Mountain Times ~ Supplement to the Pocahontas Times ~ SnowShoe, Slatyfork, Green Bank, Cass, WV

Focusing on the resort and tourist
community of Slaty Fork, Snowshoe Mountain, Cass and
Green Bank

Vol. 2 No. 2
February, 2003

Serving SnowShoe Mountain, Slaty Fork, Green Bank and Cass
"News you can resort to"

Second Section of
The Pocahontas Times
Post Office No. 436-640
ISSN No. 07388373

Upcoming Events Around the Mountain Resort

On The Mountain: February
2/11 - Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday Party - Party down on the mountain New Orleans style. Parades, themed costume parties,and much more take place during Fat Tuesday at Snowshoe.
2/22-23 - Boardercross Brawl and Halfpipe Invasion. The best of both worlds...show off your style in the pipe and speed down the hill!

Off The Mountain
2/1 - Poteen - Traditional musical entertainment at the Brazen Head Inn, located on Rt. 219 6 miles north of Rt. 66. 339-6917
2/8 - Paul Epstein and John Longwell - Traditional musical entertainment at the Brazen Head Inn, 339-6917
2/14 - East Run Bluegrass Band Traditional musical entertainment at the Brazen Head Inn. 339-6917
2/15 - Helvetia Star Band - Traditional musical entertainment at the Brazen Head Inn, 339-6917
2/15 - Valentine's Dance with Ghost Town Swing - Pocahontas County Opera House, Marlinton. The Lewisburg-based swing combo provides the perfect romantic mood. For information, call (304) 799-7386.
2/22 to 2/23 - Winter Train Excursions, Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad - Explore the Wild Heart of West Virginia aboard the Durbin Rocket steam train traveling into some of the more remote sections of the Monongahela National Forest. Reservations are a must. Call 1-877-MTN-RAIL (1-877-686-7245)

For more details call 877-441-4FUN, or visit the web site: www.snowshoemtn.com

Far from the madding crowds
You can really get away from it all this winter at Snowshoe's Back Country Hut
Heidi Zemach
Contributing Writer
     Strap on your helmet. Pull on your gloves. And mount that snazzy snowmobile.

Three feet of new snow this morning

     Visor down. Hang on tight. You're ready for an interesting adventure on Snowshoe Mountain.
     The well-maintained gravel road from the highest point of the mountain which leads to the remote cabin is covered in three feet of new snow this morning, so the powerful snowmobile glides effortlessly along, winding its way through a forest of heavy snow-laden trees. The scene is truly a winter wonderland. From the seat of the snowmobile, you are a part of it.
     The ride is just wild enough to thrill perhaps, but not truly frighten, although clinging knuckles whiten beneath gloves, and the heart beats a little faster. The snowmobile follows the path to the left, then downhill, then right, then straight again before it reaches its destination.

A warm wood stove awaits arriving guests

     Twenty minutes later, depending on weather conditions, a rustic wooden cabin with a generous porch and a hilly view stands before you. Shake off the snow, peel off wet clothes and boots, and put on a pair of warm cabin slippers standing by the door. A warm wood stove awaits arriving guests, and tea or coffee will soon be provided by the young Snowshoe employees whose duty it is to make sure that guests are made warm and comfortable.
     But that's not all.
     Part of the experience is witnessing the outfitter's funky shuttle bus that supplies the cabin with food, propane and other necessities. The dingy, white, former army ambulance is a 1954 HumVee, equipped with clunky snow-chains, and thus, surprisingly, the ability to make it out to the remote cabin.
     The Back Country Hut, also known as the "Sunrise Back Country Cabin," opened in the fall of 1999. The cabin was originally built and designed simply as a stop-off place for bikers, backpackers or skiers, said Dave Huber, the program manager for Snowshoe Outdoor Adventure Center. But last summer, Snowshoe built an indoor restroom, installed new cooking equipment, and brought in a larger generator, to enable it to accommodate 12 guests for dinner and overnight stays.

