Icy to Thigh-deep; two states, 3 days

[davidski]

With the storm approaching on Sunday I decided to make good on a commitment to go To Canaan Valley and Timberline if odds were strong that natural coverage would have them both 100% open



They were not 100% officially as it turned out but between skiing open and less then open trees at Timberline; and with a wink and a nod skiing everywhere at Canaan -- it felt like 99%



But I started at icy and wind swept conditions at Wintergreen--











Instead of Driving straight up to the Canaan Valley (WV) I decided to leave at 5 am and ski Wintergreen with a friend who is a killer snowboarder. Morning conditions were brutal and the mountain remained more icy then I have ever seen it. I went down twice on the same elbow---Some typical blue scrape on the back of every rise







It sucked despite the fact that we all grinned and said "well at least its all open" However the view was awesome and there were runs that gathered blown off snow on their edges







Met Ski26er by chance on the lift -- sporting a SKINC sticker; everyone should get one early and often



So 4:30 I drove into WV on 33 out of Harrisonburg -- a nasty drive around 8 o'clock















Destination was the Purple Fiddle thanks to a tip from Pagamony







Some pictures of the place -- $20 per night per bed -- there were no people there aside from some very nice people who worked there and a couple of semi-permanent residents. It is a weird and funky flophouse/hostel above a music/cafe/bar that is fairly renowned both regionally and nationally (the music venue, not the flophouse)



















and a view of my back-up lodging (thank God I didn't have to use it)









Here are some short earned turns later that night









Out the door in the morning to Head to Timberline











A view of the hill side we'd tramped the night before







Timberline had no crowds and great coverage but were blowing snow, had a lot closed, and had almost everything aggressively groomed despite the storm.



















I was the first down the drop because it was not groomed but then again does natural coverage on top of a series of whalebacks really count as fresh? Fun yes, but....











So bitterness was setting in as the snow kept falling and the groomers and blowers kept running --- BUT then I found the TREES









When you begin to ski trees it is hard to stop, while getting first tracks on front yards and gardens on the left-hand side of the mountain I got more inventive until I got Cliffed/Roaded out above the tunnel-- scary times; my career as a tree-skier nearly cut short beneath the wheels of a rented Hummer























No lines and the snow continued to fall -- by the end of the day what they had groomed in the wee hours had 6-8 inches of cushion

[SKISC]

Nice TR.

[BaZinGa]

Looks like a GREAT trip!

[Shoebunni]

you can't beat that deal on lodging

great tr

[marzski]

Thanks for the pics!



Guess going to Beech instead of WTG last weekend was a good choice for me.

[skipink]

@marzski 201565 wrote:Thanks for the pics!



Guess going to Beech instead of WTG last weekend was a good choice for me.



Not to menton the bonus of time with the Pink family!



BTW, Pink jr has a really nice bruise but is walking fine now. The Ravenette's finger is still swollen and she can't write with exams coming up next week. That's what they get for snowboarding instead of skiing. :rolleyes:

[daddygrace]

Awesome stuff David!!! You compose a fine TR!!!

[ski26er]

I'm glad I bummed into you David. It's rare I meet somebody from the board out of state so that was cool. Nice TR. Diffently gonna have to check that purple fiddle joint out if I ever make a trip up to Cannan.

[hardware]

nice TR David. I hope to get back up to T-line.



I will be watching the storms. last trip to T-line for me was 12 to 18" and no grooming. i hope to make that trip again this year.



the purple fiddle looks like an interesting place

[davidski]

The Purple Fiddle is something -- I would love to stay there on a weekend (non-holiday) when they have a band playing and then ski T-line and C_V



Ski26er it was cool to run into you, we'll make more turns next time