Anyone got any reports? I am desperate to ski. Looking for Wisp, or Canaan/Timberline reports.

I skied Wisp during their birthday celebration on the 17th and I just got back from 2 days of skiing at Canaan. Wisp has Squirrel Cage open. It was really bumped up when I skied it, but I think they may have groomed it recently. It looks like there are some bare spots starting to appear, but hopefully temperatures the next few days allow them to make some more snow.

Canaan has a couple of beginner runs open and one intermediate, to what the call an advanced run open. The intermediate to advanced run starts at the midstation, as they don't have the upper part of the mountain open yet. The one run had good conditions, nice and groomed, and no bare spots. They kept teasing me with blowing snow on the upper mountain, but I think it will be a few more days of snow making before they get to open it.

If I hadn't been staying at the Canaan Resort and had not bought my lift tickets in advance, I would have skied one of the days at Timberline. They've got more terrain open, including two runs from the top of the mountain, with one of those runs being White Lightning. I can't comment on the conditions of those runs, but I did take a look from the base and it looks like they had good coverage. I'm sure someone else from DC Ski was there and can give you a first hand report.

From the snow reports, I'd say Timberline wins on trails open. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will get colder so all the resorts can start making snow soon.

I heard today that Whitetail is going to try to get one of their beginner trails open for the weekend, but that's it.

I'd say Timberline has got "bragging rights" for the time being - with a lot of terrain (all relative, due to the weather).
First hand prospective: really fun snow, good coverage.
First hand PHOTOS: well, 17 of them right here:
Monday's Photos

Nice photos man!

Thanks... hopefully I'll have time to share a bunch with the DCski bunch during the season. We'll be taking care of all the events at Timberline & Canaan Valley ski resort, so check back often.

I have to know, because once again, the website is vague...are they really charging $61 for extremely limited terrain or are the Holiday prices adjusted for this year's lack of snow?

LOL.

Hey, 7S shocked the world and kept prices at preseason rates because they have dirt and some rocks to ski on. I'm sorry, $61 is insane for what is open.

Nice picture of Sand Run Lake as well. Too bad it isn't frozen.

Actually, the tip crossing sequence was just plain awsum.

I'm sure they are.

I'd like to think that I'd cut customers a break if I was running a ski area and was offering just a few trails. Then again, I've never owned anything, so who am I to speak.

I planned to head up there tomorrow but with the current situation I won't be. If tickets were discounted they would have at least made SOME money off of me. Instead, I guess I'll just go to work

lol

Buy a season pass - you'll save money on the long run (for any resort, unless you plan a single weekend a year)
Timberline could probably raise their prices by tagging another $10 per ticket this year: few (VERY FEW) resorts have that many miles of trails open within a huge perimeter.
I didn't hear anyone talking about raising or lowering ticket prices though; the snow was way fun though. Some people might say that it got a little icy towards the end of the day, but that too is relative: I was on light gear all day and really had a blast.

I'll post more photos before you wake up.

What's the best local option during the next couple of days? Seems like slim pickins...?

TLine. 3" of natural last night and making snow like crazy. support a local yocal resort with the best skiing in the mid-atl in the poorest of counties!

$10 more would be robbery.

A quick look at Timberline yesterday:
Pretty good snow
Quite a few people at the base
Hardly anyone on the lift (<1 min lift lines)
Sun, Blue Skies, Snow Guns going on full speed, Fresh snow
Here's a quick look:

If you look carefully, Sand Run Lake is partially frozen in the photo. Look for the line (top left, at 10 o'clock.
The tip crossing is from our famous skier; a Junior racer who trains really hard and takes the sport super seriously with a smile - and obviously having more muscles than me on her right leg to be able to "pull it back" to reality.

T-line has actually been very slow as far as crowds go for x-mas week so far. No lift lines for this week is not typical, but for some reason was the case yesterday. But man, that place is xtra enjoyable when they get actual paying customers in and don't crowd it out by giving away product to large groups (which is the case right now)...bet they make more money w/ paying customers too...

I was at Tline opening weekend where they did the best with what they had. From the talk and looking through the new webcam I can't wait to get my board back out there Jan. 8 & 9th. Hopefully the weather cooperates!

LOL - THAT's because they're all HERE (Snowshoe). Got 5 runs in the whole day - 35-40 minuite (timed) waits at Ballhooter. They had to shuttle skiers from Top-of-the-World/Soaring Eagle as no trail was open there. Probably a normal crowd, but squeezed on just a few trails. Nite skiing at Silver Creek made all the difference in the world - more runs last nite then the whole day! At least its cold & dry now.

Wisp has been opening new trails daily, conditions really improving. 2-4 inches of natural stuff plus a lot of man-made. Heading out there next weekend.

Snow if hard to find right now, even out west. Have friends in Park City all this past week, and they said only a fraction of the trails are open there. VT might be the best snow around, but even they are getting rain of late.

