The Deep Creek Blog

Early Bird Ski Passes

Wisp Resort Season Passes for the 09-10 season are now on sale at a 20% discount through July 31st.  Purchase online, over the phone or at the Wisp Outdoors Adventure Park. 

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New Ski Blog

David Barton has started the SkiBlog-SkiBlog, where he will be posting information and tips to help readers improve their skiing skills.  Visit him at http://skiblog-skiblog.blogspot.com/.

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Wisp Resort Extends Ski Season into April

While many resorts in the Mid-Atlantic region are closing down for the 2008/2009 Ski Season, Wisp Resort will continue to offer skiers and boarders spring skiing the first two weekends in April – 4, 5, 11 & 12, 2009. (weather and conditions permitting).

Over 112” of natural snowfall accumulated in Garrett County year to date and Wisp utilized over 160 million gallons of water for snow making this winter, both creating ideal slope conditions for skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.  Current conditions have allowed Wisp  to extend winter operation for the first two weekends in April.  A $20 adult / junior day lift ticket will give skiers and riders access to limited lifts and terrain from 9 am – 2 pm on April 4, 5, 11 and 12.

In addition to ski operation, Wisp’s Mountain Coaster, the only one of it’s kind in the Mid-Atlantic, will run from 1 pm – 4 pm at the cost of $10 for a single ride.  The Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park will offer snow tubing at $10 per person for an open session from 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm.  Guests who show a valid current daily lift ticket will receive $2 off a Mountain Coaster ride and snow tubing session.  Snowmobile Tours will operate after 2 pm on the slopes for 30-minute guided tours at $49 per driver and passengers 6 –15 years of age are free!

Wisp Resort will feature spring activities on each operating day in April.  Activities include outdoor music, volleyball, twister-on-snow and more at the bottom of belly flop from 11 am – 1 pm.  (outdoor activities weather permitting)

Guests looking to observe the Easter Holiday can participate in a Sunrise Service on Sunday, April 12 at 6:15 am.  Chair 1 will deliver skiers, riders and foot-passengers to the top of Wisp Mountain or guests can park in the mountaintop parking lot and walk to the service area at the top of Odin’s Chute.  Children 12 and under can participate in the Egg Hunt scheduled at 1 pm on April 12 on the front lawn of Wisp.  Freestyle skiers and snowboarders can compete in the last on-snow event of the season, the Easter Bunny Rail Jam. The rail jam will be held at 1 pm in the Pro Park at the base of Face, registration at noon in the Main Lodge.

Wisp Resort is Maryland’s only all-season ski, golf and recreation resort, overlooking Deep Creek Lake from Marsh Mountain in the heart of Garrett County, the state’s westernmost county.  Wisp Resort is less than a three-hour drive from the metropolitan areas of Washington, DC and Baltimore, two hours from Pittsburgh and a 45-minute drive from Morgantown, West Virginia and Cumberland, Maryland.  For more information about Wisp Resort, call 301.387.4911or visit the website at www.wispresort.com.

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Another Opportunity to Cross Country Ski at Ridgeview Valley

It looks like the snow is arriving just in time for another cross country event at Ridgeview Valley.  Visit the Ridgeview Valley Blog for more detail. 

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Public Safety Warning for Deep Creek Lake

The Maryland Park Service advises individuals recreating on Deep Creek Lake to be alert for safety hazards on the lake, particularly at night.

“Snowmobilers, ice fishermen, hikers and cross-country skiers traveling on the lake should exercise caution,” urged Mark Spurrier, Deep Creek Lake Recreation Area Assistant Manager. “Wearing a personal flotation device could prevent a tragedy. If you encounter people, pets or wildlife that have fallen through the ice, call either 911 or the Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-628-9944 for assistance.”

Road salt and abrasives plowed from highway bridges may affect the quality of the ice underneath and unseen snowdrifts can act as ramps and cause sleds and snowmobiles to become airborne leading to a loss of control and accidents. Recent weather patterns have also lead to inconsistent ice depths and cracking in some shallow coves.

Deep Creek Lake is a part of the designated ORV trail system permitting use by registered snowmobiles only. Permits are available by mail or at any of the local state park offices during normal business hours. Snowmobiles may operate at night if equipped with working head and taillights. Access to the lake may be made at Deep Creek Lake State Park or with permission from a private landowner adjacent to the lake.

For further information on ice conditions at Deep Creek Lake, individuals should contact 301-387-5563 during business days or the Discovery Center at 301-387-7067 on weekends.

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Second Annual CBIZ Classic at Wisp

This Sunday, February 1, 2009 marks the Second Annual CBIZ Classic USSA Slalom Race presented by the Deep Creek Winter Sports Team.    Ski Racers from the Wisp Resort, Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, and Blue Knob will compete on the Squirrel Cage Slope in two runs of slalom.  Most of the season’s races have been held at Seven Springs, so the hometown advantage will now be given to the members of the Deep Creek Winter Sports Team as they try to make it to the Derby’s or the finals.

