Snowshoe, Alleghenies received first snowfall overnight

The Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia saw their first snowfall last night, and officials at the ski resort on Snowshoe Mountain say that’s a good sign.

At the second-highest summit in the Mountain State, the resort is set to open its ski areas November 22, and spokesperson Shawn Cassell says enthusiasm for the next season is already in the air.

Snow alights on the spruce that cap the summit at Snowshoe Mountain.

“There’s nothing like the first snow of the year to get folks excited for skiing and snowboarding, and it’s right on schedule,” Cassell said.

“We just wrapped up our summer operations this past Sunday and a few days later we’ve got snow, so Mother Nature seems to be on the same page with us.”

Making more snow than ever, the resort will crank up its state-of-the-art snowmaking system around November 1, he said.

“Last season we opened with the most terrain we’d had in a decade, and the upgraded equipment allowed us to expand terrain and maintain a consistent, quality snow surface throughout the winter, despite a historically low natural snowfall total.”

Going into year-two, Cassel says “our snowmaking team has an even better handle on the new equipment, and we’re excited to see them back in action.”

The snowmaking investment also allowed the resort to reduce its energy consumption by about 5 million kilowatts per year, he said.

The upgraded snowmaking equipment is much more energy-efficient, which has allowed Snowshoe to lighten its carbon footprint and cut costs, all while making more snow than ever.

On the second-highest point in West Virginia, at 4,848 feet above sea level, Snowshoe enjoys one of the longest periods of natural snow-cover in the Allegheny Mountains.

The resort includes 11,000 acres adjoining the Monongahela National Forest and offers some of the most skiable terrain in the region as well as extensive lodging options, fully developed mountain biking trails, a Gary Player golf course, wedding and convention areas, and a wide variety of outdoor activities.

Snowshoe was chosen as the “Best Ski Resort” in the region by the readers of Blue Ridge Outdoors.

The Snowshoe Bike Park was recently named the No. 1 Bike Park in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions by MTBParks.com and hosted the 2019 Mercedes Benz UCI MTB World Cup Finals.

Snowshoe Mountain Resort is part of the Alterra Mountain Co. and is included on the Ikon Pass.

Find out more at www.snowshoemtn.com.