A special mountain retreat

     The large cabin is sparsely decorated with a rustic wooden look. Its walls are made of rough-cut spruce, logged mostly from nearby trees in the area. The high ceilings are a knotty pine. The couches, chairs and beds also are of plain rough wood, constructed locally in an Amish style, Huber said.
     Dinner guests staying the night can choose from among two private downstairs rooms, each with a double bed, or an open upstairs sleeping loft with four double beds.
     Two highly polished wooden picnic benches serve as the dining arrangement.
     The evening meals, however, are anything but simple.
     On this particular Wednesday night, for example, dinner guests were to be served an appetizer, soup or salad, and fresh bread, baked on the premises, Huber said. The main meal was a choice of roast duck, grilled salmon, steak or tuna. These would be offered with wild rice, fresh baby carrots and sugar snap peas, he said. Dessert was apple pie with ice cream, accompanied by a variety of gourmet toppings, such as raspberry, white or dark chocolate, caramel or kiwi. Beverages include a variety of beers, wine or soft drinks.

A remote catered destination...

     The dinners, $175 per couple, are offered every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and occasionally Sunday on long-weekends, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. They are intended mainly for adults, but children who occasionally accompany them, will get kid-friendly foods such as hamburgers or hotdogs.
     If dinner guests wish to stay overnight, they can sleep in the loft for an additional $25, or can choose a private room for $75 per night. The price of dinner is a requirement of all guests, however, Huber said. The overnight cost includes breakfast. out and family reunions, Huber said.

Try out Snowshoe Drive while you're at it

CC's Café is just a hot cappuccino break away from Snowshoe's chilly slopes
Heidi Zemach
Contributing Writer
Photos by Heidi Zemach

Hot exotic coffee warms locals and visitors to chilly forest attractions alike.

Cindy McLaughlin mans the helm of the espresso machine. In addition to exotic caffeine concoctions, CC's serves a selection of tasty sandwiches and soup.

Cheryl Beverage keeps busy with crafts between customers. Her artistic touch is everywhere you look in the cafe.

      With the exception of a coffeehouse at Snowshoe Village, people hankering for a steaming cup of quality Latte, Espresso, or Mocha Cappuccino, could not find it here in Pocahontas County. But the specialty coffeehouse, increasingly common in U.S. cities and small towns, has now arrived in rural West Virginia in the historic railroad town of Cass.
      CC's Café is a comfortable place to spend time with friends or family over a warm cup of joe. It's also a nice place to drop in for a rich, tasty cup of fancy coffee, blueberry muffin, chicken-salad croissant sandwich, veggie wrap or soup. The breakfast menu also includes bagels, biscuits with gravy and country ham.
      The cafe's main selling point is its scenic and attractive location, according to its owners. The coffeehouse practically sits on the Greenbrier River, near the famous Greenbrier Trail, and is only a few hundred yards from the Cass Scenic Railroad Station, a prime tourist destination in spring, summer and autumn.
      The coffeehouse also is a convenient stopping off point for travelers along Rt. 66 on their way to or from Snowshoe Resort. Many Snowshoe employees and visitors do stop by on their way off the mountain. But quite a few people from the Green Bank National Radio Astronomy Observatory, a 20 minute drive away, also will take the winding country road just for that oh so special coffee ... especially the men!
      CC's opened in late June of 2002, on the site of what used to be Henry Taylor's convenience store. Its name comes from co-owners Cindy McLaughlin, of Dunmore, and sister in-law Cheryl Beverage, of Clover Lick. The two women, who rent the building from Taylor, redesigned the interior (which seats about 12), and added on a large kitchen area, doubling the building's size. McLaughlin said she and Beverage decided to open the coffeehouse last February, while visiting a little café in Charlottesville, near the hospital where McLaughlin's husband was recovering from a serious farming accident.
      "We loved the place," she said, "-and we both like good coffee."
      "We thought a coffee house (in Cass) would be neat."
      McLaughlin, a medic and mother of five, was tired of commuting three hours every day to her job in Warm Springs. (She still works part-time as a medic at Snowshoe). Beverage, a hairstylist and mother of three, had burned out on cutting people's hair for a living. Also a talented craftsperson, Beverage also liked the idea of working at a place which where she could make and sell her crafts locally.
      Beverage created the coffeehouse's five round, colorful, ceramic tile tables, and painted its signs. The coffeehouse also displays and sells Beverage's wool crocheted hats, hand-woven baskets, and acrylic paintings on slate boards. Customers also can purchase local maple syrup from Beverage's farm, and honey from her neighbors' farm. In addition to buying bags of tea or coffee beans, they can also purchase mugs, café logo tee shirts, and hand lotion.
      Although both owners enjoyed visiting cafes, and appreciated good coffee, they said they were barely a step ahead of their local customers, when it came to creating a coffeehouse. So before starting up their business they visited other coffeehouses for ideas, and received lots of practical advice and hands-on assistance from the owners of Rostov's Coffee and Advanced Coffee Tech, both of Richmond, Va. McLaughlin also got some ideas from two of her daughters, who used to work at the coffeehouse at Snowshoe.
      The owners said they are pleased to teach what they've learned about coffee to local residents, some of whom have difficulty deciding whether to order a Mocha Latte, Cappuccino, Chai Tea or a Coconut-flavored Espresso at first visit, because they've never tasted them. Beverage said. in the gas station," she added.
      Heidi Zemach recently moved to Pocahontas County from Kodiak, Alaska, where she was a reporter for the Kodiak Daily Mirror. She has also worked in radio, film and theater. .

