Anyone ever been to Snowshoe West Virginia to ski? or anywhere else in that area? Trying to plan a trip and was wondering if anyone had any advise. Thanks!
Skiing in the Southeast / Atlantic side
- Thread starter ATLBulldog37
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I highly recommend Snowshoe
I went there last year and it was really good even though it was the last ski weekend of the year. It was not overly crowded and has lots of long runs. I am actually planning to go again in the next couple of weeks.
I looked earlier this week and they only have a base of 9 inches, but it looks like they are making snow now. In the next couple of weeks, it should be ready to go.
I went there last year and it was really good even though it was the last ski weekend of the year. It was not overly crowded and has lots of long runs. I am actually planning to go again in the next couple of weeks.
I looked earlier this week and they only have a base of 9 inches, but it looks like they are making snow now. In the next couple of weeks, it should be ready to go.
I'm typing this message from West Virginia. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to vacation here.
Vermont has good skiing. You could look into that.
Vermont has good skiing. You could look into that.
I went to Snowshoe about 15 years ago. Pretty fun but it was icy. Had a guy get a concussion from crashing on ice and another girl messed her knee up. Then the surgeon botched her knee surgery and she now walks with a cane.
Ive been to snowshoe twice.
Best Eastern US skiing I have done. Ive been out west 8-10 times. Skiing out west is obviously better, but for the price, the drive, and the recreation, I highly recommend Snowshoe. Its very accomadating for both family trips and adult trips. A buddy and I went fly fishing with a local we met in a bar on a Warm day when snow was melting. There is also much more scenery (flora and fauna) than the vast expanses out west.
Best Eastern US skiing I have done. Ive been out west 8-10 times. Skiing out west is obviously better, but for the price, the drive, and the recreation, I highly recommend Snowshoe. Its very accomadating for both family trips and adult trips. A buddy and I went fly fishing with a local we met in a bar on a Warm day when snow was melting. There is also much more scenery (flora and fauna) than the vast expanses out west.
I would recommend Winter Place in West Virginia. It's literally right off the interstate and has a bunch of runs. Snowshoe is a haul into the mountains, but worth the trip. Cool thing about Winter Place is that you can jump right off the interstate and be skiing in 15 minutes (we did). Rented everything there as well and it was on a Tuesday so we were the only folks on the slopes. With any eastern skiing, it will be icey, but I thought West Virginia wasn't as bad as North Carolina (Sugar Mountain/Ski Beach). If you are thinking of going to those places in the Carolina's, I would bypass and head onto Winter Place. Same drive time and most likely better snow.
Snowshoe is OK for southeastern skiing. About the best you'll get. Good luck with snow, it's been pretty bad last few years I think. It's a decent sized place, and not great, but fun skiing. Better than Sugar Mountain where I grew up going.
Snowshoe is good & has tons of trails varying in difficulty. Too far away? Beech Mtn is decent if you time it right - January is good
I live in NC and am a season pass holder to snowshoe. I've been several times over the last couple of years. A few tips:
1. Lodging - staying on the mountain is great, but you can stay about 20 mins away for MUCH cheaper. There's a little motel called the snowshoe inn that looks decent... But my favorite option is Cass State park. You can rent huge cabins (sleeps 6 or 8 folks) for like $150 / night. Great for large groups... But obviously not as convenient as ski in/ ski out,
2. Getting there - in short, it's a *****. The last 1.5 hours are on mountain roads that could be icy. I slid off the road last year going about 15 miles per hour in a 2wd car. No big deal... Some folks stopped and we were able to push the car back to an area where I got traction.... But if you have access to a 4wd vehicle, definitely recommended. If not, look into buying chains for your tires (of course, none of this may be an issue depending on the weather.
3. Cell phone reception - bank on there being none on the mountain.... Or within a 30 mile radius of Snowshoe. It's in the middle of some national radio frequency observatory that means cell phone towered are prohibited. So plan ahead in terms of meal times / meeting times and make sure everyone knows. You know, like everything was done before the mid-90s. Walkie talkies may be a solid choice, but never tried them personally.
4. Take advantage of Silver Creek during the day! (An adjoining mountain that is known for night skiing). snowshoe has mainly narrow cut runs and can get CROWDED and plowed all to hell. Silver creek has great runs and is much less crowded during the day! I think there is a free shuttle from the main mountain. Side note: the best ski day of my life was last year at Silver Creek. Had some locals say it was the best they've seen in several years.
