Focusing on the resort and tourist community of Slaty Fork, Snowshoe Mountain, Cass and Green Bank
Vol. 5 No. 1
January 2006		 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
January
AROUND THE COUNTY
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26 € Star Lab € National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, 304-456-2150. Gather at the planetarium balloon every Thursday for a unique look at the sky. There is a $3.00 charge per person and reservations are suggested.
Jan 6 € Film Fest at NRAO € National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, 304-456-2150. Come out and enjoy this free movie event at 7 p.m.: two episodes from the first season of "Lost in Space." NRAO staff will be on hand for questions and discussion.
Jan. 28 € "Pickin' on the Porch," € Pocahontas Opera House, 818 Third Avenue, Marlinton. 7:30 p.m (304) 799-6645 or 800-336-7009. Bring the whole family for a toe-tapping evening of old-time tunes that truly embody the cultural history and the musical traditions of Appalachia. Performing will be Pam Lund, Alan Duchess, Jay Lockman, Terry Richardson and Norris Long, members of local old time bands Cranberry Rock and The Brown Baggers. Special guests will include Kelsey Beverage, Mike & Grace Ferrell, Steven Casto and Jake Ryder. Tickets $5, on sale at the door.
Jan. 28 € Star Party € NRAO, Green Bank, 304-456-2150. Free. NRAO staff will orient you to the star-filled sky and then view the night sky on the Star Party Patio. Bring optical telescopes and binoculars - you won't believe your eyes. Dress appropriately! Begins at dusk.

On The Mountain
For more info about any events at Snowshoe, call 877-441-4FUN or visit online at www.snowshoemtn.com
Jan. 2 - 8 € College Winter Break at Snowshoe € College students converge on Snowshoe Mountain for the biggest party week of the year. Happy hour bashes, live entertainment, South Park movie marathon and wild games on and off the slopes make Snowshoe the perfect spot for your Winter Break.
Jan. 6 - 8 € Collegiate Challenge € Open to any freeskier or snowboard with a valid College ID, this event will determine which college skiers and riders have the most skill. This three discipline event will feature a Rail Jam on Friday night, Slopestyle on Saturday and Boarder / Skier Cross on Sunday.
Jan. 27 - 29€ West Virginia Open € The biggest event of the winter season! Come join Snowshoe Mountain as SCION presents the West VIrginia Open. Watch the region's best freeskiers and snowboarders battle it out for the title of West Virginia State Champ in disciplines like Slopestyle, Boarder / Skier Cross and a $5,000 Village Rail competition. It's going to be a winter weekend not to miss! SCION will be on the mountain all weekend long displaying their full line of vehicles, and handing out tons of goodies. After-party complete with live entertainment under the Big Top.

Middle Fork of the Williams River
Middle Fork winds its way on a nine-mile journey from Black Mountain to the Williams River.
Photos courtesy Curtis Curry
Re-establishing the Middle Fork as a viable trout stream

