West Virginia Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 52) wild & wonderful > Winter Sports CROSSCOUNTRY SKIING AND SNOWSHOEING Skiing at Winterplace h, snowboarding at Snowshoe Mountain g. Let the By Tiffany St. Martin WINTER GAMES Begin! W = est Virginia winters may be cold, but that’s when the state’s slopes really heat up. With an average annual snowfall of 150 inches and state-of-the-art snowmaking equipment, West Virginia offers world-class skiing (downhill and cross-country), snowboarding, snowshoeing and snow-tubing at standout ski resorts and across hundreds of miles of trails. Colorado may have the Rockies and Europe has the Alps, but we’ve got the Appalachians. And they’re a lot easier to get to. Not sure you’re ready to race down an icy mountain slope? From renowned destinations such as Alpine Lake Resort, Elk River Touring Center and White Grass Ski Touring Center to the public lands of Pipestem Resort State Park and the Monongahela National Forest, thousands of kilometers await cross-country skiing and snowshoeing enthusiasts. IF YOU GO » Alpine Lake Resort, 304-789-2481 or 800-752-7179, www.alpinelake.com Elevation | = Average Annual Snowfall » Elk River Touring Center, 304-572-3771 or 866-572-3771, www.ertc.com SnowshoeM ountain,S nowshoe g 4,848 feet | 180 inches The largest resort in the state, Snowshoe features 60 slopes and trails along with four terrain parks serviced by 14 lifts. New to the resort this year are a mid-station serving the resort’s Western Territory slopes, 15 new snow guns on Skidder Slope and improvements to its beginner areas. Winterplace Ski Resort, Ghent h 3,600 feet | 100 inches With the ability to make the most snow in the Southeast and 28 trails plus a terrain and tubing park, Winterplace offers less waiting in lines and more fun going downhill. The resort has added new snow guns to five trails and has new top-of-the-line rental equipment. » White Grass Ski Touring Center, 304-866-4114, www.whitegrass.com » Pipestem Resort State Park, 304-466-1800 or 800-CALL WVA, www.pipestemresort.com » Monongahela National Forest, 304-636-1800, www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/ Cross-country skiers » Snowshoe Mountain, 877-441-4FUN, www.snowshoemtn.com » Winterplace Ski Resort, 800-607-SNOW, www.winterplace.com Canaan Valley Resort, Davis 4,280 feet | 160 inches With 39 trails, West Virginia’s oldest ski resort is in the highest mountain valley east of the Rockies. A four-season resort recently named one of America’s Best Parks by Budget Travel magazine, Canaan Valley offers miles of scenic trails for skiing, snowshoeing and more. g Oglebay Resort & Conference Center, Wheeling » Canaan Valley Resort, 304-866-4121 or 800-622-4121, www.canaanresort.com 672 feet | 43 inches For those who want to start on a smaller mountain, Oglebay offers day and night skiing, snowboarding, rentals and instruction on runs that reach just a few hundred feet in both elevation and length. There’s also a terrain park, fire pit and full-service lodge on site. d g. TimberlineF our Seasons Resort, Davis » Oglebay Resort & Conference Center, 4,268 feet | 150 inches Take one of three lifts to Timberline’s 37 ski and snowboard trails spread across 100 acres. Beginners love the Salamander, “The South’s Longest Ski Trail,” while snowboarders get their thrills over jumps 30 to 50 feet high. g 800-624-6988, www.ski.oglebay-resort.com Anywhere you travel in West Virginia, a winter wonderland awaits. For more information on the state’s winter recreation activities and attractions, visit www.wvwintersports.com. » Timberline Four Seasons Resort, 800-766-9464, www.timberlineresort.com 52 1-800-CALL WVA http://www.alpinelake.com http://www.ertc.com http://www.whitegrass.com http://www.pipestemresort.com http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/ http://www.snowshoemtn.com http://www.winterplace.com http://www.canaanresort.com http://ski.oglebay-resort.com/ http://www.wvwintersports.com http://www.timberlineresort.com
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