First Snow Covers Snowshoe as Resort Begins Push Toward November 25 Opening
SNOWSHOE, W.Va.: Winter made its first significant appearance at Snowshoe Mountain Friday as the resort received its first measurable snowfall of the season and fired up its snowmaking system ahead of a planned Thanksgiving week opening.
Between one and two inches of wet snow accumulated overnight into Friday, Nov. 13, around Snowshoe's 4,848 foot summit, covering portions of the village and mountain while colder temperatures created an opportunity for crews to begin making snow.
The combination of natural snow and snowmaking marked an important early step toward the winter tourism season in Pocahontas County. Snowshoe crews plan to continue making snow whenever temperatures and humidity provide favorable conditions.
Snowshoe is targeting Wednesday, Nov. 25, for its winter opening day, weather permitting. The resort has scheduled opening day activities beginning that morning before the first skiers and snowboarders head onto the mountain.
The snowfall also provided a sharp change from the relatively mild fall experienced across much of West Virginia. National Weather Service information cited earlier in the week placed Snowshoe's average first snowfall around Oct. 25, while Clarksburg's average first accumulating snow does not arrive until around Dec. 4.
Other mountain areas across West Virginia also began seeing winter conditions as temperatures dropped, with Timberline Mountain in Tucker County beginning snowmaking Saturday.
For West Virginia's mountain tourism industry, the scenes at Snowshoe offered the first real visual sign that ski season is approaching, with the resort now less than two weeks from its planned opening.