New life for an old friend

Curtis Curry
Contributing Writer
      I was delighted to read recently about new efforts to restore life to one of our Pocahontas County trout streams. The article by John McCoy in the Charleston Gazette-Mail gave considerable detail about the addition of limestone sand, or "fines," to the drainage area of the Middle Fork of Williams River utilizing the Highland Scenic Highway.
      In my book The Williams: A Historic View, I described my last visit to the Middle Fork in "Down The Middle Fork." My closing lines in this unsuccessful fishing story were ­ "It was not a wasted trip for the beauty of the area and of the Middle Fork made it worthwhile. If only it could be returned to its natural state of years ago." Perhaps my prayers will be answered by these latest efforts.
      The Middle Fork is born on Black Mountain as a trickle from a small spring and begins its winding journey to join the Williams River some nine miles away at Three Forks in Webster County. Its beginning is at about 4,000 feet above sea level and the gradual, steady descent carries it down to about 2,300 feet.
      Along the way it is joined by no less than 12 tributaries of small to moderate size. Some have unusual names such as "Cool Run" and "Hell For Certain Branch". It may not be coincidence that Hell For Certain is about midway down the long journey to The Williams. The laurel thickets in that area may also have played a part in its naming.
      The trail down the Middle Fork is wide and generally easy. Exceptions are fallen timber hazards and two crossings of the Middle Fork.
      Prior to the 1950s, the Middle Fork was said to have been a lively, flourishing trout stream. Like its neighbor, the Cranberry River, acid rain began to take its toll on stream life and soon destroyed all trout in the Middle Fork.
      Although methods of combating high acidity in streams were developed, such as the limestone treatment plants on the Cranberry River and its Dogway Branch, the location of the Middle Fork made it impossible to use these methods.
      A law designed to protect the Middle Fork, the Federal Wilderness Act, also became an obstacle to its restoration. The act prohibits all except travel by foot or horse in the wilderness area, and that includes all but a small portion near the mouth of the Middle Fork. Various methods of getting limestone into the Middle Fork were considered, including helicopter drops, but all had to be discarded.
      There were those that did not give up on the Middle Fork. For more than 25 years the Kanawha Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited continued to work closely with the Division of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service toward a solution. The Middle Fork was too great a stream to give up.
      Finally, a method was tried on the North Fork of Cherry River. Limestone sand was dropped at a culvert in the North Fork drainage area. There was no permanent flow of water in the culvert and success depended on rain and snow melt to carry limestone to the North Fork.
      It worked, as the lime began to neutralize the acidity, and a search began for the appropriate place to add limestone to the Middle Fork.
Limestone sand has been dumped at points along the Middle Fork
Limestone sand has been dumped at points along the Middle Fork's drainage area to reduce the acid level of the stream. It is hoped native trout will reestablish themselves over time.
Photos courtesy Curtis Curry
      During September 2005, truckloads of limestone rock and sand were added near the Highland Scenic Highway in the Middle Fork drainage area.
      It is not an easy fix. DNR officials estimate it will take at least two years to effect a decrease in the acidity in the stream.
      Once it will again support life, the task of reestablishing a trout population begins. Normal stocking is not possible since hatchery trucks still cannot reach most of the Middle Fork. Native brook trout have been found in two of the Middle Fork tributaries near its mouth. It is hoped they might help in rebuilding the trout population in much of the Middle Fork.
      Although I once said I had made my last trip to the Middle Fork, I would love to be there when that first trout is released and watch it scamper for cover in the clear, clean water of the Middle Fork. How exciting and satisfying that would be!
      The Middle Fork trail can be reached by the Williams River road at Three Forks, or from the Highland Scenic Highway by the North-South trail.
      Curtis Curry is a Pocahontas County native who has written about his childhood days in the county, and more recent forays into the local forests and mountains in A Historic & Scenic Tour of Pocahontas County, and The Williams: A Historic View. His books are available locally.

   

Dave Begg three-tracks down a slope.
Dave Begg, president of Challenged Athletes of West Virginia, three-tracks down a slope.
Photos courtesy Snowshoe Mtn. Resort

Up for a Challenge

Those with disabilities find their groove on the slopes with Snowshoe's Adaptive Ski Program

