At the start of the 2024-25 season, I was optimistic about spending many days at West Virginia’s Timberline Mountain, along with a few trips farther afield. I had hoped to combine a visit to my wife’s family in Slovakia with a stop in Arosa, Switzerland, and possibly squeeze in a trip to one of the New England resorts.
Unfortunately, none of those more ambitious plans came to fruition. My wife’s parents rescheduled their gathering for the spring to better accommodate relatives traveling from abroad, which ruled out Arosa. I briefly considered heading out West instead, but once I looked into the costs, I realized that for about the same price as a five-day ski trip out there, my wife and I could spend nearly three weeks in Europe. Given the wave of job cuts in Washington, it felt wise to cancel the western trip and spend our available ski days closer to home at Timberline.
My strategy for the season was to align days off with weekends, maximizing the number of extended stays at the resort and allowing for weekday visits, which tend to be far less crowded. This approach also gave me a better chance to capitalize on favorable weather windows — at least in theory. Storm cycles at Timberline typically begin with rain, followed by snow and a surge of frigid air. The trailing cold fronts often produce substantial upslope and lake-effect snow, with accumulations of three to eight inches per day being fairly common.
Additionally, the resort usually takes full advantage of these cold snaps to produce large quantities of snow. I aimed to travel on rainy days and ski during the colder, snowier periods. While this plan didn’t always go as expected, Timberline’s robust snowmaking system generally maintained adequate coverage, even during stretches of warm and wet weather.
My ski season began on December 6, 2024 and ended on March 3, 2025. I skied more than 30 days, enjoying solid conditions on most outings and 5-6 inches powder on six days.
Skiing at Timberline changes constantly — often not just day to day, but from one run to the next. The upper mountain usually skis quite differently from the lower mountain. As a result, I found variety not so much in the terrain or skiable acreage, but in the ever-shifting weather.
I typically logged more than 20 runs per day, though some days were lighter, with fewer than ten. Since I stay in a slope-side condo, I was able to avoid longer lift lines, using those peak periods instead to read, catch up on work, or take care of chores. I didn’t eat out at all, choosing instead to self-cater throughout the season.
So, what did it all cost? About $400 for my season pass, plus gas and mileage on my car. All other expenditures were “sunk costs” related to condo ownership. There were no flights, no rental cars, no $200 lift tickets, no demo rentals, and no expensive meals out.
I skied every travel day, often getting in more than 20 runs. There was no jet lag, no flight delays, and no stress associated with long-distance travel. It was a great season, with plenty of days on snow and lot of vertical logged.
While I know I’ll venture farther afield in the future, staying local this year saved me enough to comfortably plan a longer trip to Europe later in the year.
John Sherwood is a columnist for DCSki. When he's not hiking, biking, or skiing, he works as an author of books on military history.
Great article, John! And your photos capture several of the classic moods of what has become, for me, my home mountain and hands-down favorite in the MidAtlantic.
It's so easy to let my spending run away on travel costs, lift tickets, accommodations, and meals. Like you, I economize where I can. (I think that's going to be even more important for the next few seasons.) Staying local, like you did in 2024-25, can make a great deal of economic sense yet still provide a challenging and enjoyable season on the snow. I expect that more than half my skiing next season will be in the Mid-A, mostly at Timberline.
I'm a new-ish retiree who first got onto the snow 'back in the 1960s. As a result, my schedule is usually flexible enough to ski on weekdays only, taking advantage of T-line's great deal on their "weekdays only season pass for geezers." (I think their marketing department calls it something else.) Sharing rides with friends increases the fun and cuts down on the expenses, too, as does bringing along some snacks and drinks.
My one indulgence at Timberline is lunch. Daggum. I remember the days when "base lodge food" meant cold French fries, crusty burgers of suspect composition, and hot dogs the color of emergency flares. Timberline's delicious lobster rolls are to die for - and I'm a snobby New Englander when it comes to lobstah, chowdah, and the like. I don't splurge for the noble crustacean every time, but maybe every third time.
I can't hit 20K of vertical until well into the season. I tip my helmet to you for managing this goal on virtually every visit. Looking forward to seeing you on the slopes next season, John. I'll be one of the old guys skiing cautiously, taking in the scenery, and thanking the kitchen staff for the tasty food. Thanks for getting me into the mood as spring gives way to summer.
Woody
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