The Carriage House Inn

-it's almost like coming home
Pam Pritt
Managing Editor
photos by Sunny Given
      Walking through doors of the Carriage House Inn is like getting a hug from your grandmother. The big, inviting rooms make guests want to stay longer, escape from their own realities and become a part of what owner Jeanne Dunham has discovered as her paradise.
      The house was in a sad state of disrepair when she rescued it and began the journey of transformation and labor of love that has become one of the area's extraordinary bed and breakfasts.
      But it is never finished in Dunham's eyes. Oh, the substantial structural changes are permanent, but the arrangements and appointments are subject to her flair for the provincial elegant. "I'm always rearranging," she said. "I just can't stand for it to be the same all the time."
      Repeat guests won't be bored with their surroundings at the Carriage House. Dunham always has a surprise transformation awaiting them.
      It might be the antique child's tea service on the shelf in the living room or the garland of pine and dried fruit on the banister in the main hall or simply a beautiful dried flower arrangement in a crock or wonderful antique furniture that somebody else thought was junk.
      Dunham turns it all into the magic of the Carriage House Inn.
      But the most enchanting transformation of all is the attic room, which used to house a family's surplus and is now a charming get-away within a retreat.
      The narrow, winding stairs take some caution ascending and descending, but once up there, why come down?
      The room has its own bathroom and quaint little attic window, a queen-sized bed and an appeal all its own.

The dining room seats 10 comfortably, and the big wood stove keeps things warm this time of year.

Just a small section of the gift shop, which holds an extraordinary variety of crafts, prints, jewerly, toys, candles and more.

      When you do come to the dining room for breakfast, be prepared for your old favorites and Dunham's delightful gourmet inspirations.
      "I make all kinds of eggs," she said. "But I like to throw something different in the menu, too."
      Her breakfast menu offers different pancakes like peach with raspberry sauce or apple with cinnamon syrup, breakfast casseroles and fresh and hot fruits.
      It's not just about the quality of the food for Dunham, it's the presentation of it, as well. So the plate is, like the house, arranged with her special style.
      After breakfast, guests can wander through the shops in what used to be the barn and the carriage house.
      Look for unique gifts and music in the Carriage House Shop and it's Christmas all year round in the Christmas Shop next door, with distinctive ornaments and accents for the holidays. Don't forget to look for candles of all scents and sizes.
      Dunham's gifts don't all run to design and culinary skills, she has a real gift for people, too. And when her living room is full of guests, she's at her peak.
      "That's why I decided against putting televisions in the rooms," she said. "I like for people to come downstairs and talk."
      The television in the living room is large, but barely noticeable, as are all the modern conveniences of the inn.
      And while some guests opt for the privacy of their rooms, some do come downstairs and visit with Dunham for hours on end.
      That, in itself, could be the treat of the day.
      The Carriage House Inn was built in 1852, when Huntersville was the county seat of Pocahontas County, and was the pride and joy of the Barlow family who owned it for generations afterward. Dunham purchased the house in September, 1993, and had it ready for ski season in November of that year.
      She opened the gift shop in 1994 and the Christmas Shop in 1995.
      Although her best season is summer, her winter weekends are booked, as well. Phone 799-6706 for more information. captions photos by Sunny Given. Top: The Carriage house sits on Rt. 39 in Huntersville. In summer the grounds behind the house are full of herbs and flowers. Middle: The dining room seats 10 comfortably, and the big wood stove keeps thigs warm this time of year. Bottom: Just a small section of the gift shop, which holds an extraordinary variety of crafts, prints, jewelry, toys candles and more.

