Snowshoe 24 - 25
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Blue Don 1982
5 months ago
Member since 01/13/2008 🔗
1,598 posts

Snowshoe received it's first coating of snow today. Therefore, it's time to start this season's thread of groans, complaints and maybe even some love for the shoe.

Regardless of your thoughts about SS, it's nice to see white stuff coming out of the sky.

WEBCAMS

nickhaas212
5 months ago
Member since 11/13/2019 🔗
71 posts

While my family tends to prefer CV and TL over SS, I still enjoy making turns there. Wondering if SS will be making improvements over the next several years. 

Operationally, it would be nice to see Doppelmayr come in and redo Western Express and Ballhooter. Even if it is just upgrades or retro fits similar to how Boyne has been doing to some of their detachable lifts. Maybe even upgrade ballhooter to a 6/8 pack and move the old one to Silver Creek. SS seems to always have great snowmaking so kudos there!

Upgrades while making it more affordable would be nice. I just hope Alterra doesn’t treat SS like the red headed step child. It deserves a better owner/operator if so.
wrayc21
5 months ago
Member since 02/22/2023 🔗
7 posts
Snowshoe announced they're putting a tow rope on Mountaineer for the terrain park
marzNC - DCSki Supporter 
4 months ago
Member since 12/10/2008 🔗
3,403 posts

Peak Rankings did a review of Snowshoe.  What do you think?

https://www.peakrankings.com/content/snowshoe

Bird Dog
4 months ago
Member since 10/19/2022 🔗
34 posts

The write up is excellent, but the overall score (44) could have been a few points higher,

specifically in the categories of Snow, Resiliency, and Mountain Aesthetic, each at +1.

My 2 cents.

marzNC - DCSki Supporter 
4 months ago
Member since 12/10/2008 🔗
3,403 posts

Bird Dog wrote:

The write up is excellent, but the overall score (44) could have been a few points higher,

specifically in the categories of Snow, Resiliency, and Mountain Aesthetic, each at +1.

My 2 cents.

 Thanks for taking a look.

Hadn't really looked at the numerical ratings.  I agree on Snow and Resiliency for sure.  Haven't been for a while so don't have as strong an opinion for Mountain Aesthetic.

Keith_Moon
4 months ago
Member since 02/19/2019 🔗
214 posts

From the article:

"Snowshoe's upside down layout is unique for the Mid-Atlantic, let alone anywhere in the United States."

Fail - c'mon, there's another example of an upside-down resort just a few hours away in Wintergreen, and two more just in PA IIRC.

Scott - DCSki Editor
4 months ago (edited 4 months ago)
Member since 10/10/1999 🔗
1,284 posts

Keith_Moon wrote:

From the article:

"Snowshoe's upside down layout is unique for the Mid-Atlantic, let alone anywhere in the United States."

Fail - c'mon, there's another example of an upside-down resort just a few hours away in Wintergreen, and two more just in PA IIRC.

Yeah, that's not even remotely true.  As you note, there are many "upside-down" ski resorts in North America.  According to this story on BraveSkiMom, inverted East coast resorts include Blue Knob, Blue Mountain (which has parking lots at the top and bottom of the mountain), Jack Frost, Laurel Mountain, Ski Big Bear, Wintergreen, and Snowshoe.  I guess it's fair to say Snowshoe is unique in the state of West Virginia (of the four downhill areas there).

pagamony - DCSki Supporter 
4 months ago
Member since 02/23/2005 🔗
941 posts

Scott wrote:

Keith_Moon wrote:

From the article:

"Snowshoe's upside down layout is unique for the Mid-Atlantic, let alone anywhere in the United States."

Fail - c'mon, there's another example of an upside-down resort just a few hours away in Wintergreen, and two more just in PA IIRC.

Yeah, that's not even remotely true.  As you note, there are many "upside-down" ski resorts in North America.  According to this story on BraveSkiMom, inverted East coast resorts include Blue Knob, Blue Mountain (which has parking lots at the top and bottom of the mountain), Jack Frost, Laurel Mountain, Ski Big Bear, Wintergreen, and Snowshoe.  I guess it's fair to say Snowshoe is unique in the state of West Virginia (of the four downhill areas there).

It;s not even true nationally - there are other upside downers.  It is true that the relatively high top side elevation plus the relatively high basin elevaation provides an optimized micro climate, at the acceptable expense of vertical on that side.  

Honestly, I have not been to Shoe in several years but I am afraid to read that ranking it might not be kind.  I'm actually surprised they did that one. 

 Scott 

Blue Don 1982
4 months ago
Member since 01/13/2008 🔗
1,598 posts

Most likely a test run but the snow guns are blazing at the Shoe as of 0700 today.

WEBCAMS



swoop
4 months ago
Member since 11/30/2017 🔗
76 posts
there's a shot at opening day being SAT 30th...
Blue Don 1982
4 months ago
Member since 01/13/2008 🔗
1,598 posts
I saw a post on FB that Snowshoe could see 10 - 20 inches of snow Thu - Sat.
DCSki Sponsor: Massanutten Resort
marzNC - DCSki Supporter 
4 months ago
Member since 12/10/2008 🔗
3,403 posts

Zach of OpenSnow included the snowmaking forecast for Snowshoe in today's Mid-Atlantic post.

