Wisp Resort to Open this Weekend, December 1st – More to Follow!

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You’d think that with the weather being somewhat mild across the region that it would be a slow news day but nope…not this morning! Be sure to check the slope conditions page for ski conditions and trail openings.

Wisp Resort set to open for 2007/2008 Winter Season on Saturday, December 1st

Lori Epp of Wisp Resort in Maryland sent us this news release late on Wednesday.

Deep Creek Lake, MD (November 28, 2007)The 2007 / 2008 winter season will open on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at Wisp Resort in the mountains of Western Maryland. With temperatures and conditions cold enough, Wisp Resort produced enough snow to blanket several beginner and intermediate trails including Wisp Trail, Belly Flop and Roadrunner. Chairlift 2 or 3 will operate on Saturday, December 1 from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm with mid-station and summit unloading skiers and snowboarders.

Early season lift ticket pricing is in effect with a 1-day Adult Lift Ticket at $32 and 1-day Junior $25. A 1-day Sport Ski Rental is $34 and Snowboards $37. An Adult Group Lesson is $29. Willy Wisp & Club Wisp Children Programs will also begin operation on Saturday.

Snowmaking began on Wednesday, November 7 on the front side of Wisp Mountain. The first snowfall accumulation on Thursday, November 15 totaled 2 inches. Snowmaking is expected to continue as weather permits.

Wisp Resort’s newest attraction, the Mountain Coaster, will operate on Saturday, December 1 from 11:00 am – 9:00 pm and Sunday from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. The German-engineered hybrid of an alpine slide and roller coaster is the 2nd of it’s kind of the East Coast and will operate year-round including nights. A single Mountain Coaster Ride is $9.50 per person or $15 for double passenger rides; 3-pack and 10-pack rides available. Visit wispresort.com for a complete operating schedule and restrictions.

Wisp Resort lies in the heart of Garrett County, Maryland’s westernmost county. Established in 1955, Wisp Resort is Maryland’s only 4-season destination resort offering year-round recreational activities. Wisp Resort is less than a 2-hour drive from Pittsburgh, 3-hour drive from the Baltimore / DC Metropolitan area and less than a 45-minute drive from Morgantown, WV and Cumberland, MD.

Editor’s Note: This opening comes ONE WEEK EARLIER THAN LAST YEAR. We really recommend a visit to Wisp Resort. Wisp Resort is the northernmost ski area that we cover on SkiSoutheast.com and due to that, we realize that a lot of you guys may not have visited there as yet. You REALLY should. It is a beautiful drive and the resort offers some great amenities and unique trails. Make plans to ski Wisp this season. You will thank us!

APPALACHIAN SKI MOUNTAIN OFFERS FREE SKIING TO SUPPORT "Keep Winter Cool" PROGRAM

You guys can read the full details of the program in the second news story on the front page, but suffice to say that Appalachian Ski Mtn. is offering free skiing as an incentive for its guests to support efforts to fight global warming. Read the Full Story by Clicking Here.

The main thing to note is that on three weekends, each guest at Appalachian Ski Mtn. who purchases a ski ticket and a $ 3 Green Ticket will receive a voucher for a free ski ticket redeemable any night in March. This offer will be available December 8 & 9, January 5 & 6, and March 1 & 2.

Editor’s Note: The editors of this website do not necessarily support the concept of global warming and feel that the data supports more of a natural warming trend that will – within another 10-20 years be a "cooling trend" that will have us snickering at "those silly people back in 2007", but we do support doing your part to clean up our world. It never hurts to burn less fuel and we REALLY support FREE SKIING, so join in the "fight"!

HAWKSNEST DEBUTS NEW WEBSITE

The Seven Devils town managers may not have allowed Hawksnest to do their desired construction on the mountain, but they could not prevent them from doing some construction of another kind. They have debuted a new website that has more features than in years past. Hawksnest plans on providing weekly video instruction tips and more in the coming weeks. We spoke with Lenny Cottom briefly on Wednesday and they are hoping to "construct" a bunch of snow beginning with the first burst of cold air now that we are nearing December 1st.

