June 29 Almost Tropical

The Days Of Summer...ahhhhh * New history book Behold the Land of Canaan * 37,000 new acres of protected W.Va. land * Augusta Heritage Arts cranks up in Elkins

Prep For July Fourth * Photo Contest sponsord by the Friends of the 500th / C.V. Wildlife Refuge

Cliff Inspection by the Boys * Art Opening White Room, Thomas * CVI MTB trails outasite * Laurie exercising our oldest pet... ol' Jack

Hypno Coffee is serving breakfast on weekends and stretching its hours out * Endless WV DNR wetland info

The first annual Canaan MTB Fest was FUNNNN! * Harpers Ferry Festival went well * Will have some WG Mushroom Walks in July and August and will announce it here

Bike Hash kept us drinking and slowed wayyy up * raised 1375 for Tucker County Trails at Hellbender's saturday * Cory snoopin' around on Lion's Head, Dolly Sods

Need any local catering? * AWA WV statewide River Levels * Eddie SpaghettiWoodCuts * PickettWVSODSFieldNotes * PickettSODSinfo * WV Botany History

The Effort

Would anyone care to join me
in flicking a few pebbles in the direction
of teachers who are fond of asking the question:
"What is the poet trying to say?"

as if Thomas Hardy and Emily Dickinson
had struggled but ultimately failed in their efforts—
inarticulate wretches that they were,
biting their pens and staring out the window for a clue.

Yes, it seems that Whitman, Amy Lowell
and the rest could only try and fail
but we in Mrs. Parker's third-period English class
here at Springfield High will succeed

with the help of these study questions
in saying what the poor poet could not,
and we will get all this done before
that orgy of egg salad and tuna fish known as lunch.

Tonight, however, I am the one trying
to say what it is this absence means,
the two of us sleeping and waking under different roofs.
The image of this vase of cut flowers,

not from our garden, is no help.
And the same goes for the single plate,
the solitary lamp, and the weather that presses its face
against these new windows--the drizzle and the
    morning frost.

So I will leave it up to Mrs. Parker,
who is tapping a piece of chalk against the blackboard,
and her students—a few with their hands up,
others slouching with their caps on backwards—

to figure out what it is I am trying to say
about this place where I find myself
and to do it before the noon bell rings
and that whirlwind of meatloaf is unleashed.

by Billy Collins from Ballistics.

1959-2009 Fifty Years Weiss Knob/White Grass * WG '79-'09 Thirty Years

WG recorded 96 skiable days with about 188" snow last winter. Special thanks to all for helping us keep the doors open and trails tracked. Look forward to 09 -10 winter!

WV Ferns checklist * Planting For Deer Resistance * Denali Nato.wma * Laurie is baking cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and other yummies for the Trail Mix

Our friends at Pistil Hats, Forrest and Pete sent us a care package! * Davis River Front * Davis River Front's blog * wvhighlandsartists...local art here * RUN FOR IT Tucker Co. Endowment Fund Raiser

Curtis LugeZip (3/5).mpg * ChipNattyTurns * CurtisQuickies.mpg *ChipRedOak(3/4)* GeohopsCanMon.mpg * Opensezame*ChipCanMon3/2* LugeRunGisela. (3/2) * FlowBYxc. (3/2) * Skihiking and Foolery * PackPowWill* Chip and JoJo Dance WG/Facebook * Trailblazer 'CV has its own mystique'* Upper SpringerGeo.mpg * SeeAMouse.* Morgan360canoe*TwistySkiing* Goodstuffjumpin * WG testimonial.mpg * Local boy gone BIG City - http://nick-waite.blogspot.com/ * Vermont’s Mad River Rocket Sleds*WG Web Cam History mode * Snowfarming * Ski Jouring in WV * Freaky STyle WG "If you've ever skied WhiteGrass this video makes complete sense! The kind of place you might want to plan your entire winter around. * Freeland Road Bubbling springs Video

New Davis Consignment Shop * MaryAnn the mapmaker has a new site * WG skiers meet VA fiddlers by Todd * Snurfer Poaches Mad River SKi Area * skibuilders.com * 10 great places to peacefully glide cross-country USA TODAY * Lost Ski Areas * Season passers recieve 10% discount at Highland Prospects * Hyno Coffee has moved to Davis * Chipper Chase in Off Piste * The ChipperCHase Article.pdf

