Huntington Quarterly....

WEEKEND AT SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN

A guide to an ever-expanding West Virginia wonder.

If you’re from the Huntington area and you haven’t been to Snowshoe Mountain lately, you’re in for a big surprise. A blizzard of big bucks dumped on this well-known resort has made Snowshoe bigger and better than ever.

A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON

Last season, Snowshoe celebrated its 25th year of operation by marking a new beginning in the history of the resort (and mid-Atlantic skiing). Before you head up Cheat Mountain to Snowshoe, a little lesson in its past will make you appreciate the historic changes now transforming the resort.

Snowhsoe was founded by Dr. Thomas “Doc” Birmingham, who had already found southern ski resort success with Sugar and Beech in North Carolina. Doc was enticed by Cheat Mountain’s height (500 feet above any New England ski area) and the near 200 inches of snow that the area averaged.

Way back in 1974, the resort opened with three chair lifts and nine slopes, including the Jean-Claude Killy-designed Cupp Run. It quickly expanded, with slopes and facilities sprawling all over the top of the mountain in the 70s, 80s, and early-90s (the resort “base” is at the top of the mountain here). With the purchase of nearby Silver Creek in 1992, the resort had grown to an incredible 56 slopes and 11 lifts.

Snowshoe’s second quarter-century of growth is going to be even bigger. Intrawest, developer of the likes of Whistler/Blackcomb, Stratton, Copper, and Tremblant, has poured more than $100 million into Snowshoe since purchasing it in 1995. This includes more slopes, more night skiing, new lodging, more restaurants, new activities like snowshoeing, shopping, slopeside services, and more. Thus, the weekend (and weekday) forecast is brighter than ever up on old Cheat Mountain. It’s easy to see why I-64 east from the Huntington area promises to be filled on many Fridays this winter.

CALL IN SICK

The first thing I ask Huntington area friends who are planning a weekend at the new Snowshoe is whether they can either go during the week or extend their trip to include a few weekdays. Like many eastern resorts, Snowshoe is unavoidably more crowded on the weekend. If you can make the entire trip or at least part of it during the week, it’s well worth it. You’ll be rewarded with a lack of lift lines, easy parking, and less-crowded dining.

Along with trying to include weekdays, I strongly recommend extending a Snowshoe trip to more than two nights. Snowshoe has grown into much more than a place to make as many downhill runs as possible before heading back to work. There’s enough to keep you busy for many days on and off the slopes.

DO YOU HAVE A RESERVATION?

My ideal Snowshoe plan also includes making some reservations before your trip. It’s well worth any slight lack of flexibility once you get there.

The first thing to reserve in advance is a room at the inn (or, in Snowshoe’s case, the condo). Condos are definitely the way to go at Snowshoe, with a wide range of choices all over the mountain and down at Silver Creek. Though they may cost a bit more, the space and amenities gained (including things like kitchens, fireplaces, and living rooms) make a big difference in any experience.

Snowshoe veterans all have their favorite condos and houses, but I’m already a big fan of the new options. Ask for a junior studio, studio, or a one- or two-bedroom unit in Rimfire Lodge, which is right in the heart of the new ski-in/ski-out mountaintop Village Center. It’s an ideal base at the heart of the action. If you’d rather be away from the hubbub, inquire about the quieter Camp Four two- and three-bedroom townhomes at the edge of the slopes.

Both of these new condo complexes will work well for families, though the units down at Silver Creek are also very popular and convenient. If you want more of a European-style hotel experience, it’s tough to beat the Whistlepunk Inn, which takes me back to my Army days in the Alps. When making your reservation, be sure to ask about packages that include accommodations, rentals, lessons, discounts, and more--I’ve found some real savings in past packages up at Snowshoe and that means more money for food, drink, and gear.