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SeniorSki
4 months ago
Member since 01/31/2022 🔗
158 posts
Snowshoe is on full on mode. As far as I can tell the only resort with blazing guns. The beauty of 4K. Plus Mother Nature is going to give them a huge start for the season. Long range has another monster storm signal. Let’s hope that La Niña doesn’t kick in. Pricey place to ski but you get what you pay for. 
SeniorSki
4 months ago
Member since 01/31/2022 🔗
158 posts
Top of snowshoe looks like a blizzard, sweet! 
swoop
4 months ago
Member since 11/30/2017 🔗
76 posts
12/5 opening? Lame.  Got the gift of a foot of snow and a few cold nights ahead of the weekend,  high elevation and great SM.  Should be able to open 11/30 for the weekend with some limited terrain.  Corporate lame.  Well I guess all my chips on are Tline (pun intended).
rbrtlav
3 months ago
Member since 12/2/2008 🔗
590 posts

swoop wrote:

12/5 opening? Lame.  Got the gift of a foot of snow and a few cold nights ahead of the weekend,  high elevation and great SM.  Should be able to open 11/30 for the weekend with some limited terrain.  Corporate lame.  Well I guess all my chips on are Tline (pun intended).

A foot of natural snow doesn’t do much… take a look at the current webcams this morning.  Unfortunately, I’m going to guess timberline is probably looking at sometime between the 5-7th. Snowshoe takes a lot of snow to get the top of the mountain open. 

Snowshoe would love to sell $90+ lift tickets this weekend for a handful of trails this weekend if they could.

Some of the mountains in Colorado have between 60-80” of snow since late October and the non snowmaking terrain is still closed/filled with obstacles after being opened a few hours.

Bird Dog
3 months ago
Member since 10/19/2022 🔗
34 posts

Gotta open the right way and not the wrong way.

Open the wrong way and any potential base is gone, and then...

Gotta start over.

In CO, A-Basin just opened to the top yesterday....Nov 25th.

They now have 2 lifts open and 4 runs; and they opened Nov 2nd.....Not great.

Every resort is different and needs to do what is appropriate for it's own unique circumstances.

Conditions need to be safe in order to open too.

marzNC - DCSki Supporter 
3 months ago
Member since 12/10/2008 🔗
3,403 posts

rbrtlav wrote:

A foot of natural snow doesn’t do much… take a look at the current webcams this morning.  Unfortunately, I’m going to guess timberline is probably looking at sometime between the 5-7th. Snowshoe takes a lot of snow to get the top of the mountain open. 

 Not a guess anymore for Timberline.  They sent out email today announcing Dec. 5 as opening day.

Patf1engineer
3 months ago
Member since 01/23/2018 🔗
67 posts


 This was a big part of the problem last year, never got a decent base and always playing catchup.

Bird Dog wrote:

Gotta open the right way and not the wrong way.

Open the wrong way and any potential base is gone, and then...

Gotta start over.

In CO, A-Basin just opened to the top yesterday....Nov 25th.

They now have 2 lifts open and 4 runs; and they opened Nov 2nd.....Not great.

Every resort is different and needs to do what is appropriate for it's own unique circumstances.

Conditions need to be safe in order to open too.

rbrtlav
3 months ago
Member since 12/2/2008 🔗
590 posts

Bird Dog wrote:

In CO, A-Basin just opened to the top yesterday....Nov 25th.

They now have 2 lifts open and 4 runs; and they opened Nov 2nd.....Not great.

Every resort is different and needs to do what is appropriate for its own unique circumstances.

 A-basin is VERY water restricted compared to the other summit county resorts. Based on their Facebook page this morning it looks like they will be opening quite a bit of new terrain with the natural snow they just got.

swoop
3 months ago
Member since 11/30/2017 🔗
76 posts

Sticking with my original notion that Shoe/Tline could have opened today (11/30) with limited terrain, certainly tomorrow (12/1) at very latest, but... oh well, just glad we are finally getting the weather!  Looks beautiful.  Wax 'em baby!!!

1732998620_yrgsjtbhyfhx.jpg

marzNC - DCSki Supporter 
3 months ago
Member since 12/10/2008 🔗
3,403 posts

The new midweek daily reporter for SkiSoutheast is Jen Shannon.  She and her husband own and operate the Waffle Cabin at Snowshoe.  Needless to say, her reporting about Snowshoe this season won't be based only on webcam views.  She worked at Snowshoe's Ski&Ride School for twenty years.

Last year's First Trax reporter was Josh Sullivan.  He was great, but too good at his day job.  Got promoted and moved out of NC.

SeniorSki
3 months ago
Member since 01/31/2022 🔗
158 posts
I don’t think I have ever seen “whales” that big. 
Blue Don 1982
3 months ago
Member since 01/13/2008 🔗
1,598 posts
Winter Storm Watch for the Shoe on Wed night into opening day!

https://www.wunderground.com/severe/us/wv/slatyfork/KWVSLATY6
Grumpy dad - DCSki Supporter 
3 months ago
Member since 11/7/2021 🔗
161 posts

Ok, I'm jealous!

