Potomac Appalachian Trail Club - Ski
Touring Section
XC Ski Trip: Blackwater Falls, WV
Dates:
January 18 - 21, 2002, Friday night to Monday afternoon
Location:
Lodge at Blackwater Falls State Park
PO Drawer 490
Davis, WV 26260
304-259-5216
800-CALL-WVA
blackwater@blackwaterfalls.com
Trip cost:
$130.00 for STS members, $135.00 for non STS members
cost includes lodging only
Trip Description:
This is an excellent place to do XC, backcountry, and
telemark skiing in the Mid-Atlantic region. Free heel areas include: White Grass
Ski Touring Center, Blackwater Falls State Park, and Canaan Valley State Park.
There are also two downhill resorts at Timberline and Canaan Valley State Park.
Timberline offers telemark lessons. White Grass is an excellent place to take XC
lessons. The central highlands of WV get an average of 150" of snow
every winter, even if we don't get anything in Maryland. But we will go natural
snow or no. Sometimes there will be snow around 4000' in Dolly Sods even if
there isn't any at lower altitudes. Dolly Sods is another great place to do
backcountry skiing. If there isn't any natural snow you can do alpine or
telemark skiing at the two downhill resorts or go hiking.
There are still four spots available on the trip. Each participant is required to provide their own gear.
If necessary XC ski gear can be rented at White Grass Touring Center and
possibly at Blackwater Falls or Canaan Valley State Parks.
There is also a NATO telemark skiing workshop this weekend
at White Grass XC Ski Center and I along with at least two other trip
participants will be attending that on Saturday and Sunday assuming that the
snow is reasonable. This telemark workshop would be most suitable for
intermediate XC skiers or those who are at least close! If you are interested
contact Jack Kangas at 301-499-8758.
Some Potentially Necessary Items
- XC, backcountry, or telemark skis, boots, bindings,
& poles
- glide wax
- wind, snow, & rain shell
- extra fleece or wool clothes (no cotton)
- thermal underwear tops & bottoms
- gloves or mittens, mitten shells
- gaitors
- wool sweater or fleece jacket
- knit hat
- sunscreen, sunglasses, hat with brim
- flashlight, extra bulb and batteries
- map & compass
- matches
- daypack
- food
- water
- first aid kit
Guidebook & Maps
Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guide, Allen de Hart &
Bruce Sundquist, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, 6th Edition
USFS maps are enhanced USGS maps, USFS 7.5' Topographic maps: Blackbird Knob, Hopeville,
Blackwater Falls, Laneville
Or Canaan Valley Adventure Map which combines all four
of the above plus other areas in a single, waterproof, but harder to read map
Potomac Ranger District, MNF, Rt. 3, Box 240, Petersburg, WV
26847, 304-257-4488
Health Problems
If anyone has a health problem that I should know about, please tell
me before you pass out.
Food
As we are staying in the Lodge we don't have cooking
facilities but you might want to bring snack food or lunch items for day tours,
etc.
Trip Leader:
Ted Fryberger
6259 Deep River Canyon
Columbia, MD 21045
Phone: 443-917-2902
Driving Directions:
These are two possible routes, there are alternatives
Northern route:
From the Baltimore Beltway (695)
Take 70 West to 68
Stay on 68 to Cumberland, MD
Just past Cumberland take 220 South to Keyser
Stay on 220 South, bear right onto 972 (a shortcut, otherwise just stay on 220)
Follow 972 to 220/50 and go West on 220/50 for a couple miles
Take 93 South to Davis, WV
In Davis go about 0.7 mi, turn right onto Blackwater Falls Rd (at a sign) and
follow to Blackwater Falls state park
Southern route:
From the DC Beltway (495)
Rt. 66 West for 60 miles
Rt. 81 South for 4 miles
Rt. 55 West for 48 miles
Rt. 220 South for 12 miles to Petersburg, WV (220/28/55 run coincident for a
while)
From Petersburg follow 55/28 South or West to Seneca Rocks
From there stay on 55 West to Harmon
Take 32 North to Davis and Blackwater Falls State Park
Alternate Southern route:
Instead of taking 55 West from 81 South, continue on 81
South to 33 West
Follow it to Seneca Rocks and then take 55 West to Harmon
Take 32 North to Davis and Blackwater Falls State Park
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