🚀 go-pugleaf

L. Joseph Bachman (jbachman@access1.digex.net) wrote:
: Given that a major blizzard is about to engulf the Baltimore-Washington
: area, I don't know why I'm thinking of going to a place with more snow,
: but that's what I'm doing.  I want to teach my wife and daughter about the
: joys of cross-cuntry skiing, so we'd like to take a long weekend up to Canaan
: Valley, West Virginia, and we're interested in finding a cabin or condo to
: rent.  I've been in the State Park, but I've also backpacked in Dolly
: Sods, and from the crest of Canin Mountain, I see that there's a lot more
: development going on in the valley, so there must be other choices for
: accomadations. 

There are several real estate companies in the valley that specialize
in renting cabins. Three that come to mind are Canaan Realty, Mountain
Top Realty, and Timberline Realty. Any of these will send you a color
brochure describing properties available for rent. My wife and I have
done this many times. We typically look for a large cabin with a fireplace
and an outdoor hot tub. We prefer to be on Yoakum Run, which is very close
to the Timberline ski area. We're wary about some of the places further
away, like Black Bear Resort, mostly because the intersection of Cortland
and Rt. 32 is somewhat treacherous in snow, and the valley gets quite a
lot of snow. It's also a fair drive from the ski areas. Deerfield Village
is an excellent place, with fully furnished townhouses all with 
fireplaces, cable TV and jacuzzies.

Mountain Top Realty can be reached at 304-866-4300, or 800-624-4341. They
also have a web page at: http://wvweb.com/www/MountainTop.html
Canaan Realty can be reached at 800-448-0074

BTW: If they're calling for big snow, get a place close to Timberline.
This past Monday I was *VERY* upset because 3 feet of snow dumped on
the valley and Canaan closed down while Timberline opened. (Actually
turned out for the best for us though, because we got to ski new deep
powder Monday at Timberline, then again Tuesday morning when Canaan
finally got their sorry-ass act together).

: There are three of us, so a 1-2 bedroom cabin would be fine.  A fireplace 
: or woodstove would be nice.  A kitchen is essential, as we would like to 
: cook our meals.  Indoor plumbing would be preferred, though I've heard  
: that the State of West Virginia has some "rustic cabins" with outhouses 
: that are very inexpensive.  

The State does have several cabins available in the state park at quite
reasonable rates, but there is usually a waiting list for these. You
can find out by calling them at 800-622-4121.

: What else is there to do in Canaan Velley besides downhill and 
: Cross-country skiing?  Is there a place to go ice skating?  On natural 
: ice? Sleigh rides?  Any places where families get together?  

There is ice skating behind the lodge in the state park. It's a rink,
not a frozen-over lake, if that's what you mean by "natural ice", although
there are a couple of those around...

: We're thinking of President's Day weekend, or another weekend in February 
: if we can't find any reasonable accomadations then.

The realty places charge extra for cabins on President's Day weekend. The
difference is usually $100-200, depending on the property. I'd reserve now
if that's when you want to go though, because last year we waited til late
and got stuck having to go to Snowshoe.


Cheers!
---Mark

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  stevens@charm.net      Mark Stevens, Baltimore Maryland
  Brewery info server for homebrewers: <URL:http://alpha.rollanet.org/>
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