West By Ullr Virginia

By:  Peter
November 4, 2012


Back at the Lodge we tossed our 3 sets of skis in the rack with the others. We may have looked a little out of place.

Outside Superstorm Sandy raged, and continued to drop more snow for the many more New Englanders who were starting to make their trips south

Inside, we dried out (and so did our gloves) by the wood stove that was also melting water to flush the toilets with

That’s when Chip came back in from his morning tour too

Chip lived up to his storied reputation making us feel right at home, while getting us amped up again to get back out on the snow
He also, thankfully, broke out the Southern Hospitality that we had all been looking forward to.

Chip kept us entertained with stories about how he runs cattle on the land in the summer, all the different land owners who make up the property, and all the crazy road trips he’s been on to ski.

He told us how decades ago when the tow ropes ran it used to be called Weiss Knob Ski Area

This is a place that just oozes the essence of the sport we love; the three of us ate it up. Whitegrass has a surplus of the purest ski stoke. We wish we could be so lucky to only ski at places as cool as this for ever.

In fact, with dried out gear and bellies warm with ‘shine, we geared back up to head out to ski with Chip

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Read about the author:   Peter
Enjoy this TR? Read another: TR: Altarondacks — Episode 2

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  1. TR: West By Ullr Virginia
  2. The Wild West (Side)
  3. SPA Trip #6: Run Out of Ammo in the Wild West
  4. VT Summertime Whitewater! (West Branch Deerfield)

23 Comments

  1. Jake
    wrote on November 4th, 2012 at 10:42 pm  
    1

    This is a place that just oozes the essence of the sport we love; the three of us ate it up. Whitegrass has a surplus of the purest ski stoke. We wish we could be so lucky to only ski at places as cool as this for ever.

    The most honest expression of my takeaway from this trip. There was so much that was so memorable about this trip, but the place where we made our turns was one of the most happy and glorious places I have ever been. To anyone who would ever have the inclination to go to WV to ski, you MUST visit Whitegrass. MUST.

    Wonderful capturing of the whole experience Peter.

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  2. Matt
    wrote on November 5th, 2012 at 9:54 am  
    2

    Nice job, Boys. We were at Timberline on that day on our own road trip, and we hit Whitegrass the next day. Everybody who skis West Virginia MUST make a stop at Whitegrass. That is absolutely non-negotiable.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  4. christian
    wrote on November 5th, 2012 at 11:12 am  
    4

    wow, that looked rad…iculous!
    it’s a shame that there aren’t more (any?) ski areas up here in “ski country” that give off the same stoke as that place. everything is a fast paced, over populated, bro’d out, vert factory. it’s hard to find a place with any character.
    props to you guys for getting after it. WOOF!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • Anonymous
      wrote on November 5th, 2012 at 12:50 pm  
      5

      to bro or not to bro… that is not the question… that is for YOU do act upon.

      rise above the bro… see the bro… do NOT be the bro… bro

  5. Denis
    wrote on November 5th, 2012 at 12:40 pm  
    6

    Glad you made it. I’ve been enjoying Whitegrass for almost 30 years.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  6. Porter
    wrote on November 5th, 2012 at 1:15 pm  
    7

    God damn Peter, hellava job. Turn that dial to 11!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  7. Woodja
    wrote on November 5th, 2012 at 1:20 pm  
    8

    You guys were powder hogs and scarfed up all the snowy glades on your performance enhancing slick bling sticks! That’s southern hospitality I guess…moonshine and stoke and nobody does that better than Chipper!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  8. MadPatSki
    wrote on November 5th, 2012 at 4:27 pm  
    9

    Good stuff.

    Subaru with a box and VT plates on Halloween? It was one of the rare non-SUV or non-pickup truck that we saw on the road. I believe we saw you drive up the Canaan Valley Resort road as Matt and I were heading for Timberline.

    I totally agree about the vibe of White Grass. So cool!!!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  9. Jake
    wrote on November 5th, 2012 at 5:49 pm  
    10

    The parking lot at last! I could fall upon my knees and kiss its every stripe. But come. We must enter now and take this booth here by the window. Let the tempest outside look upon us, helpless to afflict us any longer. Let us now drink coffee without limit and fill our shrunken stomachs with pecan waffles and country ham. My love, let us rejoice!

    Pulled from The Onion article linked above. My question is how, since this article was written in ’09, did they get your exact quote Pete when we pulled in at 10pm that night? Only on Halloween do time and space lose their rules.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  10. bushman
    wrote on November 5th, 2012 at 8:29 pm  
    11

    thanks FIS, again, for sharing WV trip with us. Like the fact tht WG kept its heritage–the rope tows, wood lodge, and hospitality that beats all–can just see it in their faces, and yours. Gret write up and pics. Well, time to pack for JP on Sat.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  11. NutmegCharlie
    wrote on November 6th, 2012 at 2:13 pm  
    12

    Thanks…thanks for making me totally friggin jealous! Nice start to the season, and thanks for sharing!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  12. KC
    wrote on November 6th, 2012 at 2:49 pm  
    13

    I love Whitegrass and I’ve never even been there. Nice work!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  13. Chipper Chase
    wrote on November 7th, 2012 at 8:19 am  
    14

    Sandy was a once in a lifetime early snow dump that has gone down in the history books as the biggest ever recorded for us. To have the limelight and attract so many far away passionate skiers was the most suprising outcome we could imagine. A chance to utilize the glades, the powerless wood heated lodge, a tiny snow filled parking lot with out of state plates, and a mountainside that has been passionately skied for over 50 years. We are honored by the skill, love, and dedication that was shared and may we all continue to stoke the ski furnace for others to be inspired by.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  14. 420
    wrote on November 7th, 2012 at 2:46 pm  
    15

    White Grass is where all the real skiers go eventually. Check out some of the local hotshots tearing up white grass on both fat and skinny skis in the last half of this video: http://vimeo.com/19181835

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  15. jumping jimmy
    wrote on November 8th, 2012 at 12:20 pm  
    16

    Great ski story! Thanks for sharing, you wackos!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  16. Anonymous
    wrote on November 11th, 2012 at 9:17 pm  
    17

    THATS MY VOLVO IN THE PICTURE!!!!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  17. Johnny
    wrote on November 15th, 2012 at 7:33 pm  
    18

    Awesome post and a great ode to a place that means so much to a lot of us who get out to Whitegrass for the sweet vibe. I was raised up there in Bennington but have been down this way enjoying the place for years, so it’s awesome to see some fellow green mountain boys coming down to check it out.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  18. SlowSmooth
    wrote on November 20th, 2012 at 5:02 pm  
    19

    To answer your question, many locals were snowed in without any power. The odd paradox of people seeking fun and adventure in the midst of a state-wide(coast-wide?) disaster is quite interesting. You are lucky you got in so easily!

    Epic. Will not be easy to forget this early season shot in the arm.

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  19. jake
    wrote on February 6th, 2015 at 8:26 pm  
    20

    BUMP! one of the fondest memories i have

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  20. jake
    wrote on February 5th, 2016 at 9:10 am  
    21

    god. awesome. strange how i find my way back to this post one year after my last time bumping this. forever on my mind.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
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