Just got an email from Roundtop saying they will have Minuteman open tomorrow. Whitetail expects to have top to bottom skiing open by Wednesday.

Looks like the ski season is finally arriving.

Live report from Snowshoe...12/30/2011 3:45pm
Obviously crowded, but this not all bad...full lodges etc. mean reasonable Christmas week income, all the better for improvements. Excellent snow quality, 32 of 60 trails open, all lifts in basin area operating, only Western Territory chair closed at Snowshoe itself. I suspect one reason for crowds in the promotions put in by the new management, for example: in early Nov, booking lodging and skiing for 4 days each got one a season pass, which includes 10% discounts on food and purchases on the mountain, and a 20% discount on future lodging. The employees I have spoken with seem real pleased with the new management, and the changes they are bringing. For the first time in years, in my opinion, it appears that SS management puts customers and a positive experience ahead of the almighty dollar.
The Colonel

I went to Seven Springs yesterday. The front side Wagner, Stowe and Tyrol along with crossover Cortina and Stowe trails and beginner Fawn and Philips were open from the top. Santa's Beard terrain park off of Fawn at the top had a few features.

Crowds were big, wait at all three operating lifts (HS-6, fixed quad and triple) were 15 minute minimum with waits stretching much longer.

The snow conditions were fair, soft and spring like by mid day. A line of nice formed bumps grew along skier's right on Stowe.

They were charging $20 to park around the Alpine Meadows (Blitzen) triple down to Check Point Charlie. It looks like they will be doing the same for primo spots in the North Lot. Web announcement said a $10 fee will now be collected. Last season they only gouged on weekend for parking in close with weekday parking at those spots free. I hope for the same this season.

Avalanche and the triple chair there will open today. The North Pole Quad will open and serve Lost Boy, North Face By-pass, Nastar race course and nearby terrain park, The Alley open with nine features. They will be herding the day pay folks into the North Lot entrance with season pass holders and others using the main entrance. There appears to be no ticket sales at the main gate.

Pay for primo parking, didn't Hidden Valley abandon that practice? It looks like a fine "thank you for your patronage" gesture from Bob to you and your friends.

Hey Rob. To continue a mini-rant against 7S.

1) The "autoplay" feature of the video in the center left portion of the home page on their website is annoying at best. I know there is a video there, and if I want to play it, I will. Let me make that choice.

2) Their new slogan "Is This The Winter?" is IMHO, inane, bordering on imbecilic. Winter for what? To charge $10 - $20 for parking. The audacity to charge for parking, especially with the conditions (admittedly no fault of theirs), takes some kahones. I sure hope they don't plan on charging for parking during the week.

Sounds like they understand that business is all about relationships. Skiing is no different. If the resort builds a relationship with its patrons and looks toward a long term win/win interaction they are much more likely to build a customer base that willingly hands over its dollar for decent product/service in return. This means getting and acting on feedback and giving a little in return for long term patronage. It will always be about the dollar, that's business, but how one goes about it makes all the difference in the world. Sometimes in our stock market world of quarterly driven performance weak managers will sacrifice relationships for near term gains, which goes to your point. I agree It is very scary when an organization gets too focused on growing the profit margins. I usually point to circuit city as the perfect example of what happens when a company puts margins ahead of all else.

First hand report for 31 December at Snowshoe:
Teasingly cold (33-35 degrees) with spitting snow and sleet. Stil have 32 trails open with good cover, lots of fun. Obviously longer lift lines given near 100% lodging booking, but if you worked the lines right (single, join a twosome for a triple chair, etc.) one could negate some of the wait. Should start to thin out tomorrow. SS has two trails about ready to open given a good night of snowmaking, Grab Hammer and Camp 99. Probably won't be cold enough for long enough to get them ready for Sunday, but maybe on Monday, Tuesday for sure. Again I want to emphasize the changes that the new general manager has brought forth: a season pass if you book SS lodging via SS for 5 days, was 4 days for a free pass until early Nov.
And with a season pass you get a 10% discount on SS meals and shops, to even include the General Store!, and 20% off future lodging. The lift operators seem to still need more training, and the snowmakers have pulled snow from the magicians hat, over 100 acres open, and 32 of 60 trails open. Tomorrow might have some underdeveloped snow sprinkles followed by a blast of cold cold wind. My grandkids have had wonderful ski/snowboard lessons, and my youngest (3++ years) is skiing to the bottom after two days with 2 private lessons each day!
More tomorrow!
The Colonel

25 degrees at the top of Spruce Knob today. We were the only ones up there on bicycles. What's up with that?

Timberline Jan 3rd:
Fluffy, 5-6 inches of snow (with HUGE drifts) - stop
They're getting ready to open couple more slopes (Bluesss) - stop
Gotta go - stop
Gone skiing - stop

blower at Kalame today