May, 2013 - Deep Creek Lake Blog

Greetings from Deep Creek Lake-CARC-April Real Estate Stats

Greetings from Deep Creek Lake-CARC-April Real Estate Stats. I hope you had a great Mother’s Day Weekend with your family. Betsy and I had an event-filled weekend. First off, Betsy had the opportunity to enjoy her first Mother’s Day being a mommy! She is and has been very excited since the birth of Griffin Rhea Holcomb and I can’t tell you how proud I am of the amazing mother she is. Also, my sister and her husband came up from Virginia Beach this weekend to witness the baptism of our 5 ½ month old Griffin and to become lifelong sponsors/Godparents for him.

Although they had a quick visit, we did find time to go for a hike at Swallow Falls and take a few memorable photos. My sister and her husband had a blast witnessing the raging YoughioghenyRiver, which is pretty common in the spring here in GarrettCounty.

Little Griffin had his second swim lesson here at the new Garrett College Community Aquatic and Recreation Complex (CARC). Please check out their website and get familiar with just one more family amenity here at the lake.

The first ever Paddlin’ for PAWS went off without a snafu even though the weather was not perfect. Luckily, on race day Saturday morning the winds were down and the rain had cracked to a trickle. Stand Up Paddle Annapolis, who is a group from Annapolis, showed up with a huge group of people and some of the most cutting-edge equipment to lead the race with experience and class. Please take a moment and read about this wonderful event and see some photos I captured during the 6-mile race.

On the real estate front, you can see from our April MLS statistics that our closed/sold & pending/under contract sales are up and our inventory is down, all of which point to a recovering market. But don’t feel like you’ve missed the boat if you are still searching for a vacation home because prices haven’t begun to climb yet. We are hearing how quickly properties are moving in the DC/Balt/N.VA areas. This activity will ultimately work its way west but there are still some great bargains on all sorts of water-oriented, slope-oriented and other Deep Creek Lake vicinity homes & homesites.

The Spiker Team’s featured listing of the week is a beautiful French country home on 14 acres on the outskirts of DeepCreekLake within ~7 minutes to the DCLState Park. Three levels, large rear deck, wonderful mountain views, 2-car attached garage, 3 family rooms and the list goes on. Here is a link the visual tour: http://vt.realbiz360.com/Listing-1075650.html.

Enjoy your week and call on us anytime we can be of help in Deep Creek!

Paddlin for PAWS… Paddleboard Race… Wisp Resort

Rain and foul weather could not keep the diehard Paddleboarders from making the trip up to DeepCreekLake this weekend to brave the 3 mile or 6 mile race courses right off the DeepCreekLakeState Park. Friday afternoon I took a trip out there to participate in the group paddle. The winds and rain were in high gear so there was only a few of us that tried to navigate the three mile course. On the home stretch to the state park the tail wind/cross chop put me (falling) in the lake for the first time of the season. To be honest, it was not super cold, just a mild chill.

Paddlin for PAWS… Paddleboard Race… Wisp Resort. Wisp Resort event organizer, Mike Valach, who is an avid paddler and my paddle partner is hell bent on promoting a sport that he has a deep passion for. He and co-worker John McCracken rolled out the red carpet for the locals and out-of-towners bringing in some 1st class racers. The crew from Stand Up Paddle Annapolis came up and raced world class times in fair, drizzling conditions. They brought with them top of the line/state of the art racer gear. Carbon Fiber boards and paddles with different design elements. Remember, paddleboarding although having roots back to Tom Blake in the early 30’s, is evolving into many different hybrids ranging from surfing, racing ,cruising, fishing…you name it. And with this, evolution of the design is still being tweaked to maximize speed and performance. I noticed the displacement hulls are the norm with bottom contours ranging from flat, to having vee/concave with various tail and nose rocker, and carbon fiber paddles that only weigh 14 ounces.

I missed the beginning of the race as I had swim lessons for my 5-month old but was lucky enough to round State Park Road right as the leaders were dueling it out halfway through the race. It was interesting to see all the different stroking and turning techniques that separate the competitors although there is no right or wrong. Board and paddle technology, paddling and turning techniques, and physical conditioning all come into play, but like any sport, mental endurance separates the top racers from the rest. Let’s not forget that winning is definitely not everything! Just to spend time on a paddlboard is spiritual and healthy as I have preached in the past. You also have the opportunity to meet a lot of great new friends.

