Search DCSki:

Jump To:

Follow DCSki on Twitter!



Breaking News: Whitetail Adds New Trail, Lift
By M. Scott Smith, DCSki Editor

May 5, 2008 — Whitetail Resort is currently embarking on a “summer of upgrades,” cutting a new trail and installing a new double lift to service the terrain park. According to General Manager Don MacAskill, this summer will include the most mountain improvements in the 10 years that he has been at Whitetail.
Whitetail clears its first new trail in over a decade. Photo provided by Whitetail Resort.

The new trail will begin at the top of Snow Park and wind its way through the valley, ending at the bottom of Fanciful. “It will be the longest trail on the mountain,” said Whitetail’s Marketing Coordinator, Matt See. Previously that honor was held by expert slope Far Side. The new trail, whose name has not yet been announced, will be a beginner trail, over 2,800 feet in length and over 80 feet in width. Whitetail recently finished cutting the trail, and has just started pushing dirt to sculpt it. Whitetail will then add 26 brand new Areco fan guns along the trail for snowmaking. The new trail will also be lit for night skiing and riding.
At over 2,800 feet in length, the new trail will be Whitetail’s longest. Photo provided by Whitetail Resort.

Whitetail will also be installing a new double chairlift this summer. The 1,000-foot long lift will be devoted to servicing the Jib Junction Terrain Park. In recent years, Upper Angel Drop has experienced congestion as guests have rushed from the top of the Whitetail Express lift to the terrain park. This new lift should thin out the crowds on Upper Angel Drop.
Towers arrive for Whitetail’s new double chairlift. Photo provided by Whitetail Resort.
Chairs for the new double chairlift. Photo provided by Whitetail Resort.

Whitetail’s last significant terrain expansion occurred in 1994, when the resort added the Northern Lights beginner trail and Lift Off Quad. Those additions eliminated what had been significant crowding of Whitetail’s easiest terrain. In 1998, Whitetail expanded its in-ground halfpipe. In subsequent years, Whitetail focused capital improvements on expanding its lodge, adding snow tubing, improving snowmaking across the mountain, and adding lighting to its expert slopes.

Even as these upgrades are underway, Whitetail’s summer season is in full swing. The Whitetail championship golf course is open, along with Dusty Wissmath’s Fly Fishing School and Guide Service.
Whitetail cuts a path for the new lift. Photo provided by Whitetail Resort.

Related Links:

Related DCSki Stories:

Lodging Near Whitetail (extracted from the DCSki Lodging Finder):

About the Author

 

 

Track new stories on DCSki by following DCSki through Twitter, Facebook, or RSS:

Twitter Facebook RSS

There are 12 reader comments about this article. To read them, or add your own, scroll below or click here.

The views and opinions expressed in DCSki Article Comments are strictly those of the comment authors and have not been reviewed or approved by DCSki. If you believe a comment is inaccurate or inappropriate, please contact DCSki's Editor.

wahoo! - posted by johhny bravo
May 5, 2008 at 10:30 am
Always good to see new trails being cut! Awesome
 
WT's longest trail ? - posted by bousquet19
May 5, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Unless Whitetail is differentiating b/w slopes and trails, it doesn't appear that a 2800-foot trail would be WT's longest. The WT Express detachable quad is listed as 3295 feet long (skilifts.org), so any run off it would need to exceed that length...unless there's some sort of time-space warp going on. In any case, I'm looking forward to skiing this new run. Congratulations to Whitetail. Hope this new run doesn't duplicate the repetitious character of several of WT's other runs.
 
Longest trail - posted by Scott
May 5, 2008 at 7:04 pm
There's a bit of a runoff in the base area leading to the express quad terminal, which may not be included in the total length of the trails served by that lift. I also wonder if Upper and Lower Angel Drop, counting as one trail, isn't the longest. It's hard to tell from the trail map. Far Side definitely curves out and back, making it longer than it appears if you were to stretch it out. I also just updated the story to note that the new trail will be a beginner trail. According to Whitetail, its grade will serve as a nice transition between Velvet and Snow Park. Definitely green circle territory but it should be a fun cruiser.
 
longest trail - posted by ggnagy/midatlanticlost
May 6, 2008 at 8:39 am
The new trail was mentioned in this thread http://www.dcski.com/ubbthreads33/ubbthreads.php?ubbshowflat&Number37939Post37939 but the double is a bit of a suprise. Any word on where it came from? Too bad the web cams are no longer refreshing
 
Just what the doc ordered! - posted by KevR
May 6, 2008 at 9:57 am
Fabulous!!!!

Now about the aquisition and trails on the other mtn "across the street" (when at the top of limelight straight across) -- and a service gondala between the two peaks...

:-)
 
(No subject) - posted by JimK
May 6, 2008 at 10:40 am
These are nice, sensible additions because Whitetail needs some lower angle meandering options to the current mostly straight-down-the-fall-line trail layout, even on easier Snowpark side of the area.
A dedicated chair will be a great convenience for an already superior terrain park.
Not to be greedy, but it would be nice if they'd also cut an easier, meandering trail from the top of the HSQ beside Fanciful and start tapping into all that hillside between the big hill and Snowpark area.
 
trail length - posted by apskiah
May 6, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Out of curiosity and boredom, I measured the length of a few trails using my GIS software and digitized the centerline length using 1m imagery as a base. I measured the trail from lift top to lift bottom. I rounded to 3 sig. figs.

