Showing Love 4: Timberline WV

Words by Alex Kaufman l STE Online Editor

Editor's Note: While there's a tendency to focus on where the snow falls, the parks are massive or the backcountry lines are slayed (northern New England), there's vast areas of the East where the mountains are a little smaller and the climate a little warmer, but skiers flock to their local slopes with the same level of dedication. From the midwest to the deep south to the coast, the East is home to ski areas large and small that deserve their props. This spring and summer we're going to "show some love." Do you rip a lesser hyped spot that deserves a moment in the sun? Hit me up. - AK

Across the Canaan Valley

A summit elevation of 4,268 feet. Annual snowfall over 200”. Sounds a lot like Wildcat, NH. It’s actually Timberline, WV outside of Davis, which is the highest incorporated town in the state at 3,200’.

Winter scene in Davis, WV. Photo by Washington Post.

Davis became a well know and boisterous lumber town in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The plateau area was locally known as "Canada" consisting of a dense forest of spruce and hardwoods. Located along the Canaan Valley and it’s National Wildlife Refuge and offering a 1000’ vertical drop is this local’s favorite that even publishes a backcountry trail map for guests who want to get outside the lines.
 

Russel D, a Ski The East’er and Timberline fan, chimed in with this review: 

“I want to throw my two cents in for Timberline in West Virginia. Mid Atlantic skiers and riders have a surprising number of choices within a five hour drive and I have been to the vast majority of them. Having gone to school up in Vermont all I can say is that when the conditions are right Timberline is the class of the area. 

On that note the conditions are right here more than at many of the other area resorts. The base elevation is over 3,000 ft and it averages over 200" of snow. This is mainly caused by some lake effect that hits this high plateau and dumps its bounty. 

The best part about it is how unpretentious it is. It is a privately owned resort, and the lifts may be slow, but they have done a masterful job at creating more glade runs than all the other mid Atlantic mountains. Also, they have an entire backcountry trail system that in conjunction with their neighbor Whitegrass Touring Center opens up many possibilities for skinning and schralping. 

...They have some great steeps and have more than their fair share of winding blues (plus a 2 mile green that is great for beginners). All in all this is a great mountain and their deal where they offer $18 lift tickets to anybody with a college ID all the time except holiday periods can't be beat.”