West Virginia — If you’re a downhill skier who loves learning about the sport’s history, you’ll want to visit a cross-country ski center in West Virginia. You’re probably looking at your screen in a funny way, so let me explain.
While White Grass Ski Touring Center is primarily catered to cross-country skiers and snowshoers, it’s also the site of a former downhill ski area. Known initially as Weiss Knob, it was the first downhill ski area in the state. Parts of the old rope tow remain, and the old lodge is still standing and serving guests. With a vertical drop of over 1,200 feet, this can result in excellent alpine touring when there’s sufficient snow coverage.
Its first blast of winter arrived this week, with 14.5 inches of snow falling on the mountain. This was enough for White Grass to open its trails. A group of hardy skiers was there for Veterans’ Day and got to glide and ski through the fresh powder. As of Thursday, some thin spots are starting to pop up, but that’s to be expected with an early-season storm.
About White Grass
Situated between Timberline Mountain and Canaan Valley Resort, White Grass is a great spot for cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and alpine tourers. It started as a downhill ski area (Weiss Knob), but eventually closed down. Chip Chase opened a Nordic ski area on Shenandoah Mountain in 1979 and eventually relocated his operation to the current site. It reused the old lodge of Weiss Knob as its central point. The ski center has over 50 km of maintained runs and a vertical drop of 1,243 feet.
Although the center lacks snowmaking capabilities, consistent snowfall enables it to have a long season. It bears similarity to Prospect Mountain in Vermont, a former downhill ski area that has also become popular with cross-country skiers and ski tourers.
Last year, the Storm Skiing Podcast did an interesting interview with Chip Chase, which you can listen to here.
Image/Video Credits: Chip Chase (White Grass Ski Touring Center)