1733427577_jgigeqjegcfw.jpg

Blue Don 1982 wrote:

Winter Storm Watch for the Shoe on Wed night into opening day!

https://www.wunderground.com/severe/us/wv/slatyfork/KWVSLATY6
snapdragon
3 months ago
Member since 01/27/2015 🔗
448 posts

don't be jealous...be there

Bonzski
3 months ago
Member since 10/21/2015 🔗
666 posts

1733771252_gkgbfhbvxxuj.jpg

Corduroy Sunday sunrise

Shotmaker
2 months ago
Member since 02/18/2014 🔗
195 posts

Dumping snow in sheets currently! Expecting 12"-20" overnight throughout tomorrow. 

Serious powder day hope your here. 

Bonzski
2 months ago
Member since 10/21/2015 🔗
666 posts
Unfortunately I couldn't stay for it. Curious to hear the snow's water content.
Shotmaker
2 months ago
Member since 02/18/2014 🔗
195 posts

We did have a layer of ice/sleet overnight which is keeping the totals down somewhat. Still reported 17" last 2 days. Snowing good now with 3" or more to come  

This am through noon was like sierra cement as temps warmed. Was out till 4:00. As the afternoon progressed everything firmed up and dried out. Off piste was okay not great like over the weekend. That was some dry snow very easy to blast through!

Bonzski
2 months ago
Member since 10/21/2015 🔗
666 posts
That aligns with other reports I got.  The dense snows makes for a solid base off piste for future dumps.
Shotmaker
2 months ago
Member since 02/18/2014 🔗
195 posts

It's not stopping. Still snowing with most likely another 2-4" from this mornings report. This upcoming Friday-Saturday storm is suppose to drop another 6-12" and a clipper system is predicted to arrive on Monday!

The last time we had what looks to be a great cold & snowy season you would need to look back to 2012-2013 when 20' fell along the Appalachian mountains.1736269359_xjqfvonbruvx.jpg

1736269398_kuoznwwajxaq.jpg

Grumpy dad - DCSki Supporter 
2 months ago
Member since 11/7/2021 🔗
161 posts

This is AWESOME.

Cupp run is amazing with powder. 

Shotmaker wrote:

It's not stopping. Still snowing with most likely another 2-4" from this mornings report. This upcoming Friday-Saturday storm is suppose to drop another 6-12" and a clipper system is predicted to arrive on Monday!

The last time we had what looks to be a great cold & snowy season you would need to look back to 2012-2013 when 20' fell along the Appalachian mountains.1736269359_xjqfvonbruvx.jpg

1736269398_kuoznwwajxaq.jpg

Brook
2 months ago (edited 2 months ago)
Member since 09/28/2010 🔗
59 posts

Been a great 2025 so far!

100 inches by Jan 8? Can we double down by March?

1736376935_acpyfkfmitdl.jpg1736377268_eiutlcklwdhe.jpg

snapdragon
2 months ago
Member since 01/27/2015 🔗
448 posts
yes
Bonzski
2 months ago
Member since 10/21/2015 🔗
666 posts
Poach that Flying Eagle!
Shotmaker
2 months ago
Member since 02/18/2014 🔗
195 posts

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Shotmaker
2 months ago
Member since 02/18/2014 🔗
195 posts

It's still snowing! Currently the sun is breaking out but light snow remains. Yesterday went out expecting a few inches but we ended up receiving 10" over the last 24 hours. Very cold but excellent conditions with light crowds.

 

eggraid
2 months ago
Member since 02/9/2010 🔗
525 posts

Amazing!! Looking forward to getting out there for the Friday/Sat storm!

lindsaykesler
2 months ago
Member since 01/9/2025 🔗
2 posts

We're heading to Snowshoe MLK day and staying 3 nights. We're trying to decide whether to drive our town and country mini van or 4wd Jeep grand Cherokee. We'd prefer to drive the van so that we'd have more room for our 3 sons and luggage, but I'm concerned that we'll need 4wd. We would buy chains for the van, and it has nicer tires then the Jeep. Or should we do chains and the Jeep? We drove our van the last 3 years we visited, but two of those time we got snowed in, and now I'm worried about getting snowed out!!

And advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks, 

Lindsay

Stephen
2 months ago
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts

I don't know the answer, but I'll tell you some of my experiences.  Many years ago, I used chains with front wheel drive sedans.  One time I went to Snowshoe where nothing showed up on the radar and nothing was predicted, but we still got a surprise storm, and I would not have made it back without my chains (weather prediction is probably better these days).  I felt invulnerable and enjoyed many snow storms using just chains until one day I was heading up to Wintergreen, and there was an ice storm where the chains would not grip the ice.  Other four wheel drive cars would drive right around me as I was stuck.  Chains are amazing, but there are some types of ice conditions where they don't grip.  After that I always got four wheel drive vehicles.  One day coming back from Wintergreen I had bad tires on a four wheel drive, and it was about the scariest driving memory I have trying to come down the mountain.  I wasn't sure I was going to make it and had to go about 5 miles per hour the entire way.  Ever since then I always make sure to have good tires, and I carry chains.  I have not needed the chains since then and have never put them on a four wheel drive car, but carry them anyway.  So, I think the answer depends on how bad the tires really are on your jeep.  For many types of tires, when the tread gets low, they are terrible in the snow, and I would feel better with chains.  Even with that bad experience with the chains, I could still stop, I just couldn't climb.  With the bad tires with the four wheel drive I couldn't stop.  If I was you, I would go out and get good tires on my four wheel drive and take that and still carry chains.  I don't know if it makes sense to have a four wheel drive vehicle if you don't keep up the tires. 

