<font face=Arial> <b>TODAY'S PHOTOS : </b> <font color=”blue”>Friday’s Beautiful World ~
Patroller guru His Holiness Bradness brushing snow off trees onto trails ~ Let’s Go Skiing! ~
PHOTOS TAKEN BY COLLEEN LAFFEY.</font></font>
<font size=5><font color="red"><b>Tuesday, Feb 27th: Whiteness Will Soon Return -We Are
Very Excited!</b> </font></font>
<b>7 am Temp: </b> 29 ~ Partly cloudy
<b> Km open: </b> 6 (the highest of the high)-runs along the snowfence
<b> Km groomed: </b> 0
<b> Base: </b> 1”-6” (above 4000 feet only)
<b> Surface:</b> Frozen granular remains
<b> New Snow:</b> none
<font color="red">We skied every possible snowflake Saturday. 20% moss, 2% rock, 5% ice, 6%
maple and birch catkin, 40% paper thin snow, 20% dirt, and 7% mixed planetary materials.
</font>
GARRETT-PRESTON-TUCKER336 AM EST TUE FEB 27 2001
.TODAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS THIS AFTERNOON.
SNOW SHOWERS COULD MIX WITH RAIN SHOWERS FROM TIME TO TIME. NO SNOW
ACCUMULATION. HIGHS 35 TO 40. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF
SNOW 30 PERCENT.
.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. NO SNOW
ACCUMULATION. LOWS 15 TO 20. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF
SNOW 30 PERCENT.
.WEDNESDAY...BECOMING PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS NEAR 30.
.EXTENDED FORECAST...
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 10 TO 15.
.THURSDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 30 TO 35.
.FRIDAY...CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS 15 TO 20. HIGHS 30 TO 35.
.SATURDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 20 TO 25. HIGHS 30 TO 35.
.SUNDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE 20S. HIGHS IN THE 30S.
.MONDAY...CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE 20S. HIGHS IN
THE 30S.
<font color=”blue”><b>IS IT REALLY WORTH THE DRIVE?</b> Not to XC, alpine and tele skiing
is fine. One can tour the national nordic this week. Great deals on all our gear continues.
<b>OUR NORDIC CRYSTAL BALL:</b> There is hope as another snow event is
slated for tonight. Locals here planting gardens will get froze out and deserve
it.</font>
Hey, <b> Karhu</b> Ski Folks are on to Us!<a
href=http://www.karhu.com/>http://www.karhu.com/</a>
<font color=”brown”>Ulle, our Norse God of Snow, you have blessed us beyond our wildest
dreams. Take these few days and rest. Return renewed and strong. </font>
<font color=”blue”>
Chip,
Of course there were some thought of “do I remember how to turn? Will I be
able to carve Telemarks? Will I last more then two runs down the mountain?”
We got off the lift at the top and slide over to an easy trail I had skied on
skinny skis with Chip a few years earlier. Yes, the Tele's worked, I would
not call the turns pretty but linked carved turns felt natural. I felt
smooth, in control. Everything came together; the Weather, the friends, the
equipment, the snow, my body, my muscle memory. It felt just like when I was
16 only I was getting to appreciate it first hand instead of having it as
just a vague memory.
I got to push the equipment asking it to take me all over the mountain in
that gliding swinging shushing movement that is SKIING. I could feel the
support of the old leather boots, they were modern Rossignol Tele boots,
buckles not laces, but they where not plastic prisons. The skis while not,
feather-light hickory bottomed traditional skis, carved, slid, made fast runs
all as an unconscious extension of my body. The binding were heel free cables.
It was just me, the snow, beautiful views, if I wanted to go somewhere I did
not have to think of how, rather I effortlessly glided in perfect linked
curves.
I heard Bill say “like that”, as I was skiing away. The student skied down
after me executing perfectly. I was able to will my body to do something that
I had learned 40 years ago and had not tried to do in the last 30. You can
imagine what a high that put me on.
As the day moved on I did get tired. Making turns became having to force the
skis around. I was falling. I stopped. Took my skis and boots off. Put one
of the best days and weekends of my life away to be recalled later.
Chip, without you it would not have been possible. Thanks for skiing with me
those raining days in March 4 years ago reminding me what an important thing
skiing is to me. Thanks for keeping alive Bill’s and mine dream of “Ski
Touring”. Thanks for setting me up with that tele outfit. I just might have
to take it to bed with me one or two nights. <I>Bert</I></font> I edited this one down, Bert, it still
has the flare! Bless your heart. cc
<hr>
<b>Our DUDE OF THE WEEK! </b> Melanie Hall, working time away far from her Vermont
home. (Dickie’s girl). Stepping out of her car and into the Alipolooza, rolling up the sleeves and
getting into it. We are all that much stronger.