Once you have a place to stay, you need to make dinner plans. It may seem silly to book reservations for meals beforehand, but it’s not. My long-time favorite (The Red Fox) is typically sold out on weekends and the new upscale choice (Eli’s) will quickly become similar as word spreads. So, just trust me, and make late-evening reservations for Eli’s on Friday night and The Red Fox on Saturday night. When choosing your time, don’t forget the lights blaze Silver Creek’s slopes well into the night.

FRIDAY NIGHT

If you are coming in on Friday, try to arrive by mid- to late-afternoon. You’ll avoid lines at check-in (they efficiently do this at the base of the mountain) and you’ll have time to get the lay of the land.

Once up the mountain, of choice, head to Silver Creek to get any creaks out of the old ski legs during a session of night skiing. This ‘resort within a resort’ has 14 slopes lit, making for a fun first night. The runs stay torched until 10pm, so late dinner reservations aren’t a bad idea.

A lack of lift lines means you can crank out lots of quick runs here. The black slopes aren’t lit (yet), so save them for uncrowded quickies later in your stay. The longer blue runs like Fox Chase and Cascade will provide perfect warm-ups.

Other options at Silver Creek, which always remains less crowded than Snowshoe proper, include: a very popular tubing hill for kids and kids at heart; the most elaborate terrain park on the east coast; and the region’s largest ‘all-snow’ halfpipe (more than 300 feet). Off the slopes, the massive self-contained Silver Creek Lodge offers anything you need to rent, buy, eat, or drink. If you’re not eating at Eli’s later, the open-hearth pizzas in the Bear’s Den are Silver Creek specialties.

After your outing at Snowshoe’s little sister, keep your reservation at Eli’s. Part of the new Rimfire Lodge development of accommodations, shopping, dining, and services, Eli’s is the creation of former Greenbrier executive chef Robert Wong. Specializing in regional cuisine in an upscale mountain lodge atmosphere, Wong brought The Greenbrier’s tradition of West Virginia hospitality and fine dining up the mountain to Snowshoe.

If you’re up to it, Connection nightclub is open until 2am and features a live band, while quieter Rosa’s Cantina generally has low-key trios or the like. If you like to laugh, the Comedy Cellar is one of the mountain’s most popular attractions. Hilarious host Roy Riley brings in guest comedians from throughout the U.S., packing the place for several shows each weekend (one on Friday and two on Saturday). For smaller crowds, the Comedy Cellar has a 9pm showtime (8:30pm and 10:00pm shows and an early arrival essential on Saturdays).

SATURDAY

Set your alarm and get up early. Plan on having a quick breakfast in your condo or heading down to Auntie Pasta’s for more hearty fare (the omelettes are my favorite). Just try to be over at the top of Snowshoe’s Western Territory by 8:30am, when the ropes drop for famed Cupp Run and the new sister slope, Shay’s Revenge.

When veteran Snowshoe visitors talk about their favorite runs, it’s Cupp Run (and now Shay’s Revenge). With 1,500 feet in vertical drop and up to 60% steeps, there’s some serious terrain in the Western Territory. A new quad (reducing lift times from 20 to six minutes) and the addition of Shay’s Revenge make the area better than ever.

After a morning in the Western Territory, the lunch options are many. One neat new possibility that many Snowshoe visitors don’t even know exists (you have to ski the Western Territory to get there) is Arbuckle’s Cabin. Located at the bottom of Cupp Run and Shay’s Revenge, this little place offers up creative hot stews and a wide variety of beers and other beverages. If the sun is shining, there’s no place I’d rather be after skiing the Western Territory. There’s a huge deck, which features music and cookouts on weekends with good weather.

For the afternoon, head over to the main side of the mountain to experience the bulk of Snowshoe’s slopes. I’ve generally found that the further away you get from Snowshoe’s largest lodging and dining areas, the smaller the crowds on the slopes and lifts. My perfect afternoon of skiing would include a long easy run down the likes of greens like Skidway or the Flume series and then some quality time on the mountain’s best blue and bumpy run, Ball Hooter (the lift by the same name is also generally less crowded).