Though, maybe you're fishing for whether people think the weather will be that bad.  I don't think we can know this far out, but my philosophy with ski trips is to hope for the best, and the best means a huge snow storm.  So, why shouldn't I be prepared for my dream coming true?  It seems like if I'm not prepared for it, then it's guaranteed not to happen, at least for me.

Shotmaker
2 months ago
Member since 02/18/2014 🔗
195 posts

Tires (new, newer with good tread depth) is the most important consideration!

Best: studded snow tires, then snow tires, then mud & snow tires.

Drive: 4w, then all wheel drive, then front wheel drive.

Most people can make it up the mountain with any combination above. When people have trouble is on badly worn tires. With AWD when it's snowing hard (accumulating) and other vehicles are getting stuck or sliding around you at least want decent tires.

We get a lot of people from the south many don't drive in snowy weather so other than rain (think hydroplaning) many will drive on worn tires until the inspector tells them they need new tires.

I haven't used chains since the early 1980's when I lived in South Lake Tahoe.  I did have studded snow tires with front wheel drive back in those days and got around just fine never getting stuck. Only put chains when I was required to do so.

lindsaykesler
2 months ago
Member since 01/9/2025 🔗
2 posts

Stephen and Shotmaker, thank you both so much for the feedback! 

I'm from Maryland, but have been living in the south for 20 years and am guilty of driving on bald tires. Fortunately, they got so bald last month that I had to get a new set. So they may not be snow tires, but at least they're new?!

I'll get the Jeep maintenanced this weekend and purchase some chains. Hopefully we can make it up on regular tires, with chains as backup, new ones just aren't in our budget.

Thanks again and happy skiing!

Stephen
2 months ago
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts


 I've used all season tires with M/S rating with AWD, and it's gotten the job done if the tread is new (with chains as backup).  Once it gets closer you may be able to rule out snowy conditions and take the Minivan.

lindsaykesler wrote:

Stephen and Shotmaker, thank you both so much for the feedback! 

I'm from Maryland, but have been living in the south for 20 years and am guilty of driving on bald tires. Fortunately, they got so bald last month that I had to get a new set. So they may not be snow tires, but at least they're new?!

I'll get the Jeep maintenanced this weekend and purchase some chains. Hopefully we can make it up on regular tires, with chains as backup, new ones just aren't in our budget.

Thanks again and happy skiing!

Shotmaker
2 months ago
Member since 02/18/2014 🔗
195 posts

It might be difficult getting up the mountain today!

With the 4" overnight and blizzard like conditions now we are well over 120" or TEN feet of snow for the season!

Walked through drifts of snow up to my knees about an hour ago getting to the car.

It just doesn't get any better than the conditions today and for this season. 

Shotmaker
2 months ago
Member since 02/18/2014 🔗
195 posts

It's even better than I thought!

10-1/2 FEET on the season! Around 1 foot of fresh snow now a blue bird day.

1736689538_brsauchlhuxp.jpg1736689560_ocsskkalrqfy.jpg1736689581_xhvgogckzwaf.jpg1736689600_dxadqiktileq.jpg

Shotmaker
2 months ago
Member since 02/18/2014 🔗
195 posts

Snowshoe is a special place!1736704689_zhukbjavmyik.jpg

snapdragon
2 months ago
Member since 01/27/2015 🔗
448 posts
sweet sundog
Bonzski
2 months ago
Member since 10/21/2015 🔗
666 posts

You know it1736735087_xxmrjxppfawk.jpg

RodneyBD
2 months ago
Member since 12/21/2004 🔗
277 posts
Why isn't Snowshoe 100% open?  Not complaining, just curious. Is it staffing, grooming, other?
eggraid
2 months ago
Member since 02/9/2010 🔗
525 posts

There was a rainy warm spell right before/on Christmas, and it really did a lot of damage to the snowpack. They have been blowing hard ever since it got cold on New Years Eve, but they had to blow on the trails that they already had open to get them back in shape, and now they are almost 100% open, I'm guessing this weekend everything will be open (not including the glades, although most of them are open now).

Last weekend was epic at the 'shoe! Saturday it snowed all day, keeping things fresh and fun, and then Sunday was a beautiful bluebird groomer day!

 

RodneyBD wrote:

Why isn't Snowshoe 100% open?  Not complaining, just curious. Is it staffing, grooming, other?
Scott - DCSki Editor
2 months ago
Member since 10/10/1999 🔗
1,284 posts
That's a great pic Bonzski.  Always nice when corduroy is back in style...
Bonzski
2 months ago
Member since 10/21/2015 🔗
666 posts

eggraid wrote:

There was a rainy warm spell right before/on Christmas, and it really did a lot of damage to the snowpack. They have been blowing hard ever since it got cold on New Years Eve, but they had to blow on the trails that they already had open to get them back in shape, and now they are almost 100% open, I'm guessing this weekend everything will be open (not including the glades, although most of them are open now).