Well, at least there's no pesky insects this time of year

Lunch Trek: The Ski Picnic Challenge
Barbara Elliott
Contributing Writer
Photo by Roger Farquhar
      "Let's go for a picnic on the Cranberry River on Saturday," my husband said.
      "Sure, sounds like fun," I replied.
      You're probably wondering why this exchange should be newsworthy. Let me back up a bit and explain. The invitation was extended on January 2, and the picnic in question took place on January 4 and involved cross country skis, a backpack full of food and emergency clothing, and head-to-toe layers of fleece and down.
      There was a time in my life that the thought of cross-country skiing into the wilderness to eat beef jerky would not have crossed my mind, much less sounded like fun. I grew up in the flatlands of eastern North Carolina in a spectacularly indoorsy-type household, where the most strenuous form of winter exercise was to make roll-out cookies instead of just dropping blobs of dough onto the pan.
      I also am so notoriously unathletic that I was always the last one picked for any sports team and only finessed my way through college PE by taking classes with names like "Movement Awareness."
      My tranquil, couch potato life ended in my early 40s when I married a man who grew up hiking, ice skating and cross-country skiing in upstate New York. Even then I would have been tempted to pass on the outdoor winter recreation except for two little words: Caroline Elliott.
      Caroline is my mother-in-law, and she's one of the hardiest people I've ever met. She is now 99 years old, and until last year she had gotten out on cross country skis at least once each winter. I think her failure to do so last year may have had more to do with lack of snow than with lack of interest, and the verdict is still out this year.
      With that shining example of gumption, it was hard for me to whine that I didn't have the physical ability to strap on a pair of skis and plow through a little snow on level ground. Although I'm still wobbly, especially on my first attempt each year, I have found that cross country skiing can be pretty wonderful. It's a lot like walking, only more so.
      In my case, it often is walking, but that's okay too. And during those occasional moments when I have gotten my arms and legs synchronized and actually managed to ski, it was really quite magical. You get enough exercise to keep you warm, but not so much that your heart threatens to seize up, and you are moving slowly enough that you can take in the serene beauty of a snowy forest.
      Not that there aren't dangers to watch out for! For example, while preparing for the recent winter picnic, I almost injured myself when my spiky ski boot bottoms almost slid out from under me on the hardwood floor as I was trying to wrestle on my gaiters. For the uninitiated, let me explain that I was not fighting swamp creatures, but simply trying to wrap some protective gear around my pant legs to keep them from getting soaked with snow.
      Another danger is that you can overextend yourself if you're having too much fun. A couple of years ago, my sister and I were having a terrific time on one of the trails off the Highland Scenic Highway. The snow was just perfect, and for once I did more skiing than walking. And the trail was so level! At least that's what I thought, until we turned around to head home, and I discovered that the reason it had been so easy was that we had been on a gentle downhill grade the whole time. Of course, on the return it was a slight uphill grade, and by then I was just fatigued enough that it seemed downright Everest-esque.
      So now it seemed perfectly normal to accept my husband's invitation for a winter skiing picnic. We packed up soup, jerky, munchies, camp stove and camping pads in a back pack; loaded the skis, pack and a dog into the trusty Subaru and headed to the Cranberry River Road, a U.S. Forest Service road just beyond the Cranberry Glades parking area off of Highway 39. The trickiest part of this excursion was getting to the starting point. Snow was heavy on the access road into the Cranberry Glades, but with four-wheel drive and snow tires we were able to plow our way in and park without getting stuck.

You're never too old to enjoy playing in the snow! 99-year-old Caroline Elliott, right, mother-in-law of the author, still makes tracks with her younger friend, Gudrun Williams.

