Anyone hear of anything new or improvements?
The Colonel

Timberline could do something to speed up their lifts. Surely they could speed one of those lifts up, preferably the one without the mid station. I have skied at almost 50 resorts and the lifts at timberline were the only ones that I felt REALLY detracted from the skiing experience. I'll still go back, but a faster lift would be great.

Other things I hope to see:

A good GM at BK to replace the one that left
More snowmaking and grooming at BK.
Glade work at BK
FIX THE BROKEN LIFT AT BK!

More Timberline snowmaking and being more aggressive about it.
More glade work at Timberline.

More snowmaking at Canaan Valley.

Sorry, these are more of a wish list. I have not heard of things actually happening.

At our HOA meeting Frank Deberry (Pres of Snowshoe)noted that they are working with ATT to put in some "mini towers" in the village for cell access and upgrades to local bandwith for better internet service for next season.

The real news was they are exploring moving the ballhooter lift to powder monkey and replacing ballhooter with a 6 person lift.

The lift project could be as early as 2014 - 2015 season.

SS - that actually makes sense. amazing.

Not MidAtlantic but I was in upstate NY over the weekend and the new owners of Greek Peak are putting a high speed quad in.

I agree, it does make sense. Nice to see one Mid-Atlantic ski area making some sensible changes.

...Canaan Valley Resort didn't really do much with their snowmaking improvements/investments last season(that's probably understatement), maybe they will make a real effort with the new equipment this seasons...the new skeet shooting over at Canaan Valley resorts is fun and the lodge is work seems to be moving quickly....word on the street is that timberline is going to put in a zip line, otherwise they seem to be more and more relying strictly on themed music weekends in the bar to bring folks in...if I were Timberline I would try to be doing a lot more with the mountain bike program--the trails are top notch, but its hardly advertised and the mountain bike program doesn't seem to have much of a budget and they don't have any mountain bike events on the schedule...seems like they could have some awesome mountain bike events at timberline or at least do more to advertise the mountain biking they have...what about some more races like the 24 hours of canaan or some downhill events?...just my local opinion from the outside at least....

That would be soooo nice to see.

I thought they originally moved the 24 hrs of Canaan out of Timberline because so much of the trail was in the wilderness area? I think Snowshoe has downhill events covered...XC is what is missing right now, you're right, they have great trails.

Last winter heard from a very reliable source that the Ballhooter 6 pack and move of hi speed 4 to Powder Monkey was a top priority for 2014-15 ski season! Did not mention this earlier since I did not want to disrespect my source by making a premature statement.
The Colonel

[quote=Tucker]..otherwise they seem to be more and more relying strictly on themed music weekends in the bar to bring folks in.../quote]

lol I've noticed their Facebook blowing up with some pretty amazing (lol) shows. Won't be long and Fred will be teaming up with Don Blanenship to have him move 'DonFest' from Logan to Timbers. Think there's room for Skynard and Ted Nugent?

...there is always room for Ted Nugent---or Hulk Hogan's immediate family members...

...but, they have the facilities and trails to pull a 24 hours event off or atleast some mountain bike events again with some effort...it would be a great event to bring back to the valley...everyone local seems to think there is a lot of potential there for some mountain biking programs and events...

Colonel - your source is spot on. Frank was not bashful at our HOA meeting. The 6 pack is #1 on their wish list for 14 - 15. He's well aware of the 3 major Snowshoe short falls: (in no specific order)

1 - Lousy Internet Service (public)
2 - Lack of Cell Service
3 - Lines @ Ballhooter

It's so strange to me that people are so concerned with internet service. It's a little bit of a pain, but who really cares while you're on vacation?

The lift lines, and the crowds on the slope are legitimate gripes to make about a ski area.

Funny. Last season I witnessed a young woman sliding down salamander texting! We have friends who are on their PED every minute while on the lift. I mean, what is next?

Google glass.

6/13/13 is a date that will live in infamy. For the first time I started to carry a cell phone on a regular basis.

Welcome to the 1990's.

Now tHAt's Funny
says the guy with the Nokia flip phone.