Last weekend was epic at the 'shoe! Saturday it snowed all day, keeping things fresh and fun, and then Sunday was a beautiful bluebird groomer day!

 

RodneyBD wrote:

Why isn't Snowshoe 100% open?  Not complaining, just curious. Is it staffing, grooming, other?

 I concur with Egg. All the glades have been open...marked and unmarked.  Good base is set up and hopefully a refresh will come.

Shotmaker
2 months ago
Member since 02/18/2014 🔗
195 posts

Today was a great almost perfect day. No wind few skiers and warm temperatures (25 degrees). Fast track perfect for western territory. Big whales on the flats to lower shays. Looks like that should be opening in the next few days certainly before MLK weekend.  

Choker opened was a fast blast down the run. Lots of skiers in the glades off sawmill & knot bumper. Feels like every day is 9/10 or 10/10 type day. 

Shotmaker
2 months ago
Member since 02/18/2014 🔗
195 posts

Any day now Lower Shay's will open!

1736987220_wxqugnbfpqgy.jpg

eggraid
2 months ago
Member since 02/9/2010 🔗
525 posts
MLK weekend was another amazing ski weekend at Snowshoe, Saturday was on the edge of being too warm, there was precipitation, and I was wet at the end of the day, but it was more like mist than real rain and didn't damage the snowpack. That night and all day Sunday, it snowed, and got colder as the day went along, until by Sunday afternoon conditions were amazing, lift lines not as long as I would expect on a holiday weekend. Monday morning was bright sun, blue skies, freezing cold (-4*) but the skiing was amazing. Plenty of fresh snow around, and almost non-existent lift lines. My first 4 trips on Ballhooter lift I skied up and had a chair to myself, got 11 runs in an hour and a half. 
Bonzski
2 months ago (edited 2 months ago)
Member since 10/21/2015 🔗
666 posts

Sunday 

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Mongo
2 months ago
Member since 02/24/2015 🔗
106 posts

Totally concur. I was very pleasantly surprised with the weekend! Monday morning was exceptionally good, though pretty brisk! 

eggraid wrote:

MLK weekend was another amazing ski weekend at Snowshoe, Saturday was on the edge of being too warm, there was precipitation, and I was wet at the end of the day, but it was more like mist than real rain and didn't damage the snowpack. That night and all day Sunday, it snowed, and got colder as the day went along, until by Sunday afternoon conditions were amazing, lift lines not as long as I would expect on a holiday weekend. Monday morning was bright sun, blue skies, freezing cold (-4*) but the skiing was amazing. Plenty of fresh snow around, and almost non-existent lift lines. My first 4 trips on Ballhooter lift I skied up and had a chair to myself, got 11 runs in an hour and a half. 
Keith_Moon
one month ago
Member since 02/19/2019 🔗
214 posts

I've read there's been bad flooding in and around Cass these past few days.  Anyone know what's going on?   Are some roads still closed?

Blue Don 1982
one month ago
Member since 01/13/2008 🔗
1,598 posts


 I saw a post in the Snowshoe Facebook group that all the roads are open.

I also saw this. These folks are nuts.

1738430381_vaqsuidwhtzd.jpg

Keith_Moon wrote:

I've read there's been bad flooding in and around Cass these past few days.  Anyone know what's going on?   Are some roads still closed?

pagamony - DCSki Supporter 
one month ago
Member since 02/23/2005 🔗
941 posts
I've often wished there was a nice path from Balhooter to the three other lifts.  It's not a far walk. 
Keith_Moon
one month ago
Member since 02/19/2019 🔗
214 posts


 Yes, absolutely!

pagamony wrote:

I've often wished there was a nice path from Balhooter to the three other lifts.  It's not a far walk. 
Blue Don 1982
one month ago (edited one month ago)
Member since 01/13/2008 🔗
1,598 posts

The perfect storm. Holiday weekend on a Saturday, wind, freezing rain and the high speed lifts were on hold.

1739654148_yuryaxdpylee.jpg

snapdragon
one month ago
Member since 01/27/2015 🔗
448 posts
looks like park city during ski patrol strike
Bonzski
one month ago
Member since 10/21/2015 🔗
666 posts

Snowshoe is breaking ground next month on Shaver's Center 2.0 for a projected opening mid-Dec.

1740144800_aqekvhdvibnv.jpg1740144857_qdcgdmwmyfzp.jpg

eggraid
27 days ago
Member since 02/9/2010 🔗
525 posts

It's not super interesting, but also not ugly. I'm glad to see they went a little more conservative rather than trying to make it super contemporary which would be quickly dated (I'm thinking of all the apartment buildings/townhouses with flat roofs in particular).

I give it less than a 1% chance of being open for Dec 2025, though. 

