We're now on Facebook!

Social Networking is definitely the next wave of the internet! I've recently created a Facebook account for my personal use and have found it to be a great resource for connecting with both current friends and friends from the past. In going all-out with the new "Web 2.0" trend I've decided to create a Facebook page for Mountain Valley Retreat. Though it's still in development - mainly because I haven't yet learned all the features that are associated with Facebook - we'll be using this page as a great way to update guests on enhancements made to the property, rental specials that we may be offering as well as updates to an events calendar detailing upcoming activities in and about Pocahontas County, West Virginia. You can find us by logging into Facbook and doing a search on "Mountain Valley Retreat" and adding us as a Fan!

I told you skiing conditions were awesome!

Today Snowshoe's website states that their total snowfall so far for this season has surpassed last year's snowfall - pretty good stats so far! Here are some shots from the slopes - these were taken MLK weekend and made me so jealous that I wasn't there to enjoy! If a picture is worth a thousand words then I think these photos read like a novel!! Enjoy!!!

Cold Temps, Old-timers and Great Skiing Conditions!

I must admit there is something to be said about old-timers and their connection with nature, especially when it comes to predicting the weather. Back in September and October when fall arrived in Pocahontas County, Mother Nature evidently provided several signals indicating that this would be a colder than normal winter season. Perhaps it was a crisper than usual feeling in the air, or perhaps it was the larger than normal caterpillers or bigger and more abundant acrons - whatever it truely was this "urbanite" will never know. I do know that back in the fall old-timers in the area began to see these signals of nature and started to proclaim that we were in for a cold one this winter season.

Now that we are moving through the season it's clear that their predictions are ringing true. An earlier than normal snowfall in October was all that it took to convince me these proclamations may have some substance to them. Almost a foot of snow blanketed Mountain Valley Retreat at the end of October as a result of this snowfall. Guests who were staying with us at the time told us it was an absolutely beautiful sight to see snow in October. Though this first snowfall quickly melted, it was soon replaced with a series of two or three significant snowfalls in November that resulted in Snowshoe Ski Resort opening a week before Thanksgiving. Temps have been rather cool this year allowing the ski resort to maintain an absolutely awesome base. In addition, natural snow is falling almost everyday making for some beautiful sights throughout the county. There is even a nice amount of snow blanketing our property this year. Though I haven't had the time to get out there yet this winter, I'm hoping that I can carve out a few days to visit sometime in February. There will be nothing more awesome than sitting by the fire and enjoying the snow!

Cross country skiing in our backyard!

One famous landmark in Pocahontas County is the Highland Scenic Highway. Also known throughout the area simply as Rt 150 - the Highland Scenic Highway, a National Forest Scenic Byway, is the highest major roadway in West Virginia and extends 43 miles from Richwood to U.S. Route 219, seven miles north of Marlinton. The Highway follows State Route 39/55 for 21 miles from Richwood to the Cranberry Mountain Visitor Center. It then turns onto State Route 150 for the 22 mile Parkway section and rises from an elevation of 2,300 feet to over 4,500 feet. The Route 150 section of the Highland Scenic highway is less than a mile North of our cabin as the crow flies. In fact, there is a section of Route 150 where you can actually stop and look down into the valley below and see the roof of our cabin in the distance. Needless to say - traveling this section of Highway is one of the most breathtaking journeys in the spring or especially in the fall when the area foliage reaches it's peak.

One thing that many may not know is that the Highland Scenic Highway is never plowed during the winter months. This lack of "pavement grooming" by Pocahontas County makes this area an awesome winter paradise for cross country skiers. Even though cross country skiing and snowshoeing are even more dependent on natural snowfall than downhill skiing at the resort, great snowfall amounts this year are making for a most enjoyable cross country skiing experience. Please let us know if you are interested in pursuing cross country skiing during your stay at Mountain Valley Retreat and we'll be glad to provide directions to the entrance of Route 150 as well as guidance on equipment rentals,etc.

Great Skiing at Snowshoe Ski Resort

Pocahontas County, West Virginia is well known for the wide range of outdoor activities available to outdoor enthusiasts of all types. While most of those activities focus on the warmer months, skiing becomes the primary activity during the winter months. Snowshoe Ski Resort is in the center of Pocahontas County and provides ample terrain for skiers of all expertise levels. This year Mother Nature has blessed Snowshoe Ski Resort with incredible conditions making this a fabulous year for skiing! Snow came early to the area with two major snowstorms dropping over three feet of snow just days before Thanksgiving. Though there have been a few warm snaps along the way, generally colder than usual temperatures in the area have allowed the ski resort to maintain the incredible base they received early in the season. To date Snowshoe Ski Resort has gotten over 110 inches of natural snow and has been able to maintain snowmaking conditions virtually everyday so far of the 2008 - 2009 ski season.

Mountain Valley Retreat is located just 30 minutes south of Snowshoe Ski Resort. While most guests choose our vacation cabin as a relaxing winter getaway, our proximity to Snowshoe makes us a great option for a day of skiing as part of your stay. If you choose to ski Snowshoe during your stay we suggest parking at the "Top of the Mountain" parking lot since the parking there is free. Lift tickets can also be purchased in this area. Beginning skiiers may want to consider Sliver Creek instead of Snowshoe since the trails are wider and tend to be less crowded. There is a free shuttle service that will take you back and forth between the two mountains and lift tickets are applicable for both areas. If you are in need of rental equipment we recommend stopping at the Ski Barn located at the base of the mountain. They have reasonable rental rates and offer discounts for rentals that are reserved online. Don't forget that we offer WiFi at our cabin so book your rentals while at our cabin and they'll be ready and waiting for you!

Back in the Blog Again!

After many months of working with various blogging tools I've decided to revert back to using blogger.com for our vacation rental property blog. As the New Year brings with it many resolutions, one of my resolutions for 2009 is to update all the various web pages, rental portals, etc. associated with our rental property - Mountain Valley Retreat. In sticking with that resolution I've just completed a complete sprucing up of our main website. Check it out here at: http://www.mtnvalleyretreat.com/ and let me know what you think! We'll use this website as our main information page providing details on our rental property, local area information, rental rates and availability. In addition, we'll use this associated blog (which is actually linked off of the main website) to provide a rotating list of area attractions for 2009 as well as any updates we make to the property itself. I've also cleaned up our various portal websites such as VRBO.com - we're located here at http://www.vrbo.com/204158.

All in all, I'm not quite finished yet with the complete makeover, but close enough to be happy and ready to go! Please check back frequently thoughout the year as I am looking forward to sharing with everyone all of the great things to be found at our West Virginia Cabin Rental!