5. Nerd Tip: bring some binoculars and look up at night. On a clear night The star gazing is great.
Snowshoe has the most dependable snow conditions and the highest annual snowfall of any ski area south of Pennsylvania. It a boetch to drive too, because of all the mountain roads. I have skied at dozens of places all over the country, thanks to my first job out of the Air Force which was heavily tied to the ski industry. I have skied Snowshoe, Beech, Wisp, and lots of others. Snow in the southeast is "wetter and heavier" than snow in the West. That makes it icier and harder to fall on, because the temperatures aren't low enough to get "powder."
The very best places to ski in the East are Whiteface in the Adirondacks in northern New York, Sugarbush, Killington and Stowe in Vermont, Waterville Valley in the White Mountains and Mount Washington in New Hampshire, and Sugarloaf in Maine. Stowe probably gets the best snow.
The very best places to ski in the East are Whiteface in the Adirondacks in northern New York, Sugarbush, Killington and Stowe in Vermont, Waterville Valley in the White Mountains and Mount Washington in New Hampshire, and Sugarloaf in Maine. Stowe probably gets the best snow.
As many have indicated, Snowshoe is a great place to ski. I have skied there many times. I have also skied out west (Mammoth, Tahoe, Taos, Colorado etc.) and for the south it's a great alternative. I have skied in North Carolina (Sugar) and Pennsylvania and it is better than either of those places, although those aren't too bad either. If you are a mid-level to advanced skier, I highly recommend the Western Territory, which has two 1.5mile long Black/Double Black runs which are serviced by their own quad lift. I have been there many times where there was no line on those runs. I also recommend the night skiing at neighboring Silver Creek. The selection of runs is pretty limited, but the runs they do have open at night are pretty fun. Another thing that's different about Snowshoe is that the ski facilities and lodges are at the top of the mountain.
Go to Colorado or Utah...
If you are in Atlanta then Delta should have some good deals.
The snow is so much better out west vs the ice on the east coast..
It's also dumping out West right now..
http://opensnow.com/
If you are in Atlanta then Delta should have some good deals.
The snow is so much better out west vs the ice on the east coast..
It's also dumping out West right now..
http://opensnow.com/
We stayed at Top of The Mountain but don't stay there.
It was a crap hole. Since it was our first time, we didn't know that. With that said, we didn't spend much time hanging out in the room so it wasn't a big deal.
I think most of the other hotels are fine but I would choose one that is right on the mountain though. It was really nice to just get ready and walk out the back door.
It was a crap hole. Since it was our first time, we didn't know that. With that said, we didn't spend much time hanging out in the room so it wasn't a big deal.
I think most of the other hotels are fine but I would choose one that is right on the mountain though. It was really nice to just get ready and walk out the back door.
Will be @ Snowshoe dec 22-26, best place we've been in this part of country
Village section at mountain top is nice. We could store skis/snowboards in ski locker room and walk outside 10 steps and and begin skiing to the slopes. Different than the west but much less expensive if you take airfare etc into account. The last hour drive to the resort is a mind bender. GPS says 35-40 miles but the last 45 minutes is 20-25 mph roads with sharp curves, 2-lane.
Started skiing 5-6 years ago when our boys 13 & 15 asked if we could go. Self-taught starting at Winter Place, boys taught themselves to snowboard and now snowboard on intermediate and black diamonds. Not the wife and I though. No comparison SnowShoe to Winter Place. Winter Place has much fewer slopes too many large groups with teenagers. Snow Shoe 3-4 times the runs, longer better maintained and much better snow.
Village section at mountain top is nice. We could store skis/snowboards in ski locker room and walk outside 10 steps and and begin skiing to the slopes. Different than the west but much less expensive if you take airfare etc into account. The last hour drive to the resort is a mind bender. GPS says 35-40 miles but the last 45 minutes is 20-25 mph roads with sharp curves, 2-lane.
Started skiing 5-6 years ago when our boys 13 & 15 asked if we could go. Self-taught starting at Winter Place, boys taught themselves to snowboard and now snowboard on intermediate and black diamonds. Not the wife and I though. No comparison SnowShoe to Winter Place. Winter Place has much fewer slopes too many large groups with teenagers. Snow Shoe 3-4 times the runs, longer better maintained and much better snow.
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