Mongo
26 days ago
Member since 02/24/2015 🔗
106 posts

The old Shaver Center wasn't an architectural wonder either. But it doesn't really need to be.

Remind me, are they going to restore the Big Top to a "kids indoor fun" place? My kids have outgrown it but still have many memories of them playing there after skiing.

 

eggraid wrote:

It's not super interesting, but also not ugly. I'm glad to see they went a little more conservative rather than trying to make it super contemporary which would be quickly dated (I'm thinking of all the apartment buildings/townhouses with flat roofs in particular).

I give it less than a 1% chance of being open for Dec 2025, though. 

eggraid
26 days ago
Member since 02/9/2010 🔗
525 posts
True, they need function more than stunning architecture. The picture shows the big top adjacent to the rendered Shaver's center, and the little blurb that I saw said that the color of both the Shavers Center and Big top may not be accurate, so it seems like it will still be there.
Blue Don 1982
15 days ago (edited 15 days ago)
Member since 01/13/2008 🔗
1,598 posts

Snowshoe Passes for next year
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Keith_Moon
14 days ago
Member since 02/19/2019 🔗
214 posts
When we started there, before COVID, the Ridiculous Pass was about $230.
Stephen
12 days ago
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts
Has anyone had eyes on Shay's revenge? Will the bumps last until next week, or do I need to go tomorrow?
Stephen
11 days ago (edited 11 days ago)
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts

No bumps on Shay’s.  Snowshoe sucks.  $172 lift ticket.  Long drive.  And the skiing is not better than Massanutten.  Used to be Massanutten was the worst.  Now they are the best.

  1. Give proper updates for the bumps.  I was looking at the website for weeks, and there was no indication that there wouldn’t be bumps today on Shay’s. Put a webcam on it if you have to.  Massanutten and Whitetail let you see the bumps on a webcam.
  2. No lift ticket sales at Top of the World where there is the only convenient parking.
  3. Still hand scanning lift tickets.  No crowds, but you can’t just roll on the lift.  
  4. Surface cover wasn’t great with a number of bare spots on the expert slopes.
  5. Spring season.  Give us a real bump run.
  6. It’s always bugged me that you can’t loop an ungroomed run there without long green slopes in between.
  7. The only run with bumps, Knotbumper, had a collapsing snow bridge over a water tunnel spanning the entire length of the trail.  I hate when things are shut down.  Just let us ski it, which they did.  I guess that’s one redeeming feature.  So, I skied it all day, but it’s a disaster waiting to happen. Broken ski or broken leg.  For $172 lift tickets, build a fricken culvert for it.  I’ll go up there and build it for them just to have an uninterrupted bump run.  Ridiculously managed.  Here’s a video of it.  I scoped it out for two runs trying to find a safe way around it.  There was no safe way, so for the next 4 hours I skied over it, and it held.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YsJSwkOBEA 

You’re dead to me Snowshoe.  Maybe if Massanutten wasn’t so fricken awesome this year I would settle for such crap thinking you can’t do better, but now I know you can do much better.  I don’t want to drive 6 hours to ski slushy groomed slopes.  Apparently not many other people want to either, because the place is empty.  If they just update the website accurately with the status of bumps, Snowshoe could be viable, but I will never go up there again unless I can reach a person on the phone and get a clear answer for the bump conditions.  I’ve been skiing there for 23 years, and this may be the last time.

snapdragon
10 days ago
Member since 01/27/2015 🔗
448 posts
$172... a little less than half my season pass at the line...gtfo
Stephen
10 days ago
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts

You're now my best friend. I'm gonna get a Tline pass and ski powder everyday with you.

snapdragon wrote:

$172... a little less than half my season pass at the line...gtfo
Bonzski
8 days ago
Member since 10/21/2015 🔗
666 posts
Saturday afternoon the soft bumps on lower Shays and lower Cupp were great. Right side of lower Shays had wonderful corn snow, best on the mountain.  There was some tall grass sticking up at the top right-side of lower Shays but it was easily skiable (no dirt or rocks). I did 10 laps there to close out the season.
Stephen
8 days ago
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts

On Friday they had warning sticks across the middle just after the grass steering everyone to a small sliver on the left.  Here's how it was:

youtube.com

There weren't any bumps on Cupp.  Today, Shay's and Knotbumper are closed.

Bonzski wrote:

Saturday afternoon the soft bumps on lower Shays and lower Cupp were great. Right side of lower Shays had wonderful corn snow, best on the mountain.  There was some tall grass sticking up at the top right-side of lower Shays but it was easily skiable (no dirt or rocks). I did 10 laps there to close out the season.
snapdragon
8 days ago
Member since 01/27/2015 🔗
448 posts
sliver...not even close...plenty o room...tons o snow...patch grass skimming is a hallmark of spring skiing bro...yew!
Stephen
8 days ago
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts

If there were bumps on Shay's, it all would have been worth it for me.  I can ski grass for 1/3 the drive and 1/3 the cost someplace else.  I love spring skiing.

snapdragon wrote:

sliver...not even close...plenty o room...tons o snow...patch grass skimming is a hallmark of spring skiing bro...yew!
Stephen
7 days ago
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts

I got an email survey from Snowshoe, so I filled it out trying to be fair.  I think the report of a hazard raised some red flags, because they called me to talk about it.  We had a great conversation, and I learned something.  The main topic was the hazard, but for me the biggest problem was that I came up to ski moguls on Shay's, and there were none.  I assumed it had been groomed, and they never reported it on the website.  He said after a certain point in the season, they don't groom it (except a part on the left side).  He said that merely the weather obliterated the moguls.  I did not know that was possible to that extent.  It looked like it had been groomed two days ago.  There must not have been much traffic, because sometimes those bumps are huge by the end of the season.  It was on a Friday after a warm week, and there is much less traffic during the week.