SPEAKING OF NEW WEBSITES…

We want to welcome the West Virginia Ski Areas Association to our "mix" or network of ski websites. We recently colaborated on a new website for them that is certain to grow over time. Joe Stevens’, who is a weekly columnist for SkiSoutheast.com is their official spokesperson and provides most of the content management that you will be able to read at www.GoSkiWV.com (They also have another domain name that may be easier from some of you to remember that should go live soon, which is www.WestVirginiaSki.com Be sure to drop in and visit their website as well to see additional news about your favorite West Virginia Ski Area.

WHILE WE’RE ON WEST VIRGINIA…

Even though the ski slopes will not be open, Canaan Valley Resort is scheduled to open its tubing hill this Saturday, December 1, weather permitting. Other resort openings remain on schedule and that includes Timberline on December 6 and Winterplace on December 7 and Canaan Valley (ski terrain) on December 22 (earlier if weather allows).

We wrote about it a week or so ago…but remember that the West Virginia Ski Areas Association is offering a great discount ski program. Only a handful of the Wet Virginia Mountain Passes are still left from the West Virginia Ski Areas Association. The pass provides 30 passes to each resort in the state and 10 passes to the two Nordic areas. The cost of the Mountain Pass booklet is $2500 and the passes are interchangeable. For more information call 304-720-5466.

Speaking of discount skiing, Timberline Four Seasons Resort and Canaan Valley Resort have joined forces for the 2007-2008 ski season to offer guests the ability to ski both mountains at their leisure for one price. Guests taking advantage of the Ski The Valley Pass will have 76 trails and four terrain parks at their disposal, when both resorts are 100 percent open and the option of skiing the two mountains when and how they want.

The Pass will be sold as a two-day lift ticket and can be purchased at the lift ticket windows of both ski areas. The cost for the pass is: $40 for a two-day pass during Value Season (Dec. 14-24; Mar. 17-23); $65 for a two-day pass during weekdays in Prime Season (Jan. 1-Mar. 13); and, $95 for a two-day pass during weekends in Prime Season (Jan. 4-Mar. 16). The ticket will not be available during the Christmas (12/25-12/31), Presidents Day or Martin Luther King Day holidays.

SKI BEECH EYEING THE FORECAST AND LOOK TO MAKE SNOW ASAP

Beech’s Gil Adams writes, "We are watching the weather closely with hopes of a snow making session possible for the first of the week. The forecast looks promising for a chance to begin snow making on Monday. We will have to see as the time gets closer, but we are anxious and we are ready. Once we begin, our plan will be to make adequate snow to ensure good coverage to provide consistent ski conditions before we open for skiing."

We were thinking that they might begin making snow tonight and each of the next few nights as temps are forecasted to drop into the 20s. However, there IS some rain in the forecast for Sunday – just prior to the FRIGID temps expected to come in and STAY around for a bit beginning on Monday, December 3rd. So from their announcement, expect the snowguns to crank up at Beech on Monday.

OBER GATLINBURG

Kathy Doyle writes, "The snowmakers at Ober Gatlinburg will work around the clock once temperatures permit until there is enough base snow to provide a quality product for skiers and snowboarders. Once snowmaking weather is favorable, we will start making snow on the slopes in the following order: Castle Run, Cub Way and Ski School, Mogul Ridge and Upper Bear Run, Lower Bear Run and Ober Chute, Alpine Way, and Grizzly.

WEATHER DATA POSTING THIS MORNING

Both meteorologist Brad Panovich and Matthew East sent in new weather content and we will post that this morning as quickly as possible. Expect a LOT of winter temps to invade the area…SOON!

Send your comments, photos and videos to: [email protected]  

Until Next Time…See you on the slopes and THINK SNOW and COLD!

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