Old Man Winter continues to drop fresh snow for West Virginia Ski Resorts. All of the resorts including Canaan Valley and Timberline in Tucker County, Oglebay in Ohio County, Snowshoe in Pocahontas County and Winterplace in Raleigh County all received plenty of new snow and more is in the forecast from the storm that is blanketing the southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions this weekend. The natural snow has continued to improve the conditions at the state’s cross-country areas, White Grass Touring in Tucker County and Elk River Touring Center in Pocahontas County, both of which rely on natural snowfall.

The first weekend of February finds all of the state’s 166 trails open, the most of any state in the southeast or mid-Atlantic regions. “The only way to describe the conditions right now is perfect and and with cold temperatures in the near forecast the new snow isn’t going anywhere” says Terry Pfeiffer, President of the West Virginia Ski Areas Association. While the natural snow is always welcomed by the resorts, the consistent cold temperatures continue to allow the resorts’ snowmakers to work around the clock, adding to the slopes’ base depths to keep the slope conditions excellent into the spring.

 If you haven’t made any turns yet this season, there is no better time than right now.  If you are headed to any of West Virginia’s ski resorts, make sure to drive safely, give yourself plenty of time and enjoy your time on the slopes.

The mountains of West Virginia received an early Christmas present from Santa Claus as more than two feet of natural snow fell, blanketing the state’s ski resorts this weekend. From Winterplace Resort in southern West Virginia to Oglebay Resort in state’s northern section, an abundance of natural snow fell from Friday evening through Saturday night. The natural snow has also provided the season’s best conditions at the state’s cross-country areas, White Grass Touring in Tucker County and Elk River Touring Center in Pocahontas County

Since normal seasonal conditions returned this weekend, mountain operation staffs at Canaan Valley, Oglebay, Snowshoe Mountain, Timberline and Winterplace have opened 90 of the resorts’ combined 165 trails, the most of any state in the southeast or mid-Atlantic regions. “The snow storm was exactly what we needed with the busy Christmas season beginning this week,” says Terry Pfeiffer, President of the West Virginia Ski Areas Association. “The Department of Highway crews have done a great job in clearing the roads allowing skiers and snowboarders to safely arrive at the resorts across the state.” While the natural snow has been welcomed by the resorts, the corresponding cold temperatures have allowed the resort’s snowmakers to work around the clock, adding to the slope’s base depths.

Holiday reservations have been strong as the resorts are again projecting to experience over 200,000 skier visits during the next three weeks at the resorts. The ski and snowboard season traditionally, weather permitting, continues through early April. The five-month long ski season in West Virginia has an estimated economic impact of over $250 million and 5,000 jobs at the resorts and other related companies.

The mountains of West Virginia are expected received more natural snow this week, as two more resorts, Timberline and Canaan Valley in Tucker County open for the season last weekend. Snowshoe Mountain in Pocahontas County has been open since December 5 and is opening additional terrain daily. Winterplace in Raleigh County is making snow and is now scheduled to open this Friday, December 18, while Oglebay Resort in Ohio County is also making snow and will be opening as soon as possible.

The temperatures in the higher elevations have been good (off and on) for snowmaking operations recently, allowing West Virginia areas to provide the most open terrain in the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions . The snowmakers at all of the resorts began to work around the clock when temperatures dropped, allowing the industry’s unsung heroes to create the excellent early season conditions. When snowmaking conditions were at their best this week (in the low teens), over 10,000 tons of snow was being produced in West Virginia per hour, enough snow to cover 20 football fields with a foot of snow each hour. That’s a manmade blizzard for skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers to enjoy in the mountains of West Virginia. 

West Virginia’s five winter alpine and two nordic areas are preparing for the upcoming 2009/2010 season.  The mild temperatures this fall have create a few challenges for all of the resorts including, Timberline and Canaan Valley in Tucker County, Oglebay in Ohio County, Snowshoe in Pocahontas County and Winterplace in Raleigh County as the snowmakers at all of the resorts are just waiting for the temperatures to drop. 

This time last year the nordic areas had about two feet of snow on the ground giving cross country skiers and snowshoers very nice early season conditions at Whitegrass Touring in Tucker County and Elk River Touring in Pocahontas County.  This year Mother Nature has provided less than 10 inches of natural snow so far and all that is gone.

The good news is that temperatures are expected to drop beginning later this week as resorts make opening day preperations.  As it stands now, Snowshoe is scheduled to open December 4, Timberline December 10, Canaan Valley and Winterplace December 11 and Oglebay not long after.

When the temperatures finally drop, West Virginia snowmakers can generated a manmade blizzard on the slopes, producing 20,000 tons of snow per hour (when combining all five resort’s snowmaking efforts), that’s enough snow to cover 20 football fields with a foot of snow each hour.

The situation right now is that nobody that West Virginia competes against for skiers and snowboarders in the southeast are open, so all of the resorts from North Carolina to Maryland are facing the same weather challenges.

Think snow!

Visitors to West Virginia ski slopes continue to experience the best conditions in the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions with new snow this week and more to more. So far this season over 15 feet of snow has dropped in the mountains of West Virginia this season, including over a foot in the last week. The fresh snow and cold temperatures are helping the resorts to be 100 percent open as every trail in West Virginia is open right now. From Canaan Valley and Timberline in Tucker County to Snowshoe Mountain in Pocahontas County to Winterplace in Raleigh County and over to Oglebay in Ohio County the slopes are in great shape for skiers and snowboarders that can take advantage of this week’s snowfall. 

Some snowmaking continues throughout adding to the natural snows as some the resorts are experiencing the best conditions in recent seasons.. Right now if you take in account all of the resorts snowmaking efforts, over 20,000 tons of snow is being produced per hour (when temperatures drop into the teens), enough to cover 20 football fields with a foot of snow each hour.  

Now would be a great time to check out what all of the resorts are offering for Spring Skiing and Riding Specials in March.  Don’t miss on a chance to enjoy awesome conditions, milder temperatures and smaller crowds on all of the slopes in West Virginia.

The natural snowfall remains the good word for those who love Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing as that sector of the industry continues in high gear as White Grass Touring Center and Elk River Touring are providing fun in the backcountry. The backcountry powder has never been better.