Winterplace Resort picked up another inch of snow on Saturday and they will be skiing and riding on 9 trails on Sunday for day skiing only. Winterplace’s Missy Cline writes, "Ski or Ride Winterplace on Sunday, December 7th for ONLY – $29.95 and that includes lift ticket, rental equipment and lesson – per person, per day).
Winterplace will be open today and then suspend snow ops for this week and reopen Friday, December 12th, 2008.
WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING AT SNOWSHOE???
The snow just keeps on falling! Another 8" of snow fell from Saturday evening through the night and it will be a POWDER day at the Shoe. 29 trails are open for day skiing only today. Laura Parquette (who has put in some long days these last several days) writes, "Groomers’ Choice: Grabhammer **Spruce Glades Terrain Park will be closed from 10am-12pm today for our King of the Mountain Big Air competition. It’s going to be an amazing powder day today! EIGHT inches of great snow fell overnight last night, and snow continues to fall this morning. It is going to be a very cold and windy day, with wind chill factors below zero, so be sure to dress accordingly."
The 8" takes them to 77" on the season and it’s just December 7th!
We KNOW that Canaan and Timberline also received substantial snows but Canaan doesn’t open until next weekend and Timberline’s snow report page is down this AM and we have not received anything from there this morning. Our guess is that Timberline will have 6 trails open for day skiing today.
Bryce Resort is reporting natural snow (just not how much but we’ll get you that number later) and 6 trails open for Sunday day skiing.
Massanutten is reporing NO new snow and 6 trails open as well as tubing for Sunday day sessions only.
Wintergreen expands to 5 trails open for day skiing. Anne Marie writes, "16 glorious degrees at 7am and some natural snow overnight! Conditions are the best we have seen in years and we are making a lot of snow! Today, we will be skiing and riding on 5 trails: Eagles Swoop, both Cross Trails, and Upper and Lower Dobie. Our Terrain Park Staff set up a great Rail Park on Upper Dobie. We will continue to improve these features while we make snow in the Big Park. The Plunge will be open for tubing sessions from 10am until 6pm."
Wisp Resort is reporting 20° this AM and about an inch of new snow fell on Saturday to take their early season snow totals to 32"! They have 14 trails open for your Sunday enjoyment!
Cataloochee Ski Area –
Don’t forget that today, Sunday, is the 7th Annual Can – U – Ski Food and Coat Drive at Cataloochee Ski Area in North Carolina. In conjunction with Haywood Christian Ministries, Cataloochee Ski Area seeks to help with this year’s increased need for food and warm winter coats for special families throughout their region. They ask all Cataloochee skiers and snowboarders to bring at least 10 cans of food or a winter jacket of any size that is in good condition to the ski area on Sunday and you will receive your lift ticket for FREE for the day! Skiing on Sunday will be from 8:30am – until 4:30pm and rentals and lessons are not included.
Cataloochee has 9 trails open for Sunday with Groomed conditions for day skiing only.
Ski Beech is reporting no new snow (there were reports of flurries) and 13° this morning. They will operate for day and night skiing sessions for Sunday, then go to day skiing only from Monday through Thursday of this week and then back on night skiing for next weekend. They are making snow today and look for more terrain to open soon! Ice skating is open today. The SSAA is reporting that Beech is not open for night skiing tonight but they are…so go enjoy!
Sugar Mountain Ski Resort is at 11° this morning atop their highest peak, and they will have 10 trails open for Sunday with day and night skiing sessions and their ice rink as well. They are making snow as well.
Has anyone else noticed that morning temps at Sugar are always 2° colder than those reported each morning on top of Beech Mountain? We’ve monitored it all season long and even though Beech is a few feet higher in elevation, their station shows a degree or two off every morning. We’ve been asked about this from visitors to the site. Although we have not confirmed it, it is our guess that Beech’s weather station is located down at the ADMIN office, whereas Sugar’s reports from the top of the mountain. See! No marketing conspiracies there! You guys are a hoot! We must have received 20 emails in the last couple of weeks from some of you thinking that Sugar’s marketing department was reporting the temps lower on purpose. Sheesh!
Wolf Ridge looks to have added another trail opening as they are now reporting 4 trails open for Sunday DAY SKIING ONLY. They do have their tubing hill running for Sunday as well. Looks like they will be closed for the coming week and reopen for next weekend.
Hawksnest Tubing will not be open for Sunday. They report, "Due to the very cold and windy conditions on Sunday, December 7th we will not be open. The temperature on Sunday is forecast to be a high of 19 degrees with wind gust to 40 mph. These conditions increase the chance of frost bite for our customers and staff. The snow tubing lanes will reopen on Monday, December 8th at 10am. Sorry for any problems this may have caused."
Just wondering, but isn’t there a chance for frostbite for skiers and snowboarders as well? Just wondering. It appears that Hawksnest has adopted that policy to close when it’s windy as heck, as this is the second time they have done so. Just bear that in mind if you are thinking of heading up there. If the forecast calls for cold and windy conditions they may not be open.
Send your photos, videos, trip reports and comments to: [email protected]