Ajax Rock: White Grass

Tucked away between two Alpine ski resorts in the Canaan Valley of wild and wonderful West Virginia is a unique place called White Grass. A sort of anti-yuppie ski area, White Grass is as much a state of mind as it is an authentic, fun-filled Telemark and Nordic ski area where old and young gather for real, outdoor winter fun, camaraderie, good food and conversation. With over 140" of snow provided by Mother Nature each year and no snow-making machines, it's been that way at White Grass since 1979. People come, then come back -- again and again. Season passes cost only $120, and everything there is affordable.

A fabulous kitchen serves up wholesome, natural foods with soups like white bean and kale, chicken with artichokes, vegetarian chili and an assortment of sandwiches and other delights. There is a bin for recyclables and one marked "Trashy Trash," and the signs on the beverage refrigerator read, "Love people -- Cook them healthy food" and "Peace happens when the hungry are fed." And people are fed by the hundreds -- people from as far away as Florida, Massachusetts, even Europe.

Crammed within the little ski shack, along with the kitchen and tables to share, are ski equipment, cold weather gear, maps, trail conditions, notices of special nature trail hikes on snowshoes or cross-country skis. Crammed into it, too, are happy people who know how to celebrate winter and keep fit without gym memberships or expensive equipment. They've found a way to be kids again, enjoying the snowfall and the scenery.

Driving into White Grass, you'll see flags from all over the world -- just like at the Olympic games. And there's a real yurt for warming up and having conversations, breathtaking scenery of the adjacent wildlife refuge, the surrounding mountains and the amazing Canaan Valley. What you won't see are long lines at the lifts (there aren't any), wi-fi cafes, many helmets or fancy ski duds. If you go out back, you'll find the "sauna and day spa," which looks like the picture above and slopes that look like this:

There's a sort of half-inside/half-outside area where folks can sit a spell, get out of the wind, adjust their gear, sit and talk. Both inside and outside are friendly people and a whole lot of fun. Check it out on a website that is as unique as the place itself and alone provides more entertainment than most movies or shows I've seen (www.whitegrass.com). I can't wait to go back when there's more snow and the wind chill isn't 9 degrees, as it was on the day we were there. Maybe I can actually try to learn how to snowshoe or X-country ski. Meet me at White Grass. You'll be glad you came. It's just a happy place to be!