout VA, WV, and NC (members are welcome from any state).
Get Your Race On @ Snowshoe
Monday, Feb. 7, is the Cupp Run Challenge, a giant slalom race in Snowshoe’s epic Western Territory. The Berming Man Slalom Snowboard Race is set for Saturday, Feb. 26. Expect crazy costumes, steep banks, high speed and good times. And on March 5-6, for the first time in a decade, Snowshoe Mountain welcomes back the USASA boarder and skier cross races. And last but not least, the always wild pond skim championships to be held Saturday, March 19. Go online at https://www.snowshoemtn.com/things-to-do/events for more info.
