Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:10 pm
So, this adventure really started the minute we pulled out of our driveway in Kennesaw, GA (10am on Friday). I would feel like I'd be missing a huge chunk of the report if I just commented on what it was like up at the shoe. So you guys get the whole story 
Just flip through the pics if you don't wanna read... We left with plans to pick up a friend in Roanoke then head to the Marlinton Motor Inn (thanks to brookbarrel for the suggestion :p ) Heavy rainfall all they way to 81 where the REAL trouble began:
Little did we know it would turn into such a cluster f....
We made it to Blacksburg, VA about 30 miles from our original destination before sitting in dead stopped traffic for about 5hours. We then decide to take matters into our own hands after figuring out what the hold up was. Semitrucks couldn't make it up hills & were jackknifing, cars were spinning out into the median, and of course you just have your average idiot who freaks out in any inclimate situation. Threw the truck in 4WD & weaved our way over to the median, eventually caught up to a chick with a pistol on her hip in an F150 (also headed up to the shoe) & a police escort. Police started moving cars out of the way, then we followed them squeezing between semi's, coming within centimeters of other vehicles, dodging in and out of stalled cars, riding in the shoulder...anything to get out of that mess!! Only lost control once, lol.
Eventually, we made it here at about 12:30am, 20min from Roanoke:
Felt the need to pay it forward for all the police actually did for us:
Obviously had to cancel our reservations at the Motor Inn for the night. Crashed at our buddy's about 1am in Roanoke and woke up to this:
Fired up the truck and headed out. Getting out of the parking lot, believe it or not, was the most trouble we had in the snow the entire trip (aside from the traffic). Off to the Shoe once again!
Decided to take 92 instead of 219 considering the conditions... it was a toss up. Probably would have had better road conditions on 219:
Downed trees, unplowed roads, 2ft of snow....ain't nothing for the trusty 'yota...
FINALLY......made it about 28 hours later after we left Atlanta!! I'm on the right in the green pants next to my boyfriend in the plad, a girlfriend of mine in the middle and you folks may be seeing dude on the left in all black on here soon.
Little did we know there was about a 1/2 inch of ice on the bottom of our boards. The minute we strap in and stand up, nothing. It was like trying to ride on sandpaper. 10min to bang all the ice off... then it was ON!
knee deep pow...mmm....our patience finally pays off:
not too many action shots from Sat...to busy blowing off all that steam! Moseyed on down to Marlinton for the night. Sorry we didn't get to meet up at Sliver Creek that night, DavidSki. Wasn't sure how the road down the mtn would be and we needed to get a room.
Arrived at the Motor Inn...where "can't nobody get in, and can't nobody get out" as the lady at the front desk so eloquently said. Guess that didn't apply to us.... This was outside our room (notice it's STILL snowing at this point):
Sunday was the REAL treat. Was delighted to know that Soaring Eagle was open. J-Hooking looking NICE:
The best playground a grown-up could ask for:
SAWMILL OPEN! WHA???
Didn't get too many pics down sawmill or the glades, was extremely difficult to see due to fog and the snowguns. Was also surprised at the lack of ppl on that side of the mtn...can't say enough for being in the right place a the right time :>)
Just flip through the pics if you don't wanna read... We left with plans to pick up a friend in Roanoke then head to the Marlinton Motor Inn (thanks to brookbarrel for the suggestion :p ) Heavy rainfall all they way to 81 where the REAL trouble began:Little did we know it would turn into such a cluster f....
We made it to Blacksburg, VA about 30 miles from our original destination before sitting in dead stopped traffic for about 5hours. We then decide to take matters into our own hands after figuring out what the hold up was. Semitrucks couldn't make it up hills & were jackknifing, cars were spinning out into the median, and of course you just have your average idiot who freaks out in any inclimate situation. Threw the truck in 4WD & weaved our way over to the median, eventually caught up to a chick with a pistol on her hip in an F150 (also headed up to the shoe) & a police escort. Police started moving cars out of the way, then we followed them squeezing between semi's, coming within centimeters of other vehicles, dodging in and out of stalled cars, riding in the shoulder...anything to get out of that mess!! Only lost control once, lol.
Eventually, we made it here at about 12:30am, 20min from Roanoke:
Felt the need to pay it forward for all the police actually did for us:
Obviously had to cancel our reservations at the Motor Inn for the night. Crashed at our buddy's about 1am in Roanoke and woke up to this:
Fired up the truck and headed out. Getting out of the parking lot, believe it or not, was the most trouble we had in the snow the entire trip (aside from the traffic). Off to the Shoe once again!
Decided to take 92 instead of 219 considering the conditions... it was a toss up. Probably would have had better road conditions on 219:
Downed trees, unplowed roads, 2ft of snow....ain't nothing for the trusty 'yota...
FINALLY......made it about 28 hours later after we left Atlanta!! I'm on the right in the green pants next to my boyfriend in the plad, a girlfriend of mine in the middle and you folks may be seeing dude on the left in all black on here soon.
Little did we know there was about a 1/2 inch of ice on the bottom of our boards. The minute we strap in and stand up, nothing. It was like trying to ride on sandpaper. 10min to bang all the ice off... then it was ON!
knee deep pow...mmm....our patience finally pays off:
not too many action shots from Sat...to busy blowing off all that steam! Moseyed on down to Marlinton for the night. Sorry we didn't get to meet up at Sliver Creek that night, DavidSki. Wasn't sure how the road down the mtn would be and we needed to get a room.
Arrived at the Motor Inn...where "can't nobody get in, and can't nobody get out" as the lady at the front desk so eloquently said. Guess that didn't apply to us.... This was outside our room (notice it's STILL snowing at this point):
Sunday was the REAL treat. Was delighted to know that Soaring Eagle was open. J-Hooking looking NICE:
The best playground a grown-up could ask for:
SAWMILL OPEN! WHA???
Didn't get too many pics down sawmill or the glades, was extremely difficult to see due to fog and the snowguns. Was also surprised at the lack of ppl on that side of the mtn...can't say enough for being in the right place a the right time :>)