It was exciting seeing the camaraderie at the finish line as all the racers cheered and congratulated each and every contestant as they made their way on shore. Chances are that whatever town you live in you will have the enthusiastic paddlers stoked on promoting and enjoying a sport that has taken over the world. If you can’t join us here at Deep Creek Lake then look around your own community and get revved up on a fantastic life-changing sport. If you want to keep up with local group paddle sessions, check out our newly formed Stand Up Paddle Group Facebook page. I will try to organize some sunrise/sunset paddles when the lake is glass as we transition into the season. Also, if you want real time information about the lake visit our page Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. See you on the Lake!

Greeting from Deep Creek Lake-Paddleboard for PAW-Wisp Real Estate

Greeting from Deep Creek Lake-Paddleboarding PAW-Wisp Real Estate. I’ve been blown away by the wind this week, literally. The lake has rivaled the ocean this week as whitecaps slammed the shoreline for the last 10 or so days. I am itching to get out on some patented DCL glass on my paddleboard sessions early in the morning before too long. But on a positive note, the ramps have ripened perfectly over the last few days and I had the opportunity to fry some up in beer batter and tried fusing them into a scalloped potatoes recipe. They turned out excellent.

Here’s a cell phone photo I snapped while hunting for ramps…

I am very excited to bring you news about the Paddling for Paws Paddleboard Race at Deep Creek Lake State Park this weekend. Get up to Deep Creek Lake this weekend and come participate in the Paddling for Paws Paddleboard Race at the Deep Creek State Park. Bring the wife, kiddos and friends and get stoked on paddleboarding while helping a great cause.

Racing this weekend!

Paddleboarding is the hottest sport worldwide at the moment and the great thing about it is that you don’t have to be a world class athlete to enjoy and compete. It all gets started on Friday afternoon (May 10^th) with a local paddle from 3pm – 5pm. This is your chance if you have never been on a stand up paddle board (SUP) to experience a chill paddle around the lake with locals and out-of-towners. You don’t have a paddle board you say? No problem! Wisp will be renting boards for the local paddle and for the race for a mere $10! Here is much more information.

SUP Yoga Friday 5/20/13 @ 6pm

Real Estate/Wisp/Lot information talk on the streets is that National Land Partners is possibly planning to staff their new office during the Olympic Time Trials in May or the middle to end of June. Word is they are going to slash prices on interior lots and there may be some fabulous deals to be had. We will do our best to keep you informed as we hear more and feel free to call us; we can help!

Our featured listing of the week is a lovely home in the gated community of Deep Creek Highlands where the amenities include an outdoor pool, clubhouse, tennis court, lakeside pavilion and lake access area, trails, playground and more. This contemporary is an established rental property and is beautifully decorated. http://vt.realbiz360.com/Listing-778743.html

Enjoy your week! www.DeepCreekLakeProperty.com

“Paddlin for Paws” Stand Up Paddleboard Race

Wisp Resort hosts fundraising Paddleboard Race at Deep Creek Lake State Park
Paddling for PAWS to benefit HART for Animals, Inc.

Weekly updates by Betsy Spiker Holcomb of Taylor-Made Vacations and Sales, Deep Creek Lake. Deep Creek Lake, MD (May 2, 2013) – Wisp Resort will host Paddling for PAWS, a fundraising paddleboard race, at Deep Creek State Park on May 11, 2013 starting at 9am. A portion of the race fees will benefit HART for Animals, Inc. This event will help promote Stand Up Paddleboard racing in the Deep Creek Lake area, bring awareness to HART’s cause and raise funds to support the non-profit organization

The general public is encouraged to participate and race in this fundraiser. There will be a 5K and a 10K race with three different divisions for each. Pre-registration race fee is $45 and can be done online at www.wispresort.com. Registration on the day of the event is $55. Children ages 12 and under may participate in our Children’s Race for free. The event is open to all levels of paddleboaders.

A portion of the race entry fees will be donated to HART for Animals, Inc. A non-profit organization dedicated to savings the lives of homeless pets. Michael Valach, Director of Wisp Outdoors, created this event out of his own passions: he is an avid paddleboarder, animal advocate and on the board of HART for Animals, Inc. “This event will bring good exposure for both HART’s cause and paddleboarding, a watersport that is still fairly new to Deep Creek Lake,” stated Mr. Valach.