<b>Overheard…</b>I wasn’t sure what the weather was like so I brought my fly rod along
anyway…<I>another surprised xc skier Friday</I>
<b>Our crystalline precipitation for the season:</b> 116 inches: Nov:18.5”, Dec: 39.5” , Jan:
43”, Feb: 15” with 94 skiable days under our ski soles. All 50 km. have been open for 44 days.
<b> REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST LINK: </b>For the <u>very latest</u> TUCKER county
forecast , & SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM! <a
href=http://www.accuweather.com/adcbin/local_index?thisZip=26260&btnZip=Go&nav=home>
http://www.accuweather.com/adcbin/local_index?thisZip=26260&btnZip=Go&nav=home </a>”…if
you don’t like the weather forecast…wait a minute.”
<b>REGIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY: We are the Central Appalachians.</b>
<a
href=http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/wv/summary.html>http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/wv/summary.h
tml</a>
<b>West Virginia Locations; Past 24 hour Hi-Low, Snow on Ground…(updated after 9 am each
day)</b>
<a
href=http://tgsv5.nws.noaa.gov/er/rlx/netwx/globprod/HYDCRW.html>http://tgsv5.nws.noaa.gov/e
r/rlx/netwx/globprod/HYDCRW.html</a>
<u>Everything in our XC shop is on sale (25% at least!)</u> and listing a few irresistible specials
below. Help us out...need any gear?</font>
<font size=5><b>wHaT’S uP ?</b></font>
<font color=”red”>Another successful Women’s Winter Weekend with 16 happy skiers tearing it
up all over the mountain a few weeks ago. Rave reviews all around.<b> Our next women’s
weekend is slated for March 3.</b> Check our events calendar or call or e-mail for more
information.</font>
<font color=”green”>FREE SNOWSHOE TOUR (OR HIKE) OF THE REFUGE EVERY SUNDAY
AT 1 PM AT WHITE GRASS. </font>
We are presently working under a special use permit to use many of the xc trails that are now on
newly acquired refuge property, these folks have been <u>great</u> to work with.
<a href=http://canaanvalley.org/>Canaan Valley .org Calendar</a>
<a href=http://www.state.wv.us/tourism/cal/Dec2000.htm>WV State Calendar OF Events</a>
Discover why Cross Country Skiing is one of the most wonderful lifetime winter sports. Besides
being healthy and challenging, it burns up very little of our world's resources. Our ski area and
cafe electric bill now averages less than $3.49 per day. Guess who's burnin' up all the energy in
this sport?
<b>RECENT BACKSCATTER</B><font color=”brown”>
Hey Chippie & Laurie,
Thanks for the hospitality. I love your new house.
Chip, glad to see that I got those photos in ok. I am always a little
hesitant when confronted with new technology. I love the shot of you.
I am starting on the edit of the WGSTC video & should have a rough cut by
next week. I can't wait to see how it comes together. I am at the station
right now, dubbing my tapes onto DVCPro, which is the format their system
accepts. (More techno stuff) I had forgotten how much good stuff I got when
I was there at New Years. Got some beautiful shots of Morgan.
I will keep you updated & send a tape when it is close to done.
Love you guys,<I>Colleen</I>
Dear Chip and LaurieJust wanted to drop you guys an e-hug and kiss for helping me have the
best possible birthday party ever. Alice (version 4.0) has been
successfully launched ...and I know I wasn't the only one who enjoyed
Alipalooza 2001 this much. Five out of my nine sibs, their significant
others, and maybe a hundred of my closest friends, basked in the warmth
and magic of the Center Of The Universe (aka White Grass lodge). The
food was incredible (thanks to the kind and talented Mary Anders and her
staff), and I must also say that the unaffiliated dinner guests were
spectacularly tolerant of our noisy festivities.
Playing music with my loved ones, and that would be the guys in my band,
Sang Run (thanks Mike, Jeff, Fred and Jose), and our honored guest stars
Kelly Kennedy and Patrick and Aran Olwell, was the highlight of the
evening, notwithstanding Chip's dancing and incredible jam with Fred and
Jeff that topped off the event.
I'd also like to say Happy Birthday to several other fishy friends who
attended the party and had the questionable good fortune of being born
during the month of AliceFest... Jane-2/23, Mike 2/21, Jay 2/24, Gary
3/11 ...and I hope I'm not forgetting anybody who would care.
My heart is full of love for life and friends and children and snow.
