IT’S STILL SNOWING!
Anywhere from 5-8" of SNOW has fallen across the Western North Carolina mountains with Wolf Ridge reporting the most this morning (8"). Most of the other ski areas are reporting 3-5". The temps are nearly 30° COLDER than at the same time Tuesday morning. The lowest we’ve seen is 9° at Beech and Sugar Mountains.
Snow began early Tuesday evening and the wind howled during the afternoon hours, signaling the front that was bringing in the cold and snow. By early this morning (around 5am) there was only an inch or so of snow (3" up at Beech) but the snow has really picked up as the sun came up.
Forecasters are saying that when the snow stops late tonight or Thursday AM, that the High Country should see around 5-8" with pockets of more than that.
Here’s a quick tour of the resorts:
Appalachian Ski Mountain – 16° – Making Snow – They received 2-3" of snow so far and are 100% open with Powder Conditions! I will be over at App later this evening 6pm if you guys want to look me up and make some turns.
Cataloochee Ski Area – 18° – "Making some mad snow!" – They received 2-3" of snow so far and have 7 of 14 trails open.
Hawksnest Resort – 12° – Making Snow – They received 4-5" of snow so far – They have 9 trails open, terrain features and snow tubing.
Ski Beech – 9° – Making Snow and Received 5" of snow so far! That takes them to 30" on the season. They have opened the Oz Run back up giving them 11 trails for today. Oz should be really sweet in this powder. Winds are not nearly as bad as they were forecasted to be as we’re seeing 7 mph winds this morning and a wind chill up there around -2°! Bundle up! They did see a top wind of around 37 mph.
Sugar Mountain – 9° – Making Snow! – They are reporting 7" of snow and as much as we’ve bragged on Sugar this season for great conditions even during marginal conditions…I really hate to call them on this one…but they have NOT received 7" of snow thus far. With some winds pushing drifts, there are certainly areas where there will be 7", however we called up to the Sugar Mountain Police department and David Lane up there says they have 4". We called up to Sugartop (at the very top of Sugar) and Ferrell reported that they MIGHT have 3-4". We also checked with Baker Perry’s Appalachian State program and their stuff is reporting 4-5" so we’ll give them the benefit of doubt and go with 5".
Whew! Anyway conditions will be GREAT at Sugar today and they are 100% open with all 20 trails, terrain park and ice skating. Tubing is closed today.
While on Sugar, we want to promote a very special event that takes place this weekend. The Dick Trundy Memorial Sugar Cup Competition is Saturday, March 1st. The giant slalom competition will be held on Big Red and is for participants with an intermediate or above ability level. 100% of entry fees go to the American Cancer Society in memory of Sugar Mountain’s former Director of Operations, Richard T. Trundy.
Wolf Ridge – 21° – We spoke with Jonny Goen this morning and you could hear the excitement in his voice. He reported, "Mike we were closed yesterday and just down and here we are today with the biggest snow of the season and we have 8" out here on a picnic table and Orville (English) is up top and says there’s MORE up there!" Jonny told us that Wolf would have 9 trails open today and tubing as well. The terrain park is closed and the other side of the mountain will probably remain closed for the season.
Until Next time…
Be sure to visit www.SkiSoutheast.com for more news from the rest of the Southeast and Mid Atlantic ski areas!
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