White Grass Ski Touring Center
Posted by Marc on July 25, 2003. Categories:
Canaan Valley
White Grass
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Below are the best of our pictures of White Grass Touring Center. Visit the
White Grass Website. At Whitegrass you
can rent cross country and telemark skis and snowshoeing equipment. They have
a great little organic cafe that serves hearty and healthy food. The lodge reminds me of a
nordic ski lodge from 25 years ago before downhill was high-fashion--White Grass
has more skiers and less pretension.
Upper Reaches of Three Mile Run
Three Mile Run is an easy trail that zigzags up the side of the mountain.
The switchbacks occassionally get skied off and become a challenge, but they can generally be negotiated by overshooting the corner into the ungroomed snow.
The lower half of Three Mile Run is mostly deciduous trees, but as you
travel higher, beautiful red spruce and hemlock cover the landscape. After
a snowstorm, the branches are white with snow. Depending upon the wind
and temperature, most of the snow in the trees melts or blows away in a day or two.
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Looking over Canaan Valley from The Timberline Trail
The Timberline trail doesn't cover as much altitude, and is straight
and easy for those who have trouble with sharp turns. It even has a few
pretty views across Canaan Valley. The trail ends at FR 80 where you can turn and head straight up to the Sods.
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Skiing back from Timberline
Coming back towards the Whitegrass Lodge, the Timberline Trail has gentle slopes that are good for beginners just getting acustomed to free-heels
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New tracks on the Cabin Mountain Trail
We decide to travel one of the ungroomed trails and were rewarded with
some of the most peaceful and beautiful scenery. We were the second people
to travel up the Cabin Mountain Trail since the last snow--That made it easier since we didn't have to break a fesh trail in more than a foot of powder. There were a few stream crossings that were a hassle since they got our skis wet when we went across.
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Near the Top of Three Mile Run
As you get closer you get to the top of Three Mile Run, the conifers
become more dense, the temperature cooler and the wind stronger. Often
the snow conditions at the upper altitudes (700 feet or more above the
lodge) are significantly better than below. You also tend to have fewer
very slow skiers, so it is quieter and more peaceful. The higher you go,
the more you get that feeling of backcountry freedom.
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Round Top
Round Top is a nice spot for a PowerBar or other snack. The signpost
points up towards Bald Knob on the Upper Springer Trail.
When we were here, one woman was hauling her 2 month old baby in a specially
constructed sled that she rented at the lodge. It was like a warm little
habitat for babies and small children. I was impressed that she was pulling
the little one that far. I guess you've got to start them early.
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