Finding the best weekend to go skiing or snowboarding may depend factors including the weather, the distance of the mountain or more importantly, the quality of the snow.
The three resorts near this school that students tend to go to are Wisp Resort, Whitetail Resort and Liberty Mountain Resort. Whitetail and Liberty are both around an hour and 15 minutes away, close enough for a student to go up to for a day. Wisp is a little further, doubling the time, making a day trip less likely. With distance not being an issue, snow becomes the deciding factor.
Liberty uses machines called 350 snow guns that produce one to two tons of snow per hour under optimal conditions, such as 28 degrees Fahrenheit, low humidity and compressed air. Sophomore Evan Halpern skied Liberty on Monday, Dec. 23. Halpern said that Liberty, thanks to their snow-making, was able to open 14 out of 20 runs. It was 26 degrees Fahrenheit with no humidity, making it optimal snow conditions in theory, but according to Halpern, it was the opposite. “The snow was not great. It was icy, choppy, and rough,” Halpern said.
At Whitetail Resort, the snow quality seemed to be better, according to students. Whitetail uses slightly more advanced snowmaking technology, including their fan snow guns, which can cover an acre with 12 inches of snow in under 24 hours, according to the resort’s website. Senior Melissa Lee visited Whitetail on Monday, Dec. 23, and noted that while the snow wasn’t perfect, it was better than anticipated. “The snow was better than I expected, but it was a little clumpy,” Melissa said.
She described the artificial snow as “fake, soft, and clumpy” and rated the overall snow conditions at seven out of 10. “If there was real snow, that would improve the skiing,” Lee added.
Finally, Wisp. Wisp Resort, in western Maryland, is different because while the other two resorts are owned by Vail Resorts, Wisp is owned by the Pacific Group Resorts. Wisp is known for its colder temperatures and more consistent snowfall and snowpack due to its higher elevation. Wisp utilizes grade-A snowmaking systems, including SMI PoleCat snow guns, which produce finer, more powdery snow compared to older technologies. According to an article on SkiCentral, during the ski season, Wisp averages around 100 inches of natural snow per year, adding on man-made snow during less snowy seasons nearly doubles that number. Sophomores Caleb Cook and Kai Konno skied Wisp on Saturday, Dec. 21, and reported that the snow was good and well compacted while still being powdery. “For me, it was my first time, so I fell a lot and I thought it would hurt but thanks to the snow being so powdery I was able to fall and be fine,” Konno said.
When planning your visit, checking can be easy. When going to Whitetail, go to skiwhitetail.com scroll to the bottom, and click mountain cams or lift and terrain status. For Liberty, visit libertymountainresort.com, and scroll to the bottom and click the mountain cams or lift and terrain status to find the information. Wisp is different because one must click the camera icon in the lower middle of the screen to find the live image of the snow-covered mountain.
