You know, it might seem counter intuitive, in a slow starting local season, to drive south to ski. But that is exactly what my pal Porter Scott and I did to try to break the seal on the new ski season- at least here in the mid-Atlantic. Tucker County, West Virginia is higher than our local Laurel Highlands and Timberline Mountain is roughly 4500 feet in elevation. Snowshoe is a little higher but for the most part, this elevation difference makes for more natural snow conditions, and good snowmaking where maybe locally we may be a little shy for the moment.  

I had not skied Timberline in the past, and my only experience there was riding in the 24 Hours of Canaan mountain bike race back in the mid-90s. At that time, Timberline seemed a little tired and in need of a serious upgrade. Enter the Perfect North company who are from the mid-west and own several areas there. The Perfect family has invested over 15 million in Timberline and in short, have made it, well, perfect as a local ski option for the tri- state area. The installation of a new 6 pack ,high speed, chairlift and upgraded state of the art snowmaking, have made this a great option for anyone who wants to drive to Davis, West Virginia and experience what Tucker County has to offer. Another selling point to this place is the fact that most of the runs are over 1000 vertical feet as opposed to the 700 + vertical at local Pa resorts. That little bit of extra vert is certainly welcomed, especially in the early season when you are anxious to get out and ski. Porter and I rallied 21,000 vertical there, and the conditions could not have been better. Good natural snow, good machine made snow, and excellent grooming with their fleet of Pisten-Bully groomers. 

Ok- enough of the statistics. Let me tell you why we decided to go. Porter and I are avid skiers. We have skied together for over 50 years and we always talk skiing and make opportunities to ski together whenever we can. He is enthusiastic about skiing, like I am, and the thought of a day trip to West Virginia was appealing. Even though it is three hours driving time down and three hours back. We anticipated good skiing this time of year, coupled with the fact that both of us really like the Mountain State. He went to school down there, and I always have enjoyed my time there mountain biking. I have skied Snowshoe, but had never skied Timberline and I always get this warm feeling whenever I see the sign for Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia when we cross the border. Probably best to stay over a night or two instead of the drive all in one day. But really the conversation with Porter up and back made the time go quickly. People in Davis are friendly and the folks at Timberline could not have been more customer service oriented and just plain nice. Everyone says hello, has a smile on their face, and to hear a southern twang in a ski lift line is kind of amusing. Most people would not associate the south with skiing, but there are great options in West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. The elevation helps and it seems like the people of Davis really like their outdoor opportunities and love their local Timberline Mountain. 

The day was “perfectly” sunny, and Porter and I ripped off a lot of runs. We were so happy to be skiing, and I picked up right where I left off at Mammoth Mountain, California, in May. Working on some technique changes that were suggested by my friend from Tahoe when we skied together, along with associated thoughts by the legendary Harald Harb who I have been following on You Tube. Look him up. Great tips from a great coach. In any event, it was great to get a good start to hone my technique and feel pretty good on a pair of skis again. But then again, what about West Virginia? 

I guess the experience is best described when you stop after skiing and have a cold beer in one of Davis’s breweries like Stumptown Ales, followed by an always enjoyable Italian meal at Sirriani’s right in the middle of town. Happy people, talking skiing and mountain biking, and in general, just enjoying the vibe of a little town dedicated to health, exercise, and good friends with an outdoor oriented community. West Virginia is great, and the town of Davis personifies the vibe of the Mountain State. I am so happy my friend Chris Huffman suggested that we try Timberline. We will be going back for sure. I love riding my mountain bike down there and now have another ski option a little closer to home. Thanks Chris and thanks to Timberline for a really enjoyable experience. Think snow, go ski Timberline, and thanks for reading. 

Please help me by signing up for my blog on Word Press. All you do it go to my blog page, enter your email into the white box to the left of my page or scroll down on your phone to the white box at the bottom. You will get a notice of when I post with no ads or muss or fuss. Just trying to grow the blog on Word Press a little bit. Thanks again. www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com