      Unfortunately, on this outing skiing conditions weren't ideal because of a layer of ice beneath the snow that slowed my progress. My husband, a much more experienced skier and natural athlete, at one point glided past me with the pack on his back and the dog pulling him by the leash—and the dog was not going in a straight line, but meandering all over the place. I just smiled as I lumbered along inelegantly, looking like a puffy pink and blue gorilla in my down jacket.
      The woods were absolutely beautiful, with fresh powdery snow hanging from bare tree limbs and draped across the hemlock boughs. There's absolutely nothing as tranquil as the deep woods in snow. The amazing thing about this area is that you can be down in a valley one minute with almost no snow in sight, and a few minutes later you can be on top of a mountain in the middle of a Currier and Ives postcard. So after a brief attempt at skiing, we decided to just enjoy our little picnic in the beautiful setting and head home to see what our other dog had chewed up while we were gone (answer: one of the blinds on the living room window).
      Of course you don't have to ski in order to have a winter picnic. There are many places in Pocahontas County where you can take a pleasant winter hike and enjoy a picnic too, if you're so inclined. The Greenbrier River Trail and North Fork Trail are terrific for year-round hiking. Access is easy, and the grade is gentle enough for all to enjoy. You also don't have to go to the trouble of taking a stove or making a fire. We've hiked with thermoses of steaming soup or coffee in our day packs, and trust me, by the time you've gotten a little vigorous exercise in the cold air, even a handful of diet gorp (translation: trail mix with no M&Ms—not even one) tastes great.
      But really, don't you think you should try the skiing version? If in doubt, just do what I do: think of Caroline Elliott and go for it!
      Barbara Elliott is assistant director of the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau. She does not anticipate an invitation to participate in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.
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Burton ~ Salomon ~ Nitro ~ New and Used Demos Come talk to the resort's most
experienced snowboard outfitters.
Store Sale 20 - 50% OFF
Ski and Snowboard Rentals and Sales
1 mike south of WV 66 ~ 304 572-4173

Open Daily 7:30 am - 11 pm, Later on Friday

Largest Ski and Snowboard Rental Co. in the Southeast 304 572-1234
Located at the corner of Rt. 219 and Rt. 66
LOWER RATES ~ FRIENDLY SERVICE
All Ski & Snowboard Clothing and Equipment
ON SALE!!!
Entire 2nd Floor DISCOUNTED

SNOWBOARD & SKI RENTALS
Great Quality, Great Prices
Daily 7:30 am - 11 pm
Friday 7:30 am - 2 am    304 572-1200
route66@neumedia.net

Restaurant
at the Inn at SnowShoe ~ EVERY WEEKEND ~
SHOW COOKERY & BUFFET STATION
Room service available 6:30 am- 1 am
Lounge hours
Mon. - Fri. 4:30 pm - 1 am
Sat. amd Sun. 1 pm to 1 am
Menu Items available daily 'til 1 am
~ 304 572-1000 ~

Open 7 AM until 9 PM
Home of the $4 breakfast!
Located on the corner of
Rt. 219 and Rt. 66

An intimate off-mountain dining experience
Featuring an International Buffet with
live local music each Thursday nite.
5 miles south of WV 66 on US 219
Open Thursday thru Monday evenings
For reservations call:     304 572-3771
Privately owned and operated Since 1982

Douglass S. Keith, Broker
Beverly Figg, GRI ~ Matt Matthews
Raymond Godwin     304 572-5687
P.O. Box 364 Snowshoe, WV 26209
Visit our Office in Shaver's Centre, Snowshoe Mountain

Presenting the Height of Luxury
Allegheny Springs at Snowshoe Mountain
Yours to own 1-800-489-1943

Mountain Country Properties
304 572-4663      mcpinfo@neumedia.net
David Curtis, Broker ~ Christine Butler, Associate Broker
Sales Associates: Debbie Goodwin, Cathy McGee, Bet Curtis P.O. Box 7
Slaty Fork, WV 26291
Rt. 66, ¼ mile from
Snowshoe Entrance

Glades Hardware

Marlinton WV
304 799-4912

Calhoun & Kipp
Unique Items from around the world.
Mon. thru Sat. 10 am 'til 9 pm
Sunday 9 am 'til 8 pm
304 572-5250

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Visit our Office in Shaver's Centre, Snowshoe Mountain