Sorry JimK, couldn't help myself. You shouldn't take my 1990's comment too seriously as it comes from someone who hasn't owned a microwave in 17yrs.

Wisp is clearing some glades on the front side.

There are work days scheduled for every Saturday in June and if you help out, you get a free lift ticket. More info here.

It also appears they are adding some dedicated bump runs (yea!), new food shack, and a new ski/board retail shop.

^^^^^Hey THAT IS GREAT! I have never been to Wisp, but it is on my radar now that I am in Columbus Ohio. This definitely helps move the needle towards making the trip assuming the glades are not super flat. The moguls will be very nice as well!

Is there any pitch to that glades area?

Since you've never been to Wisp, probably the biggest steep drop there is the mtn face right in front of the base lodge (roughly equivalent to the pitch on North Face at Seven Springs). It has three trails that are usually fully groomed and therefore easy black diamond or hard blue square runs. The vertical drop of the steep part of these runs is probably about 350-400'. Part of the newly announced gladed area is adjacent to one of those runs (Squirrel Cage) and if it was bumped up with thick glades would definitely qualify as a black diamond if only for a couple hundred yards of length. It's also a good thing that these glades will probably benefit from blowing manmade snow coming from the snow guns on Squirrel Cage and should probably be able to open without total reliance on natural snow. Other sections of the newly designated glade area are less steep and would be blue square, but not totally flat. There has long been a little dose of unofficial and pretty steep glade skiing at Wisp in the woods adjacent to Devil's Drop, another of these three steeper front face trails.

SCWVA: if you coach me up on cell phones, I'll coach you up on microwave ovens.
PS: I'm going to get a dose of Dead music tonight at Wolf Trap: http://www.readexpress.com/2013/06/suit-and-tie-dye/

Getting new glades at Wisp is great news. I believe my Snowshoe season pass for next year will get me a free day of skiing at Wisp. Will have to pick a day when the glades are open.

You are correct. Just remember - free swap pass is blacked out on Saturdays and Holidays. Also, on subsequent visits, you get 50% off the ticket window rates which is pretty darn good too. I think the 50% part is also blacked out per above.

Thanks for the info JimK.

Both of the "new" bump runs at Wisp appear to be the areas under the chairs that tended to bump up anyway. Just making it official, I guess. I look forward to seeing how the glades turn out.

I read this the same way you did GG with regard to the "new" bump runs. Perhaps they will turn a gun or two the other direction as even in better coverage years those two areas are a little boney.

I have skied the trees where the proposed glades are during the last couple of good winters. Like all Wisp trails on the front, it will start out fairly flat and get a little steeper, especially towards skiers right, where the pitch is almost as steep as Squirrel Cage. But don't count on too much blow over in that area. This is not Devil's Drop and the glades between, that get massive blow over from heavy snowmaking on The Face and the prevailing north west wind. Some of those blue trails that run through the gladed area have no snowmaking at all.

[quote=JimK PS: I'm going to get a dose of Dead music tonight at Wolf Trap: http://www.readexpress.com/2013/06/suit-and-tie-dye/ [/quote]

I saw the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration concert Featuring Warren Haynes playing with the National Symphony Orchestra on 6/26/13 at Wolf Trap, VA. Mr. Haynes gave this performance in Pittsburgh recently too. I'm just a very casual Grateful Dead fan, but I like good guitar work and Warren Haynes is one of the best. What was really cool about this show was that Warren's channeling of the Jerry Garcia sound was aided by his use of Wolf, one of Garcia's most famous personal guitars. http://www.glidemagazine.com/glide/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/warrenindex.jpg
As best I could tell from my distant lawn seat he played this guitar continuously through the show. Not sure what he did to arrange a loan for its use, but this instrument is extremely collectable and is probably worth millions for insurance purposes. He really captured that high clear ringing tone one associates with Jerry Garcia. My highlight from the show was a nice rendition of the song Uncle John's Band.
Critic Review of the Wolf Trap performance: http://www.dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2013/0...nes-at-wolf-tra

I've got a microwave for sale. How about you stop on your way through Morgantown and pick it up?

I don't need one of those new fangled microwave ovens! You've seen me, does it look like I'm starving to death?