Canaan Valley Resort Ski Area to Open Advanced Runs This Weekend; Earliest Opening Ever of Gravity
DAVIS, W. Va., December 14, 2016 – Thanks to the combination of significantly increased snowmaking abilities and several days of chilly temperatures, Canaan Valley Resort skiers can defy Gravity (#DefyGravity) – the ski area’s most advanced run – this weekend. Also this weekend, the ski area will open two other advanced runs – Lower Canaan Curve and Upper Spruce – bringing its early-season skiable terrain to 13 slopes and trails.
The ski area in north central West Virginia opened on Dec. 10 with eight trails including the popular 1¼-mile Timber Trail, and with a 12-inch to 24-inch base and packed powder.
This is the earliest in the season that Gravity has been open, at least as far as long-time staff and general manager Steve Drumheller can remember. It is also easily the earliest in the resort’s 45-year history that so many trails and slopes have been opened with man-made snow.
“We could not have picked a better year to double our snowmaking capacity with a couple of welcome blasts of cold air coming to us from the north,” said Drumheller. “Our highly caffeinated mountain staff has been working around the clock to get the mountain skier-ready, and the skiers who hit the mountain last weekend were clearly appreciative of their efforts.”
The resort’s ice skating rink is also open, and the cross-country ski area will open by the holiday weekend – or earlier, if conditions permit.
The resort’s open runs and other slope conditions are listed on the website.
Snowmaking and other improvements
Celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, Canaan Valley Resort made major ski area enhancements this year including the addition of equipment that doubled the resort’s snowmaking capacity; purchasing new downhill and cross country skis, snowboards and ice skating rental equipment; and creating a new out-of-bounds cross country ski trail on the back side of the mountain.
More about Canaan Valley Resort
Canaan Valley Resort Ski Area is in the highest mountain valley to the east of the Rocky Mountains and is known for breathtaking views of the mountainous region. The ski resort has a summit elevation of 4,280 feet above sea level, 91 skiable acres, four lifts – one quad, two triples and a magic carpet – a terrain park and ski school. With 47 trails and slopes, the Critters Crawl beginner area – a dedicated beginner instruction trail serviced by its own magic carpet – and ski school for private and group lessons, Canaan Valley Resort Ski Area offers a memorable winter adventure for every skier and snowboarder.
Canaan Valley Resort is in north central West Virginia approximately three hours from Pittsburgh, 2½ hours from Washington, D.C. and 2¾ hours from Charleston, W.Va.
To reserve accommodations, visit www.canaanresort.com or call 1-800-622-4121.