You guys fuel my fire. Thanks.<I>Alice Fleischman</I>
Hi Chip Took my first trip to Whitegrass last month and loved it. It got me thinking about
skiing up through Whitegrass into the Dolly Sods for an overnight, then coming back
out the next day. I understand a lot of people do this sort of thing. Do you object to
people parking in your lot overnight while camping? Also, would it be a problem for
my wife to rent backcountry skis overnight ? Would welcome any other suggestions
you may have.
Thanks for the advice! You guys run a great operation - can't wait to get back esp.
w/fresh snow on the way.<I>- Dave</I>
Hey Chip,
Robbie here,just wanted to say thanks again for the use of that sweet Gibson J-45 it`s a killer,I
think we should start a band and name it Barrys World and practice there as well,couldn`t be all
bad.Had a great wkend.and hope that the Ulle brings much more your way this wkend,if so you
may see us on Sat.for the 9pm jam and B/D party.Thanks again! <I>Robbie</I>
Chip and Laurie and all at Whitegrass:
Thanks for the spectacular weekend! Nicki, Miles and I had a terrific time
seeing you all again at Whitegrass. And, ya know, it didn't even matter
that there wasn't that much snow left. We had a great time anyway just
soaking up the ambience of your fine establishment there in Tucker County.
Loved the house. Loved the moonshine that went down like well water. Loved
our meal on Sunday night. The best food we've eaten in many a moon. Please
thank Mary for us.
I called Bill and told him to get up off his seat and send you an email. He
and Kaye, his wife, are leaving for a week in St. John, USVI, to see his 18
year old son who has been working down there since September. Its a
different kind of scene down there than at Whitegrass and Zach, his son, has
been having a great time hanging out in the land of Rum Punches and young,
blonde, women with good teeth. He'll be coming back in April to start a new
gig in Martha's Vineyard. God, I'm so jealous. He's a great kid.
It was good to see you again. We hope to make it back sooner next time.
Keep up the good work.
Also, we are thrilled to have been made DUDES OF THE WEEK. That's never
happened to us before. Thanks for the good words.
<I>--Jim Landry</I> PS: Miles says thanks for the sled!
_________________________________________________________________
Hi there. My husband and I stayed at Canaan resort on Feb 9th - 11th. Lucky for us the gift shop
clerk told us about White Grass. When their cross country was closed, we came to you. Greg
gave us a lesson on Saturday morning during the major wind storm. From what we heard,
conditions were the worst they had been in a long time, but we tried it anyway.
We had a good time, but it was difficult on ice. We would like to try more at home on our rails to
trails bike trail without making a major investment until we're sure we like it. Thanks for a great
time and I appreciate the info on the used equipment. Have a great off season. <I>Jill Lucidi</I>
Dear White Grass, Chip Chase, and the Gang,
I want to thank you for letting me ski. It was lots and lots of fun. The scary part was race day, but
I am glad I did it. It was very very pretty up there. I like the hot co-co. I didn’t like falling down but I
did lots of times. I hope this letter doesn’t take up too much time. Thanks again.<I> Ashley
Chapman of Webster Springs West Va. Special Olympics</I>
Chip,
I had a feeling White grass would be a cool place but I had no clue how cool
it would be. I know if I had more time to ski the top of the mountain that
I would have fallen in love with the place. Even skiing around on the snow
farm was a hoot. It gets me fired up to see people like you that are
so into snow. The fact that you took the time to shovel snow in key spots
just to have a race for 10 people is pretty cool. We plan on coming back
next year. When we do come back I'll bring about 10 more people from Erie
and Pittsburgh and we can double the race field. Enjoy the snow while it's
here and I'll pray for more. <I>Jim</I>
P.S. Thanks for the taste of the moonshine. That stuff was smooth…
(Jim lapped everybody on Sunday, he is the fastest skier we have ever seen here!)
Hey Chipper, Laurie, & the Boys,
Mark Winbourne here, just home from canaan valley after hanging with the
Black crew all weekend and monday. We had a blast, especially monday
summating Bald Knob & having the snow start falling right then! conditions
were pretty sweet up top, especially as the snow accumulated rapidly! we did
some off-track, in the trees on the bushwhackers.....great skis, Chipper,
something really clicked for me up there, getting my step turns on fairly
reliably, a couple of quasi-tele turns as well! I hope to see ya'll once more
for skiing this season. hasta luegos!
Dearest Chip,
Sharon and I didn't get to see you on Saturday
before we left. We wanted to let you know that you allowed our son to
have the time of his little life. He took right to skiing. It must be the
Nordic blood! Before you know it he will be out on the Glaciers.
When we pulled on into the parking lot, he began
yelling...Whitegrass Whitegrass! We hope to get back soon. Until
then later and thanx! <I>Mark Thorne</I>