All my life, right and wrong tangled. playing with the moon, ridiculing the wind, listening to the birds…Many years wasted seeing the mountain covered with snow. This winter I realize snow makes the mountain - Dogen Zenji

Send "A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions." Oliver Wendell Holmes

Well, I hope this finds you in good spirits and in the company of friends. Your old pal, David Bartholomew (Tool) (...1981 pics of Gene Bell)

howdy....fond memories from a short winter Marc and Kara

...After my car broke down in Whitehorse, I made it to Vermont...as you know we went pretty early for the climbing season so we flew onto the mountain the same day as the first ranger patrol. We broke a lot of trail and built a lot of camps but it was worth it because we pretty much had the mountain to ourselves. We had unseasonably warm and calm weather for the first 10 days and made it to 14000 ft camp in good time. Then a week-long wind storm settled in so we couldn’t move. It was quite the experience sitting up there barely being able to walk outside without getting blown over, running out of food, running out of motivation, and generally going crazy. However I think I would have missed out if we had good weather the whole time. After about a week at 14 we knew we had a few days of forecasted calm weather so we went for 17000 ft camp, then for the summit, and then back down with no rest days. I felt pretty awful from the altitude at 17, but decided to start out for the summit the next day to see how I felt. I got stronger as the day went on so most of my group made it to the top. The weather was unbelievably clear though a bit windy and definitely not warm, and the view was amazing. One of the coolest things was looking down off the summit ridge and seeing the Ruth amphitheatre and Roberta Sheldon’s hut. Most importantly the whole group made it down in good shape. It was pretty amazing to live on a glacier for three weeks and consistently look down on the clouds. I loved being up there, and it was certainly the experience of a lifetime. Coming down and seeing how Alaska had changed into summer was one of the more magical things I have ever seen. Birds have never sounded more like music and you could smell the green. I forgot that water actually flowed. I trust that you will pass what I say onto any interested parties. I know it was a very different thing, but the trip to the Ruth really got my mind in the right place for the climb, and is something else that I will never forget. Take care, Kristin

NATO Denali Telemark Camp 2009

Chipper -  We are about halfway through the trip and things are going well.  We have camped every night, and the campsites are pretty nice. No picnic tables at all, but all the campgrounds have outdoor picnic tables, there are hair dryers in the shower rooms (which comes in handy on the cold evenings), and there is usually a little refrigerator to put some food in.  That is fortunate since they do not sell ice anywhere!  Yesterday we were in northern Italy and we all fell in love.  We went to a restaurant for real Italian pizza, We also had Italian ice cream, gelato, which was so creamy and the most delicious ice cream we have ever tasted. Italy was beautiful and the weather was perfect.  Today we are back in Switzerland and we took a gondola up to get some good views of the Matterhorn.  Then we hiked back down.  I think we were lucky because it came out of the clouds for us for a little while.  I hear that is not always the case. There is plenty of skiing up in the high area with good snow. Tonight we are camping in the French part of Switzerland and we are surrounded by the beautiful sound of the French language (much nicer sounding than the German we have been listening to most of the trip!) Take care Kevin, Susan, Amy and Jennifer

I have a website. Please check it out. Michael Gorrie (WG has some of his works in the cafe and he is a long time avid nord and trail helper)

…good stuff. how many boats swamped at those ledges? we took on a bunch of water but it was all good. Martin

Hope to see ya on the thursday rides! Rob, Shannon and Delaney

We always called Pam's beach cruiser "the work horse", but this bike is the real deal. Feel good charity that seems to be making a difference.
http://velonews.com/article/93508/tech-feature-world-bicycle-project-zambia-bike Tom Conlon

imisswhitegrass * I am at Palmer Station (Anvers Island off the Antarctic Peninsula). I wanted to let you know that even though the skiing was pretty good on the glacier yesterday (May 31) I miss White Grass. Lisa Crockett (usually from Athens, Ohio)

hi guys - a short video I shot recently. SKIP * Scotty on deck….Surfing rivers

HighwayTo The Sun Bill Love

Nils Larsen mastering his Altai ski techniques this spring at Powder Creek BC * Buddy Geo Bell keeping the traditions stoked...by Dave Waag