Drew Tanner
Staff Writer
      David Begg talks about the adaptive sports program at Snowshoe Mountain Resort like a proud father speaks of a son or daughter ­ and with good reason.
      Since his first involvement when the program began at Silver Creek in the early 1980s, the resort's adaptive sports program has grown into the largest comprehensive program south of New York state, serving skiers and cyclists with disabilities from all over the mid-Atlantic and beyond.
      In the past two seasons, Begg estimates the adaptive program has given more than 300 lessons on the resort's slopes.
      But he says it's about more than just the numbers. The program is one that people come back to, and the effect on their confidence levels is long-lasting.
Adaptive skiing at Silver Creek.
An adaptive instructor gets a mono-skier going on an incline.
Photos courtesy Snowshoe Mtn. Resort
      "Many people now make it their destination because of their disabled child or their friend who's in a wheelchair," Begg said.
      It's a destination for volunteers as well. The program has around 40 active volunteers, with up to 15 at the resort at a time. Like those who come to ski, the volunteers come from all over the mid-Atlantic.
      "Most travel quite a distance to get here," said Begg. "Some are property owners."
      Through a cooperative agreement between Challenged Athletes of West Virginia and Snowshoe Mountain Resort, CAWV staff and volunteers offer several different programs and instruction for just about every disability group including three- and four-track skiing, mono- and bi-ski, blind/visual impaired, hearing impaired, developmental disabilities and other orthopedic and neuromuscular disabilities.
      The program offers equipment rentals to suit a full spectrum of needs, and PSIA-certified adaptive instructors provide athletes of all abilities the opportunity to enjoy the thrill of snow sliding.
      All lessons are one-on-one, and are flexible, based on the needs of the skier, and the rates are the same as the resort's regular lesson rates. For Pocahontas and Randolph County residents however, adaptive skiing lessons are free of charge, Begg said.
      Before getting on the slopes, reservations are made and program staff and volunteers take new participants through a medical assessment and a functional assessment to gauge range of motion and grip strength, Begg explained. Once a participant is fitted with proper equipment, they can start working with an instructor.
      For first-time skiers, Begg said, the transformation is remarkable.
      "It's empowering for them to see they can be on the slopes with everybody else," he said. "It has a carry-over effect into their regular lives, too, from their education, to their family, friends and their sense of confidence."
The new home of adaptive skiing at Silver Creek.
The new home of adaptive skiing at Silver Creek will provide a more spacious setting for instructors and guides to train challenged athletes.
Photos courtesy Snowshoe Mtn. Resort
      Begg, now the president of Challenged Athletes of West Virginia, is anxiously awaiting the completion of the new, 2,800-square-foot adaptive sports center at Silver Creek.
      When the center opens in January, Begg said it will provide better accessibility for program participants, private offices for staff and volunteers, classrooms for training sessions, indoor space for fitting equipment and meeting space for CAWV's summer programs.
      Himself an above-the-knee amputee, Begg is no stranger to the outdoors, and since his accident has come up with some inventive ways to stay active. While he had never skied before his accident, Begg said he enjoyed kayaking, and was able to get back in the river shortly after his accident.
      The first winter after the accident, Begg got on the slopes for the first time. He has now been skiing for nearly 30 years.
      Technology has brought a lot of changes to adaptive skiing, said Begg.
"It's empowering for them to see they can be on the slopes with everybody else. It has a carry-over effect into their regular lives, too; from their education, to their family, friends and their sense of confidence."
­ Dave Begg,
President of CAWV and
director of Snowshoe's Adaptive Sports Program
      "In the early days, there was really nothing for people who couldn't stand up," he explained, "but by the early '80s, sit skis and mono-skis were developed."
      The mono-ski ­ a bucket seat mounted by way of a shock-absorbing coil to a single ski ­ is still a mainstay of adaptive skiing. The rider balances using modified ski poles called outriggers that have ski tips at the base.
      A more recent variation on the mono is the bi-ski, which adds a second ski to the design of the mono, and has the option of outriggers that are fixed to the sides. The added stability allows even those who are quadriplegic to ski, articulating the bi-ski by leaning their upper body.
A young blind skier.
A young blind skier is guided down the slopes by one of the adaptive volunteers. The program offers equipment rentals to suit a full spectrum of needs and abilities.
Photos courtesy Snowshoe Mtn. Resort
      The adaptive skis enable people who might otherwise not be able to hit the slopes to ski as well or better than people who can use traditional skis.
      Several years after he made his first tracks down the slopes, Begg modified a mountain bike so he could take advantage of the trails he saw as he worked for the U.S. Forest Service.
      On that first cycle, Begg removed the pedal from one side and replaced it with a special peg on which he could rest his prosthesis, while he pedaled with his left leg.
      Fifteen years later, Begg has ridden more than 15,000 miles on a bicycle. On his longest, continuous ride, he logged 140 miles.
      At Snowshoe CAWV has offered hand cycles ­ three-wheeled, recumbent mountain bikes powered by hand cranks ­ for challenged athletes interested in tackling some of the resorts bike trails for nine years.
      "It's not just a ski program," says volunteer Ann Greer, of Parkersburg. "It's year-round." In fact, CAWV's newest fundraiser is the Greenbrier Challenge, a 50-mile bicycle relay that takes place the first Saturday of August on the Greenbrier River Trail between Marlinton and Cass. In its second year, the Greenbrier Challenge saw participation double from the 35 people who showed up for the first race. Cyclists had the option of racing either as part of a four-person relay team, a two-person relay team, or solo.
      CAWV and the adaptive program are gaining notice regionally and nationally as well. The Greenbrier Challenge was featured in July in the magazine Wonderful West Virginia. The following month, the adaptive sports program was featured and on ESPN's 50 States in 50 Days tour as one of the West Virginia's most unique and cutting-edge athletic offerings.
      With the help of the organization's workshops, recreation events, and membership network, people with disabilities all over the state and the mid-Atlantic are proving to themselves and to the rest of the world that they are, indeed, able-bodied.

   

The Why Not Shop at the foot of Snowshoe
The Why Not Shop's 8,000 square feet of retail space includes a sub shop on one end and a ski shop on the other. Year round traffic flow to the four-season mountain resort has helped the business grow. Besides the usual knick-knacks, the gift shop houses the not-so usual items as well.
Photos by Pam Pritt

Why? Because it's there!

