Story by Mike Doble – [email protected]
We’re OPEN…even if for just a couple of days. That’s the sentiment from everyone we’ve spoken with. The snowguns are already off at Cataloochee as I type up this first-of-the-season report at 7am. It’s 36° over in Maggie this morning. Sugar’s website is saying that they are still making snow as of 7:11am, but if they are it is only up top because the lower cameras are not showing snowmaking. Our Extreme Snowboard cam can’t see any further snowmaking happening either at it’s 33° at the top of Big Red according to our new Sugar Ski and Country Club weather center.
So it looks like the first day of the season will be one of those best of both worlds kind of days to ride the slopes. There’s brand new, machine-made powder and no snowmaking ongoing to cloud those goggles!
Cataloochee will open at 8:30am this morning with 4 trails and 2 lifts operating. They are charging $25 for a day liftie. Sugar will have Upper and Lower Flying Mile open with one lift. That makes Sugar open to their 3/4 station. Sugar is offering a $25 full day and $20 half day lift ticket for today.
Here’s the official statements:
Cataloochee:
On Saturday, we will be operating on 4 slopes and two lifts with a base of 12-30 inches and a machine groomed surface – Intermediate Lower Omigosh, serviced by the Omigosh Double Chairlift, Beginners Rabbit Hill and Beginners Easy Way serviced by the NEW Easy Way Triple Chairlift and Beginners Luck Learning Area. Although we are making snow to the top of the quad on ¾ of the mountain, snowmaking tonight will determine if we are able to open any additional slopes on Saturday.
SUGAR MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT, NORTH CAROLINA – Sugar Mountain Ski Resort in North Carolina opens tomorrow; Saturday, November 12, 2011 for skiing, snowboarding and ice skating. Snowmaking began Thursday, November 10th and continues. A manmade powder surface covers the Upper and Lower Flying Mile slopes. The Summit #1 Lift will be in operation to the 3/4’s station. Weekend lift/slope ticket prices will be $25 for a full-day session and $20 for a half-day session.
That’s it for today!
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