I am trying to get a better web presence for PIMBY-Matt Sherald PIMBY: Power In My Back Yard matt@getpimby.com /getpimby.com (304) 704-5943

To Whitegrass with lots of Love, the cover photo reminds me of Springer skiing. Thanks you for all that you do!! Hosting the ultimate winter playground of WV, keeping everybody warm and full of good food. Offering limitless inspiration to all who visit. I LOVE WHITEGRASS!! Corey Bonasso

Dear White Grass, Truly a skiers paradise, a plateau full of towering pines...however wonderful it was, I couldn't help be reminded that back in WV, snuggled between the milder peaks of the Appalachians, was my favorite ski lodge of all. Hope the season's going well. Love, Samantha Lammie Plateau des Gilieres, France

On my way to work. Anne Wanted to help to extend your season. Where do you want it? TeleBruce

WG is the heart and soul of all things freeheel and your support of the Karhu brand is invaluable to the snowsports industry! Thanks for spreading the Karhu love. Hope to see you and Laurie soon. Cheers! -Doug

. A great spirit * I edited a trailer  of "Sweet Joy" for You Tube---(Adam Chase skiing backwards for starters)...Cheers, Wendy

Cards from Jack Kangas and Winslow...a White Grass Ranch near Jackson and memories from the 70's skiing together

This is a wonderfully off the grid place where skiing (no matter how well or poorly), food, and friends are the whole thing. The terrain is amazing offering easy greens to well above my talent level blacks. There are some extraordinary telemarkers weaving patterns down the face and a whole lot more skinny skis and red cheeks just going with flow. The rustic lodge is really a shed with the most tantalizing smells in the world coming out from a modern, if crowded kitchen. It's hard to find a place to sit and the energy and buzz are just amazing. If you want to leave the mall and find the back country...or enjoy some set tracks through gorgeous countryside, come on out. Being how it is WV and conditions are subject to change check out the site. White Grass is an unparalled full on EXPERIENCE for all the senses.

After hearing people rave about the place for years, I finally enjoyed a meal at Canaan's White Grass Cafe earlier this month - and, wow, was it worth the wait. On the grounds of White Grass, a cross-country skiing center with a decidedly international vibe, the cafe offers one of the most unique dining experiences I've enjoyed in some time. Ted/WV Food Guy

Chip Chase founded White Grass in 1979. No one in the ski world before or since has had a better time on skis or doing anything related to snow (Ive been buzzin since I was born!). That zest is totally communicable. White Grass is a blast, in a lot of ways a throwback to the 1960s, with much more wool than lycra. You'll find easy trails and gnarly trails amidst a lot of snow, gentle streamsides, hardwoods, conifers, and a big meadow by the lodge. You'll see everyone from kids being pulled in pulks to folks in their 70s, all wearing huge smiles. Jonathan

"Chip, you are my hero!! You don't take life too seriously, you throw an excellent party, and we are facing youtube fame together!  I really love that video, Becky and I agreed that was a most organic jam in a beautiful place on a perfect day.  See you soon, I'll bring Kristian up next month...yay! Rachel Eddy " * Chip UTube clogging

Here's the link to the White Grass article in Get Out! michelle * Best food ever. Thanks for the recipes Laurie and Chip! Margaret and Hansi, Minnesota / Hansi's Blog

Take a walk down memory lane with ski writer Randy Johnson’s look at the history of cross country skiing in the Boone, NC area. Also check out his Web site for a video cross country ski lesson in Blowing Rock and a video look at Roan Mountain Nordic in the 1980s.

Todd searches and finds the healthy Birch tree chaga mushroom ...great info about it.

