Snowshoe is starting to show just how bad this February's weather has been. Their trails are in great shape. Off trail, where there was TONS of snow just a few weeks ago, is either thin, patchy, or non-existent. It really sucks to see all of that snow go to waste this early in the season. Here's to hoping for a good March!

We skied for a couple of hours this morning. My only complaint today (other than lack of bumps) was the occasional fog that blew in. Sometimes you couldn't see much in front of you, while other times it was perfectly clear. The slopes were in tremendous shaped. Groomed to perfection and set up well last night. They were very soft and stayed ice free the entire time we were there, other than some sugar accumulation at the typical busy trail crossings you have to go through to get from one side of the mountain to the other.

And there was NO ONE there today. I've never seen Snowshoe as empty as it was between 9-10am this morning. It was kind of scary.

I took 2 pictures.

From the top of Camp 99


Riding up the Western Territory Quad



BTW, I miss last ski season!

Likely to get worse before it gets better; i.e., gotta survive the next week. Two storms before March 1 with potential significant rains, even for the mountains.

Used to be "common Wisdom" back in the day that SS got more Snow than Canaan valley....

4300' stake: 24 "

4000' stake: 20 "

From WG website today..(up in Canaan)

Crazy isn't it? I've been amazed at the snow differences this year.

That's too bad, I saw a lot more snow at SS on Dec 23 than on Feb 5, but I could still ski in the woods even then. Not now it looks like.

I think SS is really setup badly for low crowds like midweek or late season. All their terrain requires separate lifts and it must be expensive as hell to keep them open just for David to take some photos. And this year I bet very few people are taking a week off work to spend at SS. I think that's why they close so early in the year - they could run just the grabhammer lift but who is going to drive up there and rent a condo just for that? Otoh, I have been told they were very profitable last year so who knows, maybe they can 'weather' it.


ps: with soft snow snow and flat grooming, camp 99 would be reduced to a low intermediate trail - cry cry. still looks nice though.

Yeah, we were talking about the same thing yesterday. I was thinking that this time of the year they should maybe only run the Western Express until noon during weekdays. They could also probably cut back on some other lifts too. Definitely a feeling of wasting money up there yesterday. And since I have a pass, I literally haven't spent a single dollar at Snowshoe since early December.

What, I ski Snowshoe every 2 weeks, mid week, there was more people here yesterday than I have seen since Mid December. There are a lot of families here with young kids. Most didnt hit the slopes yesterday till after 10 am. All the trails were in great shape yesterday, lower Cupp and heavy trafic areas on the S.S. side got tracked up real good in the afternoon. First time this year for that for me.

The rain held off till noon today, so we got 3 good hrs. skiing on the Western Territory even though it was soft snow. Hopefully it will turn cold tomorrow. The real problem with Snowshoe is there is no WV Trout on the Mountain, this place is going to hell!, Heading to Elk River tonight for dinner.!

No trout on the mountain that is depressing. Speaking of depressing, February and food, Muttleys in Downtown Davis, the highest incorporated city in WV that always makes me laff for some reason anyways Muttleys has a new menu. Don't worry thursday is still steak night but the smoked trout appytizer is no longer on the menu.

There's plenty of trout in the Elk and Slatyfork. You can keep 6 a day and fix them however you want.

David - you were there...maybe I should have payed more attention in Econ 101 class...but with business at SS as it is, and the multitude of other SS problems --- how can they stay in business??? Even if they raise lift tickets to $99 next year!

I am sure they make the bulk of their revenue on weekends, when the place is packed -- you can practically smell the money in the air. I rarely have ever seen much of a crowd midweek in the last ~20 years I have been going there. So the economics of weekdays aren't great, but probably more than covered by weekend revenue. Weekdays are a great time to ski up there.