About HART for Animals, Inc: HART for Animals, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the lives of homeless pets in Western Maryland. Through a network of volunteers – individuals and rescue organizations – HART is able to rescue animals from the Garrett County shelter and give them an opportunity to find a forever home. HART has been raising funds for an Animal Adoption Center located on Bumble Bee Road and most recently opened Pick of the Liter Thrift Store to help raise additional funds. The HART Spay/Neuter Clinic, opened in 2009, provides low-cost spay and neuter services to the pets of individuals whose income level would otherwise prevent them from spaying or neutering their pets. www.hartforanimals.org

About Wisp Resort: Wisp Resort if a four-season mountain resort by the shores of Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland. Wisp offers skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, 36 holes of golf, 2 canopy tour zip lines, lift-served mountain biking and a variety of other mountain recreation activities. The ski resort has 10 lifts and 32 trails on 132 acres, more than 90% of which is lit for night skiing. The on-site Wisp Resort Hotel offers 169 guest rooms, indoor pool, hot tub, fitness and business center along with 17,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space. www.wispresort.com

“Paddlin for Paws” Stand Up Paddleboard Race

The May 11^th, 2013 event at Deep Creek Lake is a grassroots Stand Up Paddleboard race event to promote SUP racing to the Deep Creek Lake area and to bring awareness to the SUP communy the great opportunities to enjoy paddleboarding in the mountains of Western Maryland on Deep Creek Lake and other nearby lakes. This event will also donate a portion of the race entry fee to HART for Animals charity for pets located in the Mc Henry area. The race course is a three mile loop with three buoy turns, the event will have a recreational class ( 1 lap) and elite class (2 laps) and a fun race for kids. The race is expected to attract SUP racers from the mid-Atlantic area and is part of Mid Atlantic Stand Up Race Association Point Series 10 race location series in the mid-Atlantic area. This event is a nice start to the spring paddleboard session and has something for the first time to elite paddleboard racer, various paddleboard companies will be on hand for the event, there also will be some demo boards to test and first time paddleboard clinics to let people try the sport of paddleboarding.

Friday, May 10

Local paddle on DCL 3pm – 5pm – Deep Creek Lake State Park – Beach Area

Sunset Paddle (ride the course) 6pm – 7:30pm Deep Creek Lake State Park – Beach Area

Sunset Yoga with Dawn 6pm – 7pm Deep Creek Lake State Park – Beach Area $10

Packet pick up and welcome party/bonfire at Adventure Park at Wisp Resort 7:30pm – 9:30pm – Wisp Resort

Saturday May 11 –

Prerace meeting – 8:30am Deep Creek Lake State Park – Beach Area

3 mile and 6 mile race on Deep Creek Lake – 9am Deep Creek Lake State Park – Beach Area

Kids Race – 11am Free- Deep Creek Lake State Park – Beach Area

Cookout and Awards – 12noon – Wisp Resort – Wisp Outdoors Adventure Park

Race classes:

Female:

5K race for under 12.6, 12.6 and 14 class and (Kids – fun race ¼ mile)

10K race for under 12.6, 12.6 and 14 class, also 50+ legends 10K open

Male:

5K race for under 12.6, 12.6 and 14 class, and (Kids – fun race ¼ mile)

10K race for under 12.6, 12.6 and 14 class, also 50+ legends 10K open

Entry fee $45 includes race fee tech race t-shirt and cookout

Discount hotel rates are available to racers at Wisp Resort Hotel – $79 per night, ask for the SUP race rate

Paddling for Paws Paddleboard Race Deep Creek State Park

Paddling for Paws Paddleboard Race Deep Creek State Park. Get up to Deep Creek Lake this weekend and come participate in the Paddling for Paws Paddleboard Race at the Deep Creek State Park. Bring the wife, kiddos and friends and get stoked on paddleboarding while helping a great cause. Paddleboarding is the hottest sport worldwide at the moment and the great thing about it is that you don’t have to be a world class athlete to enjoy and compete. It all gets started on Friday afternoon (May 10^th) with a local paddle from 3pm – 5pm. This is your chance if you have never been on a stand up paddle board (SUP) to experience a chill paddle around the lake with locals and out-of-towners. You don’t have a paddle board you say? No problem! Wisp will be renting boards for the local paddle and for the race for a mere $10!

Then, at 6pm on Friday, there will be a sunset paddleboard yoga class. This sport incorporates SUP’s water, balance, stretching, and of course yoga. Let go of your stress and find peace and calm with DCL’s serene mountains as your backdrop! Are you curious to learn more about SUP Yoga? Check out this video. After you have down shifted your mind, finish up with a peaceful sunset paddle.

Saturday is race day and will have many different class and distances to race. Don’t let your inexperience keep you from participating. Jump in head first and get racin’!

