Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 13, 1995 TAG: 9502150013
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
You don't need a fancy resort. No lift lines or lift tickets. You probably already have the clothing required. The equipment doesn't need to be fancy. In fact, if you can buy some gear at a rental shop that is trying to turn its equipment into cash flow at the end of the winter, that will serve you well.
What you do need - what you must have - is snow.
That makes it a marginal sport in places like the Roanoke and New River valleys. But when it does snow, every city park, golf course and cow pasture turns into alluring back country.
There are ways to lengthen your cross-country skiing time beyond the brief snows that fluff up the valleys. A reasonable drive west or north often will put you into powder. Some examples:
MOUNT ROGERS: Last week when the ground was bare in Roanoke this scenic, high-country area had more than 2 feet of snow. Popular access areas for skiers include Massie Gap in the Grayson Highlands State Park. It is reached off U.S. 58 and puts skiers onto alluring Wilburn ridge. A second, popular jumping-off spot is Elk Garden Gap in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. It is on Virginia 600 north of U.S. 58. The Mount Rogers summit is about four miles in the distance.
A source of snow and trail information is the recreation area headquarters near Marion, 703-783-5196.
POCAHONTAS COUNTY, W.VA: Cross-country skiing here pivots around Elk River Touring Center, a sheep farm turned into a skiing-biking facility along U.S. 219 in the foothills of Snowshoe-Silver Creek. One recent high-country report listed snowfall 17 of the past 21 days.
Elk River has been keeping about 50 miles of trails groomed. Most guests are content to ski near the center, but for the adventurous, the Highland Scenic Highway offers 22 miles of unplowed terrain north of Marlinton. About 60 percent of it is 4,000 feet or higher. For the even more adventurous, there is the nearby Cranberry Back Country and Wilderness.
Elk River is operated by Gil and Mary Willis, 304-572-3771. Rentals, instructions, meals and lodging are available.
CANAAN VALLEY, W.VA.: This mountain valley, 3,200 feet above sea level, offers the most trails, most instruction and most rental equipment you will find south of New England. You also will discover snow here even after it is gone from places like Mount Rogers. A couple of weeks ago the region, about 41/2 hours from Roanoke, had better cross-country conditions than New England.
In addition to cross-country skiing at the area's two major downhill resorts, Timberline (304-866-4801) and Canaan Valley Resort (304-866-2172), there are Nordic centers, including the Backwater Outdoor Center (304-259-5216) at Blackwater Falls State Park and White Grass (304-866-4141). White Grass offers trails ranging from beginner to expert, and for the really adventurous there is the nearby Dolly Sods Wilderness
PIPESTEM STATE PARK, W.VA.: Resting on the lip of the Bluestone River Gorge, Pipestem Resort State Park offers several designated, but ungroomed, cross-country trails, but many guests are content simply to ski the rolling terrain of the 18-hole championship golf course. Rentals are available, and if enough skiers show up management will offer group instructions.
Last week, there was ample snow for skiing, but the wind had blown some bare spots.
Year-round lodging and meals are available in the 100-plus room main lodge (304-466-1800) south of Hinton.
by CNB