🚀 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, ...

How ironic!  I saw a cross-country skier skiing down Baltimore Street
in front of my house this afternoon!


--
=============================================================
Hal Laurent               | Home: laurent@charm.net          
Baltimore Maryland USA    | Work: laurent@newvax.cop.dec.com 

L. Joseph Bachman 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

When you say that you've been to the state park, which do you mean:  Canaan
Valley, or Blackwater Falls?  Both of those parks rent cabins, but you may have a
problem finding one for the holiday weekend.  There are a few other places you may
want to try.  I understand that Blackbear resort is nice.  There's also Beaver
Ridge, and Deerfield Village.  These are all condo-townhouse places with fully
furnished places to rent.  They aren't that inexpensive, though.  All three of
those are in the Canaan Valley area.  You might want to try calling
1-800-CALL-WVA.  They should be able to point you to a number of accommidations in
the Canaan Valley/Davis, WV area. (it's also a great way to get the x-country ski
conditions)
> 
> 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?
> 
Canaan Valley State Park has ice skating available.  Both Blackwater Falls and
Canaan Valley parks have a number of programs about the natural history of the
area, and offer hikes and such.  Blackwater also offers night x-country skiing,
sometimes.  I highly recommend that.  Check out the message boards in the park
main lodges.

I hope you all enjoy you ski trip.  It's really beautiful up there.  Make sure you
get at least some skiing in at Blackwater Falls.  That's my favorite place to ski
up there.  No trail fees, either!

Jeff


-- 
Jeff Bolognese              * "The only way of discovering the limits of   
                            *  the possible is to venture a little way   
jeff@apollo.gsfc.nasa.gov   *  past them into the impossible."
                            *   - Clarke's Second Law 
         http://kiwi.gsfc.nasa.gov/~jeff

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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In response to a posting by jbachman@access1.digex.net:

1.  Cabins at Canaan Valley State Park and Blackwater Falls State Park are all
or almost all "deluxe" cabins, not "rustic".  I.e., indoor plumbing, heating, etc.,
and no outhouses.  There may be some "standard" cabins at Canaan (not sure)
that have indoor plumbing but less amenities than "deluxe".

2.  Cabins at Canaan Valley and Blackwater Falls are booked up loooooong
in advance.  A couple months lead time is given to state residents.  If you don't
have a cabin now, you ain't gonna git one, unless there's a cancellation.  Call
1-800-CALL-WVA to be sure; ask for the Canaan or Blackwater "cabins" desk.

3.  There are often condos available for many times the price of a state park
cabin from Mountain Top Realty (mostly at Timberline Resort), or some of the
other private sources.  You should be able to get the phone nos. from
1-800-CALL-WVA (you may have to ask for the Canaan or Blackwater
reservations desk to get a human who will give you the numbers.  Alternatively,
call White Grass Ski Touring Center in Davis (near Canaan Valley State Park),
which has a list of numbers for accomodations.

4.  X-C skiing recommendations in the Canaan area, in order of days 
spent and ease:  (1) Blackwater Falls State Park (nice warm-up); (2)
Blackwater to Canaan via the Monongahela State Forest (there used 
to be a bus available for the return trip, not sure if still running); 
(3) White Grass Ski Touring Center from Canaan Valley lift (pay WG 
trail fee then get ride to CV and buy 1-trip lift ticket; ski mostly 
downhill the whole day).  The last two are WONDERFUL.

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Michael D. Sullivan                      Email to:  mds@access.digex.net
Bethesda, MD, USA     Also:  avogadro@well.com 74160.1134@compuserve.com
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