DAVIS, West Virginia – For the sixth consecutive year, Canaan Valley Resort will host members of the Gathering of Mountain Eagles on Friday, February 6, 2015 for a day of fun on the slopes.
Established by a small, but passionate group of retired soldiers and their families, the non-profit Gathering of Mountain Eagles offers four “adventure therapy” outings a year to combat wounded or injured American service members and selected family members. Activities such as whitewater rafting, skiing, mountain biking, ropes courses, zip lining and even golf are encouraged to help in their physical and psychological recovery. To date, over 330 veterans have come through and benefited from the Gathering of Mountain Eagles program.
“The positive, therapeutic effects of participating in a Gathering of Mountain Eagles event is evident on the faces of participants”, explains Beckley native and Executive Director Forrest ‘Woody’ Aurentz. “They get the sense at these events that the whole State is coming together to let these Solders, Sailors and Marines know they care. From the volunteers that come from the Student Veterans Association at Davis & Elkins College to the Canaan Valley Ski Patrol and adaptive Ski Instructors from the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia to the many local citizens that lend their time and talents to help make this event a success, the mission of the Gathering of Mountain Eagles is helping so many people.”
Canaan Valley Resort features a new 160-room Main Lodge, 43 slopes with a summit elevation of 4,280 feet and a vertical drop of 850 feet. There are five lifts, a free-style terrain park, 10-lane Tube Park, and a covered outdoor ice skating rink. The Resort features four dining alternatives, new menus, extended hours, après-ski opportunities, expanded shuttle service between the Main Lodge and the slopes, as well as weekend events like NASTAR and the 2015 Rail Jam Series to enhance the winter experience.