On the same day, the bumps were huge on No Hessitation and non-existent on Shay's.  I guess Massanutten is getting good mogul traffic after all.

Snowshoe is forgiven.  It wasn't their fault.  Though, the lift ticket prices were still outrageous for that late season.

Stephen wrote:

No bumps on Shay’s.  Snowshoe sucks.  $172 lift ticket.  Long drive.  And the skiing is not better than Massanutten.  Used to be Massanutten was the worst.  Now they are the best.

  1. Give proper updates for the bumps.  I was looking at the website for weeks, and there was no indication that there wouldn’t be bumps today on Shay’s. Put a webcam on it if you have to.  Massanutten and Whitetail let you see the bumps on a webcam.
  2. No lift ticket sales at Top of the World where there is the only convenient parking.
  3. Still hand scanning lift tickets.  No crowds, but you can’t just roll on the lift.  
  4. Surface cover wasn’t great with a number of bare spots on the expert slopes.
  5. Spring season.  Give us a real bump run.
  6. It’s always bugged me that you can’t loop an ungroomed run there without long green slopes in between.
  7. The only run with bumps, Knotbumper, had a collapsing snow bridge over a water tunnel spanning the entire length of the trail.  I hate when things are shut down.  Just let us ski it, which they did.  I guess that’s one redeeming feature.  So, I skied it all day, but it’s a disaster waiting to happen. Broken ski or broken leg.  For $172 lift tickets, build a fricken culvert for it.  I’ll go up there and build it for them just to have an uninterrupted bump run.  Ridiculously managed.  Here’s a video of it.  I scoped it out for two runs trying to find a safe way around it.  There was no safe way, so for the next 4 hours I skied over it, and it held.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YsJSwkOBEA 

You’re dead to me Snowshoe.  Maybe if Massanutten wasn’t so fricken awesome this year I would settle for such crap thinking you can’t do better, but now I know you can do much better.  I don’t want to drive 6 hours to ski slushy groomed slopes.  Apparently not many other people want to either, because the place is empty.  If they just update the website accurately with the status of bumps, Snowshoe could be viable, but I will never go up there again unless I can reach a person on the phone and get a clear answer for the bump conditions.  I’ve been skiing there for 23 years, and this may be the last time.

Stephen
6 days ago
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts

Checking my credit card statement, last year on March 5th, the lift ticket cost me $107.  This year on March 14th it cost $172.  There were great conditions on March 5th last year, but already end of season type conditions on March 14th this year.  So, it's not my imagination.  That is an outrageous price hike.  Unless I have a pass, I will just never ski there, and I can't see getting a pass when there's similar enough skiing much closer.  I wonder if that price hike is working out for them?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how the bumps could just disappear like that.  I'm thinking they weren't ever there in the first place, because their traffic may be way down after this huge price hike.  Did anyone see big bumps on lower Shay's revenge this year?  Did it seem like there was a lot less traffic this year?

Many times I've seen big bumps appear in one day when there's lots of traffic.  I've just always assumed bumps are going to show up anywhere, any time within just a few days.  I was surprised to see Makattack not bump up this year.  All this got me thinking that there's a critical point to bump formation where they won't easily develop until they pass a certain threshold, then they explode.  If people turn randomly, all effects will average out to zero, and there won't be any bumps.  People must turn in the same place, but there has to be something there to motivate people to turn in the exact same spot.  So, there's this critical time where a divot must form and beckon people to turn before the weather or a snowboarder wipes it out.  I noticed on No Hess that the bumps diminished one week after a bunch of snowmaking, and it struck me that they reformed in exactly the same odd way the next week.  There are features about that slope that motivate certain groups of people to make similar turns.

marzNC - DCSki Supporter 
5 days ago
Member since 12/10/2008 🔗
3,403 posts

Snowshoe is doing a special deal to end the 2024-25 season:

"Our 50th ski season isn't over yet! For the last weekend of the season, March 21-23, Adult Lift Tickets are just $50! No lodging reservation required, just you. Thanks for another amazing year of skiing and an amazing 50 years of Snowshoe!"

Bonzski
5 days ago
Member since 10/21/2015 🔗
666 posts

Med-large bumps were on lower Shays in Jan. The several rain/freeze cycles and couple heavy rains of Feb likely forced them to groom, and the lack of good snow since, I think they never recovered.