We are staying open until the fat lady sings and we have never ever closed if there is natural snow to ski. Tomorrow is our 114th straight day and we project another month easy! That will equal 144, great if it hit 150! 42" lay frozen in the high country this afternoon in powder conditions. Full moon skiing this March 15th. Our nordic trails have been graced with the best snows and cold we have ever wildly imagined. Region by region we are the surely the seasonal winners. Too dry out west, too cold in New England and just right in the Alleghenies. Sometimes the elevator-sometimes the shaft. chip chase 3/12/03

Most important muscle in skiing is the one in your cheek that makes your lips shape into a smile. Dickie Hall

WG You Tube Video

Weiss Knob Ski Area * Harrison Shull's WG SlideSHow

 Kid's Free Trade In XC Gear $175 Kid's Free Tele Trade In Gear $575

Our Community Living Room The Purple Fiddle * Doerfels Live mpeg

Davis River Front

lightningboards.com woodenskis.com* Work in progress. Check it out Colleen* Early ski days in Davis Wendel Allen My gallery is Dolly Sods Views. Mary Ann * Chase Kids Couloir Article.pdf * Zanny Nordic Website xczone.Davis National Highlights USA Today * Amazing Snow From Mr. Dave * Pocahontas County has average mean elevation of 3219'"...cross-country skiing through that utterly magical snow encrusted pine forest this past winter was enough to make a grown person weep with awe." Susan Moundsville, WV

Wild and Wonderful Walks Company
Our senior Senator, Robert C. Byrd, is fond of noting that: “West Virginia is one of the most beautiful and unique places. It is the most southern of the northern and the most northern of the southern; the most eastern of the western and the most western of the eastern. It is where the East says good morning to the West, and where Yankee Doodle and Dixie kiss each other good night!” Indeed, West Virginia is a most beautiful and unique place. And with the introduction of our legislation, “Wild Monongahela: A National Legacy for West Virginia’s Special Places, we are striving to keep it that way” Hon. Nick Joe Rahall introducing the new WV Wilderness Bill

Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge HC 70, Bx 200 Davis, WV 26260 304-866-3858

Ullr is the Norse god of skiers, and Skade is his wife. According to mythology, Skade was a mortal granted the right to marry a god, and being partial to the mountains, she chose Ullr.

When winter is a no-show in the mid-Atlantic region, count on West Virginia's Dolly Sods Wilderness, four hours west of Washington, D.C., for a healthy dose of the real thing. Perched on a 4,000-foot tableland in the Allegheny Mountains, the Sods averages more than 12 feet of snow each year. Wind permitting, follow the Breathed Mountain and Big Stonecoal trails into the high plains, with their decidedly Western feel. White Grass is known for some of the best and most extensive cross-country skiing on the East Coast, with a natural foods cafe that attracts nearly as many fans. All 31 miles of the center's varied trails, half of which are groomed, are open following the weekend storm. A one-day trail fee is $12 for adults; rentals are $12 on weekdays and $15 for weekends and holidays.(Wash Post)Total # of Trails: 44 with 50KM, 30 KM machine groomed Beginner 30% Intermediate 55% Advanced 15% Top Elev.: 4436 Base Elev.3250 Vertical Drop:1200' Terrain Features pretty challenging constantly varying open hardwood glades, pastures, mountaintops, old ski area runs, railroad grades.

Local Wild Weather Facts ****Our Best Local Weather Site
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Davis 3SE, West Virginia (Canaan Valley 3N) 39-05-52N 79-25-53W Elev 3698 ft. Dave Lesher * Highlands New Weather Forecast Zone * Canaan Snow Data * Winter 06-07Dave the Weatherman’s Office Window Daily Photo

Local snowfall table enclosed : Early Canaan Ski story Life is good...and especially good in CV. Dave Lesher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love snow. I love cross country skiing. Especially when its with my friends at White Grass. I hit the Thursday(Thirsty) Staff Ski and we skied into the night. It was some interesting conditions...what I would call variable. A mix of powder, manky, mashed potatoes, and mirco crust. I was very happy to have had my Snowfields and S Bounds on for a change. Sue Haywood