Finally, as the day heads toward dusk, get over to the edge of the mountain with some runs on steep Widowmaker and rides on the fast Widowmaker quad. The steeps here will probably bring your day to a burning close.

If, like me, your days on the slopes sometimes tend to end earlier than sunset, there are plenty of other options. If Snowshoe has some natural white stuff (and they’re more likely to than anywhere in the mid-Atlantic), try snowshoeing on the trails they use for hiking and mountain biking. One other new option added by Intrawest is a horse-drawn sleigh ride to the summit.

The evening can mean more fun under the lights at Silver Creek, a spa visit (especially if you tried something new), or some time at one of the region’s best happy hours (from 4:30pm to 7pm in Connection). Just be sure to save time and stomach space for dinner at The Red Fox.

The Red Fox is long-established as one of the region’s top restaurants. Owners Margaret Ann Smith and Brian Ball offer an elegant European chalet atmosphere and a variety of regional cookery, including some of the best game and fish dishes you’ll find on or off any mountain. I’ve never had a bad experience at The Red Fox and neither have the several dozen others I’ve sent there over the years. For the complete Red Fox experience, be sure to have a cocktails or after-dinner drinks in Yodeler’s Pub.

If this is your night for the Comedy Cellar, you won’t be disappointed (just go early). By the way, Roy and other professionals can tell some great West Virginia jokes, but I leave those to the natives.

SUNDAY

If you didn’t hit Cupp Run and Shay’s Revenge Saturday, be there by 8:30am today. It’s best to get in several runs before the late-risers show up later in the morning. Afterwards, breakfast at Auntie Pasta’s or Skidder Restaurant is an ideal reward.

I’ve found that the longer you can stay on Sunday, the better. Head back over to the main side of Snowshoe and you’ll find that the slopes start emptying and the lift lines evaporate as you head into the afternoon. Even if you have to check out of your accommodations, parking is generally easy and you can use the changing rooms to get out of your ski clothes. It’s well worth a few hours of driving in the dark if you want to get in some uncrowded runs.

Of course, smart Snowshoe visitors like me actually try to stay at least through Monday. Even if it’s just for a few more morning runs in the Western Territory, it makes an ideally planned weekend at Snowshoe even better.

SIDEBAR

Information Snowshoe Mountain, P.O. Box 10, Snowshoe, WV 26209; (304) 572-1000.

Accommodations Price is no object: The new Rimfire Lodge and Camp Four condos are by far the best bet. The European-style hotel rooms at the Whistlepunk Inn are fine for the non-condo community. For a family-reunion: There are lots of houses to rent, as well as the condos above and those at Silver Creek. On a budget: The Inn at Snowshoe is at the base of the mountain, but the savings probably isn’t worth it. On top, Spruce Lodge is the cheapest choice.

Dining The Red Fox and Eli’s are highly recommended for dinner. Auntie Pasta’s is perfect for a casual breakfast (omelettes) or lunch (pastas), as is The Bear’s Den (open-hearth oven pizzas) down at Silver Creek. Snowshoe abounds with other eateries.

Children Snowhsoe accepts ages 2 and older at the Edelweiss Building between 8am and 5pm, while Silver Creek Lodge welcomes those 12 weeks and older from 8am to 10pm. Of course, a wide range of instruction and on-slope programs are available for families.

Family Fun Silver Creek is the best bet for families and the expanded tubing park is the perfect place. The Kids Kamp, with Brr Rabbits (4-6) and Mogul Busters (7-12), offers extensive lessons.

Snowboarding Silver Creek has the region’s best terrain park and halfpipe.

Nearby Friendly Elk River Touring Center at the bottom of the mountain offers cross-country skiing, a creative restaurant, a lively bar, and weekend entertainment.--WLS

Freelance travel writer Lynn Seldon is a veteran West Virginia visitor. His most recent book, Country Roads of West Virginia, details country road drives throughout the state (including several around Huntington). It can be ordered by calling (800) 323-4900. A longer version of this Snowshoe feature will appear in SKI Magazine this winter.