White Grass Ski Touring Center
Encyclopedia
White Grass Ski Touring Center is a cross-country skiing
facility located in Canaan Valley
in Tucker County, West Virginia
. It originally opened in 1979 on White Grass Knob near Harrisonburg, Virginia
. Two years later, the operation was moved to the site of the second Weiss Knob Ski Area. The resort uses Weiss Knob's former lodge as its day lodge; it is one of the oldest dedicated cross country ski areas in the United States
. Because of its status as a former downhill slope, White Grass is an unusually steep cross country area, with nearly 1200 feet (365.8 m) of vertical rise—more than at neighboring downhill slope Canaan Valley Resort State Park
. Its 45 trails are rated approximately 30% easy, 55% intermediate, 15% most difficult; climbs are available to the summit of 4436 feet (1,352.1 m) Weiss Knob by intermediate skiing, and to 4308 feet (1,313.1 m) Bald Knob via easier or intermediate trails. White Grass staff also conduct back-country tours into the wilderness areas that surround the center.
The resort's trails stretch along the northern slope of Cabin Mountain from Canaan Valley Resort northeast to Timberline Four Seasons Resort. It also provides access to Dolly Sods wilderness area on the east, and to trails in Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
on the west. There are more than 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) of cross-country trails on White Grass property, and more than 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) of trails are locally accessible. Half of the established trails at White Grass are machine groomed. The resort harvests its 150 inches (3.8 m) of natural snowfall with 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) of snow fence
s. Lighted night skiing
has been made available on a beginner track. The resort also supports snowshoe
ing and telemark skiing
.
White Grass has been described as catering to a "fleece-and-flannel scene". During the summer, it is the site of a 500 acres (2 km²) dairy farm. The resort's organic
cafe has become a popular attraction, publishing two novelty cookbooks. As of 2004 the resort lodge consumed less than $2 worth of electricity per day, and was heated by a wood-burning stove
. In 2003 the resort was recognized by the West Virginia Environmental Council for the environmental sustainability
of its operations, such as its snow farming
. In 1994 The Washington Post
cited White Grass Touring Center as one of the ten best Nordic ski areas in the nation.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
facility located in Canaan Valley
Canaan Valley
Canaan Valley is an oval, bowl-like upland valley in northeastern Tucker County, West Virginia, USA. Within it are extensive wetlands and the headwaters of the Blackwater River which spills out of the valley at Blackwater Falls...
in Tucker County, West Virginia
Tucker County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,321 people, 3,052 households, and 2,121 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile . There were 4,634 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
. It originally opened in 1979 on White Grass Knob near Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
. Two years later, the operation was moved to the site of the second Weiss Knob Ski Area. The resort uses Weiss Knob's former lodge as its day lodge; it is one of the oldest dedicated cross country ski areas in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Because of its status as a former downhill slope, White Grass is an unusually steep cross country area, with nearly 1200 feet (365.8 m) of vertical rise—more than at neighboring downhill slope Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Canaan Valley Resort State Park is a state park within Canaan Valley, Tucker County, West Virginia. Located in the highest valley east of the Mississippi River, the park contains the second-largest inland wetland area in the United States...
. Its 45 trails are rated approximately 30% easy, 55% intermediate, 15% most difficult; climbs are available to the summit of 4436 feet (1,352.1 m) Weiss Knob by intermediate skiing, and to 4308 feet (1,313.1 m) Bald Knob via easier or intermediate trails. White Grass staff also conduct back-country tours into the wilderness areas that surround the center.
The resort's trails stretch along the northern slope of Cabin Mountain from Canaan Valley Resort northeast to Timberline Four Seasons Resort. It also provides access to Dolly Sods wilderness area on the east, and to trails in Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
The Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Tucker County, West Virginia is the 500th National Wildlife Refuge to be established in the USA. The refuge preserves a moist valley with unique wetlands and uplands at a relatively high elevation in the Allegheny Mountains. It is administered by the...
on the west. There are more than 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) of cross-country trails on White Grass property, and more than 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) of trails are locally accessible. Half of the established trails at White Grass are machine groomed. The resort harvests its 150 inches (3.8 m) of natural snowfall with 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) of snow fence
Snow fence
A snow fence is a structure, similar to a sand fence, that forces drifting snow to accumulate in a desired place. They are primarily employed to minimize the amount of snowdrift on roadways and railways. Farmers and ranchers may use temporary snow fences to create large drifts in basins for a...
s. Lighted night skiing
Night skiing
Night skiing is the sport of skiing or snowboarding after sundown, offered at many ski resorts and mountains. There are usually electric lights along the piste which allow for better visibility...
has been made available on a beginner track. The resort also supports snowshoe
Snowshoe
A snowshoe is footwear for walking over the snow. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person's foot does not sink completely into the snow, a quality called "flotation"....
ing and telemark skiing
Telemark skiing
Telemark skiing is a form of skiing using the Telemark turn. Unlike alpine skiing equipment, the skis used for telemarking either have a binding that only connects the boot to the ski at the toes, just as in cross-country skiing, or may be released to only connect there.Telemark turns are led with...
.
White Grass has been described as catering to a "fleece-and-flannel scene". During the summer, it is the site of a 500 acres (2 km²) dairy farm. The resort's organic
Organic food
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
cafe has become a popular attraction, publishing two novelty cookbooks. As of 2004 the resort lodge consumed less than $2 worth of electricity per day, and was heated by a wood-burning stove
Wood-burning stove
For a list of stove types see Stove .A wood-burning stove is a heating appliance capable of burning wood fuel and wood-derived biomass fuel. Generally the appliance consists of a solid metal closed fire chamber, a grate and an adjustable air control...
. In 2003 the resort was recognized by the West Virginia Environmental Council for the environmental sustainability
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
of its operations, such as its snow farming
Snow farming
Snow farming is the use of obstacles, equipment and knowledge about management of snow in order to strategically manipulate snow coverage. Often this is done for the purpose of skiing or even preventing snow drift in certain areas like roads...
. In 1994 The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
cited White Grass Touring Center as one of the ten best Nordic ski areas in the nation.