 

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Wisp Trip Report from DCSki

Here's another great Firsthand Report on Wisp from DCSki columnist James Chen. 

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Accident Residents Compete in Area Dogsled Race

Two Accident residents will compete in area dogsled race and "dogsled drag races" on Saturday, Jan 31st.
 
Shaina (Custer) Saturday, 21, and Linda Herdering (51), both of Accident, have each been accepted to race dogsled teams in the fourth annual Pennsylvania Dogsled Races held at the Links Golf Course, Nemacolin Resort, at 11:00 am that Saturday.  Shaina will race a three-dog, purebred Siberian Husky team with "Jag" as her  leader with "Colt" and "Indy" as wheel dogs.  Linda will race in the four-dog class with Huskies "Gunny" and "Charger" at lead, along with "Oreo" and "Buzz" at wheel position.  They will both use a white ash six-foot dogsled made by Maine Made Sleds -- made in, where else, Maine. 
 
Shaina Saturday has five years experience mushing dogs at Husky Power Dogsledding tours in Accident.  She raced once before at Fairhill State Park where she won her six-dog purebred class.  She presently works at My Bank First United in McHenry and volunteers as an EMS Officer and firefighter for the Accident station.  Linda Herdering has been mushing for over 25 years and owns Husky Power Dogsledding with her husband Mike and 20 Huskies. 
 
The two-mile race course in directly on the golf course grass which will hopefully be covered in  lots of snow.  Most of the race can be seen from the Links Golf Course parking lot where over 20 teams will participate.  Following the regular dogsled race will be "Dogsled Drag Races" at 9:00 pm.  The drag races will feature three-dog teams running side-by-side on a short flat course.  The winners will continue to "drag" each other until a final champion is found.  Drag races will be held under the lights at the ski area.  An awards ceremony will take place at 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning.  All are welcome to watch both races and cheer them on!

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Cross Country Ski Day with High Mountain Sports and Ridgeview Valley

High Mountain Sports and Ridgeview Valley are teaming up for a Cross Country Ski Day this Saturday, January 24 from 11 am to 3 pm.  High Mountain Sports will be providing a limited supply of free cross country rentals and Ridgeview Valley will be providing miles of “groomed” trails for cross country skiing.   Bring your own cross country skis or use ours.  Ridgeview Valley is located at 912 Gravelly Run Road in McHenry.  For details check www.highmountainsports.com or blog.ridgeviewvalley.com.

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Some Positive News

It's nice to see some positive news about Wisp and some other ski resorts thriving.  ____________________________________________________________________________________

Snowboarding Featured in the Post-Gazette

Sunday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has an article on the rising popularity of snowboarding.  Mike Valach from Wisp Resort is quoted in the piece.  ________________________________________________________________________________________

Hero's Day at Wisp Resort

Tomorrow is Hero's Day at Wisp Resort.  The resort is honoring rescue, military and service personnel with a complimentary lift ticket.  Immediate family members can purchase lift tickets for $10. 

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Firsthand Report at DCSki from Wisp's Birthday Celebration

Jim Kenney from DCSki provided a firsthand report from a day out at Wisp during the 53rd Birthday Celebration a few weeks ago. 

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Pro Freestyle Skier to Host Freestyle Skier Clinic at Wisp

On Tuesday, December 30, Pro Freestyle Skier, Tom Wallisch, will host a Freestyle Skier Clinic at Wisp Resort in the Pro Terrain Park at the Base of Face from 10 am – 4 pm.  There is limited availability for the clinic, the fee is $89 and includes instruction and a 1-day lift ticket.  Reservations can be made by phone or email:  301.387.4911 / mvalach@wispresort.com.

Growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, Wallisch called Wisp Resort his ‘home mountain’ since he began skiing.  While at the resort, Tom noticed some local kids busting 360’s off little jumps on the side of the trails and was intrigued.  At the age of fifteen, Wallisch acquired his first pair of twin tip skis and the first day out began jumping.  Throughout Wallisch’s youth, he spent most winter weekends in the Terrain Parks at Wisp Resort jumping bigger, spinning further and improving his freestyle skills.

After graduating from Chartiers Valley High School in Pittsburgh, PA in 2006, Wallisch headed to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.  “I geared my class schedule around skiing.  My friends and I began filming on the slopes and putting together short freestyle films.  We submitted a six-minute flick to a contest called the Superunknown.  I won and my professional ski career took off!”  Wallisch travels around the globe competing and filming videos for Level 1 Productions of Denver, Colorado.

At the age of twenty-one, Wallisch already has quite a long list of accolades.  In the 08/09 season alone, he has claimed first place in AST Dew Tour Rail Jam, Jibassic Pro Rail Jam and Ski Pass Big Air in Modena, Italy.  Tom Wallisch’s sponsors including Amplid, Spy, Skullcandy, Sweet Protection, Jiberish, Kombi, Full Tilt and EC Headwear.

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