Based on this article in Ski the East WV had a great year. Of the 22 ski areas listed, WG had more nature snowfall than any other ski area listed except Jay Peak and Bolton Valley.

I also found it interesting that WG was open almost two months longer than Round Top, 43 days longer than Liberty, and 20 more days than Seven Springs. All of this with no snowmaking.

I know this is sacrilegious, but why doesn't White Grass install a lift? Strictly owner's choice or are there permit/zoning prohibitions? It would seem that even a low profile T-bar/surface lift would take them to a whole new level of skier visits?

AFAIK, owner's choice. A lift would totally change the culture, vibe and preferred methods of going down the hill.

In this case, your lock-heeled bias is showing.

Tline/Canaan have lifts already, the valley doesn't need more

In my opinion, they just need more skiers who care enough to do some glade manicuring as it won't just happen naturally... hint hint all you tree skiers..it's not hard...just hike up with your buddies on a nice fall day with some hand saws, lopers and beers and go to town. It's amazing what you can do in a few hours. Because of the work the faithful WG minions do, you can ski the manicured glades in very little snow. Some of those trees at tline you need multiple feet of snow to do so!

The WG regulars would probably come after you with pitchforks. Nothing personal but I'd probably join them.

Being serious for a moment, I believe that Chip's current business model works very well for him. His overhead is very low. He buys plastic snow fencing on big rolls (cheap) and uses lost and broken ski poles, gathered from under Timberline's and Canaan's lifts in summer, as poles to put up the snow fencing. That's his "snow making" system. at the time of the SLC Olympics he boasted that his snow making was far cheaper than Soldier Hollow, the Olympic XC skiing venue. To put in a lift would entail expenses to install and operate, and as John L says, change the culture in ways that I am quite sure the clientele does not want.

There are already a lift shack and a bull wheel there at the halfway point of the open slope. The shack serves as a resting place, the bull wheel as an historic decoration. I helped put both of them in place a dozen or more years ago.

I think they would do well to put in the first HS lift in the valley.... HS rope tow of course. Think Mt Greylock Ski Club tow.

When I first skied White Grass it felt like a throwback to the pre lift served skiing. With all the flags fluttering in the drive to the lodge I had the impression that I was arriving for an international nordic competition. When I saw the old remnants of a rope tow my first impression was complete and I thought how cool would a functioning rope tow be? I'm sure that even with such a simple lift like that not only would the culture change but cost would increase. I'm sure liability insurance alone would drive cost up alot. The biggest change would be a lifestyle change for Chip and his family. I wouldn't trade that for anything if I were him.

So...Jack Frost...who's going?

WG gets the same snow as tline and cv, so there wouldn't actually be any advantage, imo. The skier density goes up, the snow gets tracked, then they need snowmaking. Without the lift they have a niche, they have style.

So.... When is jack frost ?

Saturday December 7th?