Why Not Shop
a Snowshoe staple for nearly 25 years

Pamela Pritt
Managing Editor
Hundreds of prints, hangings, plaques and photos.
Deck your walls with one of hundreds of prints, hangings, plaques and photos.
Photos by Pam Pritt
      If you've ever indulged yourself with the phrase, "Oh, why not?" you'll understand the name of this unique shop on Rt. 66 near the Snowshoe Mountain Resort entrance.
      Beryl Minghini opened the shop in 1981 at the top of Snowshoe Mountain in Shavers Center. After nearly 25 years and a move to the base, she's expanded her wares to include toys, clothing, boots and now, furniture.
      While eclectic is the only word anyone could use to describe the Why Not Shop's vast array of stock, it hardly does the store justice.
A jaunty moose stands guard
A jaunty moose stands guard over lamps and tables in the upstairs furniture gallery.
Photos by Pam Pritt
      Your everyday stuffed animals can be found in the toy section, you can enhance your home with a stuffed moose that stands about two feet high or a stuffed yellow lab in case you're allergic to dogs, but still want some canine companionship.
      From coasters to couches, the Why Not Shop is set up to set you up in housekeeping in fine style.
Snowshoe snowman
You can take home a Snowshoe snowman any time of year
Photos by Pam Pritt
      But if you need a souvenir gift to take home, the Why Not Shop is full of those bearing the name Snowshoe, letting everyone know you've been to a great place.
      Minghini said she's excited about the line of furniture and the chance to cater to homeowners in the area. The store once sold furniture, she said. "We do a lot more home decor (now)," she said.
      While Snowshoe was once only a ski resort, it now offers activity year round. The continuous traffic has been good for the Why Not Shop, Minghini said.
      "The business is year-round," she explained. "We're as busy in the fall and summer as we are in winter."
      While the gift shop is central to her mix of businesses, it opens on both ends to a restaurant and a snowboard and ski rental shop. And that is what makes Why Not more than distinctive.
A jaunty moose stands guard
A jaunty moose stands guard over lamps and tables in the upstairs furniture gallery.
Photos by Pam Pritt
      "We have such a wide variety‹from fudge to ice cream, gifts to snowboards and furniture all under one roof," Minghini said.
Room furnishings
A hall tree with a mirror and bench holds two lamps and more
Photos by Pam Pritt
      Her favorite items are the furniture ­ heavy lodge-style pieces that fit right in with the resort lifestyle.
      Some of that furniture can be shipped, as well, she said. The mid-1990s move to Rt. 66 was not in her initial plan, but Minghini has decidedly made the very best of that maneuver.
      "Long-term, the move was the best thing that happened," she said. "More year-round business, more variety and no limitations."

 

 

 
 
A living room set up
A living room set up awaits the right home, complete with stuffed dog, coffee table and Christmas tree. Several throw pillows adorn the couch. 		      A living room set up
Eat with the fishes - dinnerware with a game fish theme is a great addition for your hunting or fishing cabin. 		      A living room set up
If you're a collector of Harley memorabilia, this little scooter could wind up on your shelf
Photos by Pam Pritt
      A living room set up
A whole menagerie of stuffed animals await a place in your, or a child's, heart.

 

 

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Building Supplies
Gas 'n Groceries
Gifts		 is sponsored by the advertisers
you see on our pages. Please take time
to patronize their businesses!
Area Outfitter for all your Skiing and SnowBoard Needs
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 mile south of WV 66 ~ 304 572-4173
 
Open Daily 7:30 am - 11 pm, Later on Friday
Equipment Rental and Outdoor Apparel
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
 
As much as 40% off some SnowBoards in Stock
SNOWBOARD & SKI RENTALS
Great Quality, Great Prices
Daily 7:30 am - 11 pm
Friday 7:30 am - 2 am		   304 572-1200
 
A great place to eat
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 ~
 
A great place to eat at the crossroads
Open 7 AM until 9 PM
Home of the $4 breakfast!
Located on the corner of
Rt. 219 and Rt. 66
 
A great place to eat in Slaty Fork
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
 
We can help you find the place of your dreams Douglas S. Keith, Broker
Christine Butler, Assoc. 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
 
Breathtaking vistas combined with the very highest level of personal service Presenting the Height of Luxury
Allegheny Springs at Snowshoe Mountain
Yours to own 1-800-489-1943
 
Incredible Properties ~ Luxury Homes and spacious lots near the resort Mountain Country Properties
304 572-4663      mcpinfo@sunlitsurf.com
David Curtis, Broker
Sales Associates: Jeanette Canada, Bet Curtis 		P.O. Box 7
Slaty Fork, WV 26291
on Rt. 219, about 1 mile south
of Rt. 66 intersection.
 
Stop in for food and more
 
Glades Hardware
Glades carries all your building needs
Marlinton WV
304 799-4912
 
The Village at Snowshoe
 
Major Ski Resort developer
 
A Unique Shopping Experience awaits both Children amd AdultsCalhoun & 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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