Video To Waste Time With HomeSpun Video: YOUTUBe Videos White Grass XC by Crede * Dickie Hall * Kids Fun * Freakystylie WG * Ruthie's Ski Hash Movie * Morganizing SNow.avi by Anne Jones *suespringer2/3 * chipskisunset* tommyspringertele * Groundhogskiers * WildPoniesski * robbazookarun.mpg * saunahollowdrift.mpg* Kelly Dunn MarchVaTeleSki *Low Snow WG* Herringbone* Jacob!./ MoBackFlip.* DoublePoler* chipmakingdeal.audio* SuperCalaFrag.MPG * ColetteSpeaks* MorganJibT'day * WG JAM SESSIONmpg* Gandalfs skater * SweetUphillmpgBoundary Downhill Posse11/18/08 * SnowedOutaSchool Chris Barnes * Hey Brad whatchya like about WG? * Morgan Anita's 10/28/08 * Robb Baldy10/28 *Morgan jibskate 4/14/08 857 KB (604 KB version) * Crazy skiing wmv 4/14 2651 KB * Skate up flip out down 4/14 2655 KB MorganFlippin' round * GeoBelloWG * SlipSlidin'Away * Chase Boys Flipping Out * Morgan One With Snow Baldy Chutes in mush on nnnbc 3/3 HDmpeg * Nite360 3/3 HDmpeg * March 2 08 Robert Powder Cory Chase XC 12/18/07 * sunday jan6th flips * low snow dreggs * afternoon in a mild winter * Jan Three Lets Go Ski * Nite Groom with the Cream * Maintain Control? * Creative Wasting Of Times * Nat and Matt * WG Trails Jan 08 April 17 * Someone has to ski it.* First Day O Spring Jumps * Chip Baldy Chutes in touring gear * BigBackFlip * SpringSkiing Trails* PSIARandy * MorganJibSKateTrails * March First xc. * MorganHop. * Mr. Chip Gets A Day Off * HotTub Huckin' * Curtis Like Snake * WindyDaysof EarlyJanuary * Winners WVSO * SomeSkiersOf WG * Life of a groomer mpeg * * MorganJumpsPow1/17/07.mpeg SnowfarmCruisin’.mpeg * MorganJibskate Home * Happy SKier.mpeg * Chip On the SNowfarm1/11.mpeg * SPringer Skiing* Goes up Comes Down * Brad Moore Deep Snows * Snowcat Groom * SueSkate* Two Horse Open Sleigh * Early Season WG 06 *CoryNo-PoleSpinner * MorganMovesAprilsnows * ChipTeleSlopeXC* Flipping Out* DriftbusterTourCanaan * WhoNeedsDeepSNow * Jibskate Wreckers * Oh The Wind And Rain * Rainy Day Ski Spinners * MadRiverTeleBumps * JibskateFlippers * MorganTow3mile2/21 * FastWayToBaldy * WindblownBaldyXC * JakeBirchesGarden2/19 * LiftlineGroupies* MorgandriftKing * XC MarathonStart ** XCRaceStriders * MorganTearsSawmill ** MorganSueAntics ** MorganSpringerCrash * MAXslicesSpRINGER2/7/06 *ChipTeleLuge2/1/06 * BenMeetsPipeline * DrewSkireport.mpeg * *Dancin' DickHall NATO * LowSNow DickieHall * ArboMarks * Sue on getting Up** DickieMeetsNat'lNordic * KidsSnowfarmAnticsjan28 * GroomingSuperBowl.** Trail Skiin' with Chip 1/19/06 * chip ski * Chip On The Farm * Michael Loves Mtn State* ChipskisNAt'lNord * Almost-a-360 *CharlieTeleMarksNATOBreakfastBowl* BelowBaldyTele(1/7) * CHIP Nat'l Nordic * Chipskijan10 * Morgan Climbs Drop Zone(8/21/06) * Tony Climbs Unknown * MellyDog Picks Berries mpeg * Bear Crossing in Pendelton County * MorganTraverse.* BadJump * TreeSlide * Ride The Fence * Sue Haywood XC Downhilling New Years ** Follow Sue Tele Sauna Hollow ** Jump tele jack frost * Kids interview *Morgan and I shot a xc ski video * MorganNoBinding.mpeg

"skiing is not a matter of life and death, it’s more important than that"

The pure spirit of skiing and the good life is alive and well and living at Whitegrass. I know of no other place where skiers gather and get closer to that wonderful spiritual aspect of skiing and fellowship. That special place in all nords that makes us want to go outside put on our skis and have fun. Whitegrass is quite simply my favorite ski area in North America. Ski Hard, Play Fair, Have Fun, Dickie Hall (NATO)

Nothing finer than standing on this great planet / chip
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