Far Side - 2760"
Upper/Lower Angel Drop - 3580"
Limelight - 3170"
 
yay - posted by Roger Z
May 6, 2008 at 2:25 pm
This is great- should help to relieve some of the congestion off the Snow Park quad. I always thought Far Side was there longest run. 2800 feet doesn't seem like much. Regardless- good for Whitetail!
 
more greens is good for WT - posted by KevR
May 6, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Of course more of any set of trails is good but WT has a problem on easy end I think. The easy bunnies are in fact far too easy beyond a rank beginner. Then that leaves Snowpark which is a nice slope but filled with 10000000s on a busy weekend. For the beginner, the jump up from the the two bunnies to snowpark is daunting and looks worse with crowds -- my opinion. Another green will help there I think. Good move! Now a few more cliff-jumps off the back of the mountain would be nice too! ;-)
 
Changes - posted by Connie Lawn
May 8, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Yea!! Hopefully my comments and suggestions helped.
By the way, they are still skiing out West. Sob - I am jealous. Yours, Connie
 
new trail - posted by R. Hays
May 21, 2008 at 10:45 am
Good move on putting in a new trail.Much needed. But being the perennial sour-puss...whitetail....please make that service road between the two peaks-next to the HSQ, connect with the new trail!! That would be great for both mountain areas. The main mountain needs a doo-dah meandering trail from the top. Pretty please? Or are you saving that obvious move for the future?? Everyone has been waiting on that trail forever!
 
solid move - posted by kennedy
May 28, 2008 at 9:17 am
Whitetail has been talking about a lift for the park for years and God knows it's been debated on here enough. It's good to see they are making a solid move and putting in a double chair not just a rope tow. I'm going to be interested to see how this affects upper Angel. It sounds a little rough but it might be a good idea to restrict access to the park from Upper Angel, i.e. you could only enter the park from the park lift. You might even be able to offer a park lift only ticket, or a park only season ticket.

On the new trail nice work. A new green was needed. Looking forward to the groms on the HSQ this coming season. Next year make the Experts choice a HSQ and we'll be in business.
 
   Your Comments
Share your comments on this article with other DCSki readers by filling out the form below. Please note that DCSki reserves the right to edit or remove comments. By sharing your comments, you agree that they can be published throughout DCSki. Also note that embedded HTML is not allowed in comments.

Your Name:


Subject:


Your Comments:

DCSki is sponsored in part by the following companies:


Canaan Valley Resort: Canaan Valley Resort, located outside Davis, West Virginia features 39 slopes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced West Virginia skiing. With a vertical drop of 850 feet and the longest run at 6,000 feet, the experience is as challenging as you want it to be. Night skiing is also offered during holiday and prime ski weekends. The resort features a 150 room lodge and 23 cabins/cottages for your convenience. Additional winter sports include XC skiing, snowshoeing, snow tubing, airboarding and ice skating. An indoor swimming pool, fitness center, whirlpool and saunas are also available after a day on the slopes.

Liberty Mountain Resort: Located about an hour from both the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas, Liberty Mountain Resort is the perfect place for a mountain getaway! Whether you are searching for adventure or relaxation, our mountainside amenities are sure to treat you. Our mountain boasts over 100 acres of skiable terrain, including 16 trails, 3 terrain parks, and a large tubing hill. Our Ski and Snowboard Schools offer a wide variety of lessons for both beginners and advanced. Boulder Ridge Snow Tubing features 15 tubing lanes, party rooms, and food and beverage, creating a fun atmosphere for everyone. Take a "snowcation" by lodging in the slopeside Liberty Hotel and dining in one of many eateries, including the popular McKee's Tavern.

Seven Springs Resort: Seven Springs Mountain Resort is the perfect place to escape with your family this winter and reconnect! At Seven Springs, you'll find a mountain of fun - skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, snowmobiling, snowshoe tours, a luxurious spa, sporting clays, delicious dining, nightlife and more. Enjoy a mountain of fun on 285 acres of slopes and trails including beginner trails, black diamond slopes, mogul runs and five terrain parks. Come up to Seven Springs this winter and make a new memory. What are you waiting for? You really should be here!

Whitetail Resort: Head to Whitetail for some of the best skiing and riding in the mid Atlantic Region! Enjoy nearly 1,000 feet of vertical and the Region's only High Speed Quad Chairlift. Spend less time on the road and more time carving down some expert terrain like Bold Decision or intermediate favorites Limelight and Snow Dancer! Don't worry, there is plenty of fun to be had for all ability levels, and for freestylers be sure to check out Jib Junction Terrain Park (not for the faint of heart)! We even have Park Place 101 for the beginner freestyler! Don't forget about Whitetail Adventure Tubing, fun for all ages!

Wintergreen Resort: Wintergreen Resort is an 11,000-acre, four-season resort located in the Blue Ridge Mountains three hours from Washington, D.C. With accommodations ranging in size from studio condominiums to 9-bedroom homes, your winter escape has all the comforts of home. Enjoy skiing and snowboarding on 26 slopes and snowtubing in Virginia's largest park; Ridgely's Fun Park for young children; ice skating, a zipline; indoor tennis; a spa with indoor pool and hot tubs; and a variety of enticing dining options. Overnight packages offer great value and savings, call 800-266-2444 or book online - www.wintergreenresort.com. For more information, call (434) 325-2200.

Advertisement