BY ANDY JAMESON
After a short hiatus (going skiing seems to have distracted us), the Ski Hill Shout Out is back! This week we’re moving from the dedicated skiers of Northern Michigan onto the Appalachian Mountain Range.
Imagine this scenario: you’re a die-hard skier. For various reasons your life has led you down a path where you’re living in the greater Washington D.C. area. You don’t have the cash to get west for blue bird powder days. Meanwhile you’re an 8-10 hour drive to New England. What do you do?
You hit up Timberline Resort in Davis, West By God Virginia AKA The Ski Capital of the Mid-Atlantic!
Okay, we get it, like many of our “Shout-Outs” the Mid-Atlantic isn’t a skiing mecca. But don’t be fooled, Timberline packs a lot of punch into its 1,000 vertical feet. With a summit elevation of 4,268 feet and 200 inches of annual snowfall, Timberline compares favorably to the better known resorts in New England.
“Timberline retains a rustic feel; the resort has not been overdeveloped, and doesn’t even have a high-speed lift, which is either a good thing or a bad thing depending on your perspective. Crowds are rare.” – DCSki.com
Despite having “resort” in its name you won’t find a Starbucks in the shopping village. Instead, you’ll find a few fixed grip chairlifts that take you to some of the best glade skiing in the Mid-Atlantic. Don’t like riding the resort? Timberline provides backcountry access in conjunction with their neighbor, the Whitegrass Touring Center. Bottomline, Timberline has varied terrain, the best glade skiing in the Mid-Atlantic, reasonable prices, and a laid back vibe– so why not ski here?
Random Facts
- Salamander is the longest trail with the highest average vertical south of Vermont.
- Timberline publishes its backcountry trail map.
- “The Revenge of the Rattlesnake” Mountain Bike Race is held in nearby Davis.
Mountain Stats
- Vertical Drop: 1000′
- Annual Snowfall: 200″
- Chairlifts: 2 triple chairs (maybe 1 triple chair now), 1 double chair
- Surface lifts: 1
- Trails: 39
- Skiable Terrain: 100 Acres
- Snowmaking: 100%
- Rentals: Yes
- Adult Full Day Lift Ticket: $69
Find out more here: Timberline Resort
About the Ski Hill Shout Out:
Few skiers have the privilege of learning in amazing destination resorts such as Jackson Hole, Whistler, or Squaw Valley. Instead, most of us fell in love with the sport shredding local hills. We came to these (often smaller) local hills because they offered easy access, low prices, and accessibility. Sadly, many of these local hills have either died or are struggling to survive. At Unofficial, we understand that these hills are the life blood of our sport. Through this feature, we hope to raise awareness of smaller ski areas, and if possible, direct a few readers their way.