Stephen wrote:

Checking my credit card statement, last year on March 5th, the lift ticket cost me $107.  This year on March 14th it cost $172.  There were great conditions on March 5th last year, but already end of season type conditions on March 14th this year.  So, it's not my imagination.  That is an outrageous price hike.  Unless I have a pass, I will just never ski there, and I can't see getting a pass when there's similar enough skiing much closer.  I wonder if that price hike is working out for them?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how the bumps could just disappear like that.  I'm thinking they weren't ever there in the first place, because their traffic may be way down after this huge price hike.  Did anyone see big bumps on lower Shay's revenge this year?  Did it seem like there was a lot less traffic this year?

Many times I've seen big bumps appear in one day when there's lots of traffic.  I've just always assumed bumps are going to show up anywhere, any time within just a few days.  I was surprised to see Makattack not bump up this year.  All this got me thinking that there's a critical point to bump formation where they won't easily develop until they pass a certain threshold, then they explode.  If people turn randomly, all effects will average out to zero, and there won't be any bumps.  People must turn in the same place, but there has to be something there to motivate people to turn in the exact same spot.  So, there's this critical time where a divot must form and beckon people to turn before the weather or a snowboarder wipes it out.  I noticed on No Hess that the bumps diminished one week after a bunch of snowmaking, and it struck me that they reformed in exactly the same odd way the next week.  There are features about that slope that motivate certain groups of people to make similar turns.

Stephen
5 days ago
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts

      They dropped the price to $50 within days after I went, though Knotbumper and Lower Shay's were closed by then.  On my day they had already closed Silvercreek and conditions had deteriorated, but yet they still held a 61% price hike over nearly prime season the year before.  Is that a miscalculation?  I know they lost at least one customer, but the fact that Shay's never bumped up after they stopped grooming shows a very low number of visitors, though they can tolerate a 61% drop and still be even.  I'm surprised there isn't more buzz around here about a tremendous price hike at the largest resort in our area.  I guess everyone has a season pass for their preferred mountain.

       My focus has always been on finding less crowds when skiing, but this season it's really hit home to me that I need a fair amount of people out there skiing to get the moguls that I want.

wgo
5 days ago
Member since 02/10/2004 🔗
1,717 posts
Maybe the $107 vs $172 was a midweek vs weekend difference?
Stephen
5 days ago
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts

Is Friday usually weekend rates?

wgo wrote:

Maybe the $107 vs $172 was a midweek vs weekend difference?
wgo
5 days ago
Member since 02/10/2004 🔗
1,717 posts


 It's difficult to tell with their "dynamic pricing" but I think so?

Stephen wrote:

Is Friday usually weekend rates?

wgo wrote:

Maybe the $107 vs $172 was a midweek vs weekend difference?
Stephen
5 days ago (edited 5 days ago)
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts

Looking around the country, it seems to vary quite a bit what they do on Friday.  Some places are closer to the weekend, some places are closer to the weekday, and some places don't change much from weekend to week day.  I think you make a good point, and that accounts for some of the price difference.  Though, for many places the prices drop each day towards the end of the season.  The fact that prices plummeted from 172 to 50 within a day or two shows that their dynamic pricing is out of whack.

wgo wrote:


 It's difficult to tell with their "dynamic pricing" but I think so?

Stephen wrote:

Is Friday usually weekend rates?

wgo wrote:

Maybe the $107 vs $172 was a midweek vs weekend difference?
Stephen
5 days ago (edited 5 days ago)
Member since 02/16/2024 🔗
86 posts

Massanutten was the same on Friday as midweek.  Peak season on Friday at Massanutten I paid $51, and for me the skiing was better than what I could have found at Snowshoe.  I'm afraid someone is going to screw this up.  Maybe I should be quiet about it.  Either someone is going to decide to groom everything all the time, or they will quadruple prices.  Wintergreen was very nice when they'd let Outer Limits bump up, then someone decided it had to be groomed pretty much ruining Wintergreen for me  (Cliffhanger bumps are just too short to count as fun in the bumps).  Whatever Snowshoe has done or not done, they didn't have spring bumps on Shay's.  I know the weather isn't to blame, because Massanutten has much worse weather, but had lots of bumps.

Truth is I had pretty much quit skiing in Virginia many years ago, because there were just too few bumps.  Then, I'd go up just to catch some powder, and lo and behold Outer Limits was a good bump run.  It revived my skiing, and I skied many years because of it.  Now it's gone, and I probably would have stopped skiing again, except I went up to check out the new run at Massanutten (No Hessitation) and had perhaps the best ski season on bumps ever in Virginia.  I'll do it again next year if we get enough weather for it, and they stay the course.

Stephen wrote:

Looking around the country, it seems to vary quite a bit what they do on Friday.  Some places are closer to the weekend, some places are closer to the weekday, and some places don't change much from weekend to week day.  I think you make a good point, and that accounts for some of the price difference.  Though, for many places the prices drop each day towards the end of the season.  The fact that prices plummeted from 172 to 50 within a day or two shows that their dynamic pricing is out of whack.

wgo wrote:


 It's difficult to tell with their "dynamic pricing" but I think so?

Stephen wrote:

Is Friday usually weekend rates?

wgo wrote:

Maybe the $107 vs $172 was a midweek vs weekend difference?

Ski and Tell

Snowcat got your tongue?

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