Looking for some insight as to which mountain to go to in the mid-atlantic/southeast region. I've always gone to snowshoe on a deal, but I'm not going to pay $80 for a lift ticket. Been looking at doing canaan/timberline and was wanting to hear from someone who's been there and can give an honest comparison to snowshoe.
I like the deals at canaan, just don't want to get there and be bored by a little beginner mountain. Open to other places though if anyone's got a suggestion.

When do you plan on going?

I'm partial towards Timberline. I feel they have the best terrain in WV. If they've got everything open and some snow in the woods, you can't find any better skiing in WV, I'll guarantee that. I will warn you in advance though. Compared to Snowshoe, expect slow lifts, sub-optimal facilities, ok food, but cheaper prices. It's the skiing and people that make Timberline such a great place. For me, the positives by far outweigh the negatives... and after a while you just can't help but laugh and have a good time with the negatives.

I'm looking at going the weekend of Dec. 18th and 19th. I got to get my girlfriend competent at skiing before a trip out west in january. So that's another thing...how much of canaan/timberline are going to be open by then? Weather looks promising but I'm sure they don't have the snowmaking equipment that snowshoe's got.

I really couldn't care less about facilities, food, apres ski stuff...just want a mountain with as many nice runs and snow as possible. Slow lifts do suck though. What about canaan?

While Snowshoe will definitely have more runs open than Timberline by Dec 18/19, I would imagine they would be heavily weighted towards the green runs with maybe some blue runs mixed in. Timberline almost always opens White Lightning first, which is one of their easier black runs but which still has a nice sustained pitch and is fun to ski. Personally I would rather ski this run all day than whatever mix of greens/blues Snowshoe would likely have.

As far as lifts, Timberline and Canaan are both pretty slow. So there is that to consider.

If you're teaching her, Timberline would be a good place to go, assuming they have runs from the top open. Salamander is great place learn. It is long, not terribly crowded (minus a bottleneck or 2), and it doesn't have 20 trails crossing it like at Snowshoe. You can then head over the one of the blues from mid station, before venturing to the blues from the top. I'd say that it's going to take some good weather and some aggressive snowmaking to get all of that open by then though.

Shoot, take her to the ski school there, request Jimmy (Timberline's #1 instructor), and she'll come back a carving fool in no time.

As for Canaan, the lift ride is a little quicker, mostly because there is slightly less vertical and I think they have around 10 squirrels turning the lift, as compared to Timberline's 3.5. If they have stuff open from the top (Timber Trail/Run is their version of Salamander) then that would be another option. Because their snowmaking capacity is pretty much the worst in the Mid-Atlantic, they will have the least amount of options for skiing during that time of the year.

Wisp will probably have a good bit of open terrain by then, assuming the weather cooperates. I've skied Wisp a good bit, but have never taught or put much thought into going about teaching there. They have plenty of Green trails, but they are substantially shorter than trails you'll find in WV.

If you are looking for the most open terrain, Snowshoe might be your best bet.

I supposed I should have asked before assuming, but is your GF new to skiing and just learning, or are you just trying to get her skiing to a more advanced level? That may also help in deciding where to go.

The more Canaan gets trashed the better I like it...you keep the crowds away and I get 5 runs an hour. Thank you! (:^O)>>>

That early in the year, considering the amount of open, fairly challenging terrain, I'd also consider Seven Springs.

Thats a great quote david...we should use that as a standard response to inquiries about the place!

IMHO, for greens, Wisp stands with Sally and Timber Trail considering the three long greens there versus 1 each at CV and TL.

But December 18th??-----any of these places are a crap shoot, and the options are limited to SS, TL/CV, Wisp and 7S.

It's a group of us going but she's the only one who has never skiied. Thanks a lot for the info!
So bottom line...if our group can save a couple hundred bucks by doing an alternative to snowshoe (wisp/canaan/timber), would we notice a big difference or should we just suck it up and pay the big bucks at snowshoe?

Hey david thanks for the plug, I always bring em back, usually with a big smile on their face.

Lloyd the only blue terrain at snowshoe is on the western territory . Is this just a day trip or what?

What? Western is only two trails: black and double-black with no cutoff...you're commited. And Lower Shays is either huge bumps and/or bumps w/ice. I heard one time to head off all the injuries, they tried a sign: "no rentals". Any Snowshoe regulars out there? What percentage of those you see attempting the Western Territory DON'T belong there?

Need to pay attention to smiley's in posts....

Jimmy can teach, but he is a bit weak on directions and degree of difficulty.

Took him three years in Utah to know the answer to "Which way we heading?"

"Down."

And...

"Will this be difficult?"

"Nope." (That's a John L or Crush nope. Heh, heh.)

With your options I would do 7Springs or Wisp. Both would have a great variety of terrain open by that point. Like people said Shoe will be loaded with greens and maybe have a run or two of blues mixed in.

If it was me I would 100% do 7 springs (actually I might be there that weekend).. check out the "Get into the Snow" condo package if you have a group going. By that time I am sure they will have the North Face open as well which is a ton of fun because it is more like a Bowl than a defined trail. Also, the high speeds are a plus and = more skiing time.

Enjoy!... oh and don't teach your GF to ski, that never helps a relationship, poor choice. Shell out the extra 30 bucks or whatever for a beginner package. She will learn faster and you will be far less likely to find yourself sleeping on the floor for the night!

I cannot believe i am writing this ... but for the 3rd year in a row we are going to shoe the week before xmas. With a wife and kids in tow, and several other friends families up there at the same time, it's just not worth the extra hour to drive to tline for likely less open slopes. It's not all bad, most of the peopel actually on the slopes are good companions and they have always had those two new trails on the other side of widowaker open and they have opened cup each time. Stil, if only .... sigh.

Lemme know if you are there the same time.

Lloyd,
If you are smart, you will start her out in Ski School, no matter where you decide to go. It will be $$ well invested for a future of skiing together.
The Colonel

I never went to ski school. I suggest you go to wisp because hidden valley and 7springs dont usually have all their terrain open until January. Neither does wisp but the back side of the mountain isn't very exciting but It does have some good greens.

With continued cold over the next week 7 Springs has the ability to open most of the mountain by next weekend. I would think that they will do that if the long range forecast gives them confidence that all that money they're blowing on the hill won't melt away before Christmas.

SHHHHhhhhhhhh!

For my money, Wisp and Seven Springs offer the best combination of skiing, dining and lodging options. Wisp opened this weekend, and has been pumping out tons of snow, with the real stuff on the way tomorrow. I'd be surprised if they weren't fully up and running in one week. The long range forecast looks excellent. We rent ski-in/ski-out homes frequently at Wisp, here's a good place to find one: www.deepcreekvacations.com

Have fun!

Check out Wintergreen. They had great automated snowmaking and added a lot of guns for this year! Also added an ice skating rink.
The Colonel