Classes & Fees
Children’s Race – Free Admission
5K or 10K – $45 event fee (pre-registration)
– Onsite day of event- $55 event fee –
5 K race – under 12.6’ board
5 K race – 12.6’ board
5 K race 14’ board
10K race under 12.6’board
10K race 12.6’ board
10K race 14’ board
10K race legends(50+) open

Event Schedule
Friday, May 10
3pm – 5pm – Local paddle
6pm – Sunset Paddleboard Yoga Class
6pm – 7:30pn – Sunset Paddle (ride the course)
– Location – Deep Creek Lake State Park (beach area)

7:30pm – 9:30pm Packet pick up and welcome party/bonfire
– Location – Wisp Resort Adventure Park

Saturday May 11
8:30am – Prerace meeting
9am – 3 mile and 6 mile race on Deep Creek Lake
11am – Kids Race – Free
– Location – Deep creek Lake State Park (beach area)

12pm – Cookout and Awards
– Location – Wisp Resort Adventure Park

Check out Deep Creek Times description…

“The May 11th, 2013 event at Deep Creek Lake is a grassroots Stand Up Paddleboard race event to promote SUP racing to the Deep Creek Lake area and to bring awareness to the SUP community the great opportunities to enjoy paddleboarding in the mountains of Western Maryland on Deep Creek Lake and other nearby lakes. This event will also donate a portion of the race entry fee to HART for Animals charity for pets located in the McHenry area. The race course is a three mile loop with three buoy turns, the event will have a recreational class ( 1 lap) and elite class (2 laps) and a fun race for kids. The race is expected to attract SUP racers from the mid-Atlantic area and is part of Mid Atlantic Stand Up Race Association Point Series 10 race location series in the mid-Atlantic area. This event is a nice start to the spring paddleboard session and has something for the first time to elite paddleboard racer, various paddleboard companies will be on hand for the event, there also will be some demo boards to test and first time paddleboard clinics to let people try the sport of paddleboarding.”

Morchella Mushrooms (MORELS)

Morchella Mushrooms (MORELS)

Morchella Mushrooms (MORELS). Have you any idea what a Morel Mushroom is? It took me some time before I was lucky enough to get my hands on some of these honeycomb-looking species of cup fungi that send people all over the country into a hunting rage during the spring. Ramps are more common than morels although still semi-elusive to most. When cooked up, the flavors explode in your mouth sending you scurrying to find your boots to get out and hunt for another “mess” of these golden jewels.

So where do you find these caps you ask? Depending on who you ask it could range from under cherry trees, under elm trees, south exposed spots, north exposed spots, behind the barn, or in the next state. The secret is hidden deeply in the mind of the locals and the actual spots are guarded by families for generations and generations. There is no easy road to the promise land of mushrooms. The one way to get them is to get off your tail and get steppin’ into the woods looking for anything that is a couple inches tall and has a honeycomb cap to them. I had a friend of mine and Betsy’s give me some morels a couple years back, but this year it’s up to me! I am heading out after work to get a start on finding that needle in a haystack shroom that will certainly turn into a new springtime ritual for me if I am lucky to stumble on a few.

275 Maple Street-Riverfront-KayakersDream-Friendsville MD

275 Maple Street-Riverfront-KayakersDream-Friendsville MD. Whitewater Heaven! Affordable riverfront home in Friendsville on the Youghiogheny River. Fish for trout off your rear deck or take your kayak out for some paddling fun. Home has good rehab potential. Location is convenient, by I-68 and walking distance to grocery store, park and library. Motivated seller. Bring offers!!!

Month: May 2013

Greetings from Deep Creek Lake-CARC-April Real Estate Stats

Paddlin for PAWS… Paddleboard Race… Wisp Resort

Greeting from Deep Creek Lake-Paddleboard for PAW-Wisp Real Estate

“Paddlin for Paws” Stand Up Paddleboard Race

Wisp Resort hosts fundraising Paddleboard Race at Deep Creek Lake State Park
Paddling for PAWS to benefit HART for Animals, Inc.

Paddling for Paws Paddleboard Race Deep Creek State Park

Morchella Mushrooms (MORELS)

275 Maple Street-Riverfront-KayakersDream-Friendsville MD

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Wisp Resort hosts fundraising Paddleboard Race at Deep Creek Lake State Park Paddling for PAWS to benefit HART for Animals, Inc.

My Location

Deep Creek Media

Stay Connected

Wisp Resort hosts fundraising Paddleboard Race at Deep Creek Lake State Park
Paddling for PAWS to benefit HART for Animals, Inc.