We thought we’d mix things up a little this morning since the last couple of snow storms have come from the South and moved UP the Eastern Seaboard.
We thought we’d provide this morning’s resort update in that fashion. Our reporting "Storm" begins in North Carolina and goes north.
NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAIN REPORT: "100% Open at Some Resorts!"
100% OPEN! For the first time this season we are able to use those words! While Appalachian with its 10 trails and Sapphire Valley with their 2 runs can say that…we DO have a couple of ski areas actually 100% open today. others like Sugar have opened more terrain and they and others are still making snow like crazy in an effort to open even more over the weekend.
Most ALL WEEK we have included snow and cold in the updates and today is no exception. 1 to 3" of snow is possible in the mountains of North Carolina, with the lighter accummulations over the High Country’s ski areas (App, Hawksnest, Sugar and Beech) and the possibility of the heavier snow over towards Wolf Ridge, Cataloochee and maybe even Sapphire Valley.
The National Weather Service has put out a "Snow Advisory" for the mountains, but did state that the areas near the Tennessee line (the High Country) would see the lighter accummulations.
In addition to the snow we should see a high Saturday of around 29° and a low of 6° tonight. Sunday’s high will be near 19° with another 6° low Sunday night and then Monday should be 30° or so and lows near 22°.
The MLK weekend crowds will love the conditions as they are at their VERY best of the entire season right now – no matter where you go and this weather and conditions could not have been better timed.
Here’s a breakdown of who has what open today: 
<Appalachian is 100% open!
Appalachian Ski Mtn. – 26° – App is proud to be skiing on 100% of its terrain for the MLK weekend. Drew Stanley writes, "We were greeted with some natural snow this week, making conditions great, and the roads have had time to clear completely, so there are no problems getting up to the mountain, so be sure to take advantage and join us for the fun this weekend!"
App has ice skating, two terrain parks and all trails open, including the last two to open (black diamonds) Thin Slice and Hard Core.
Cataloochee is skiing and snowboarding on 70% of their terrain which is 10 of 15 trails. They have some great terrain park features such as their Mailbox, Flat Box, Flat Rail and C Box that will be available for you to ride at the top of Over Easy, right down from the Snack Shack, accessed by the Easy Way Triple Chairlift. The Cat made snow last night.
Cataloochee’s popular Tube World will be open as well.
<Good crowds began showing up last night at Hawksnest!
Hawksnest Ski Resort is at 23° this morning and they have 8 trails of 11 open and 6 lanes on their great snow tubing hill. The only slopes not open today are Merlin, Old Blue, Narrow Gauge and Sock Em Dog (Terrain Park).
Their signature run that was added a few years back, Top Gun is OPEN! Justin Grimes and their crew want you to know that, "The roads are clear, come on up and enjoy the snow!"
With the heavy crowds of MLK weekend, we’d suggest Hawksnest as a good choice for somewhat less crowds.
Sapphire Valley is open (actually 100%) with both of the ski trails and their Frozen Falls Tubing area.
Scaly Mountain’s Tubing area is open this weekend with it’s one massive "lane" of tubing fun for your enjoyment.
<Ski Beech is doing some last minute grooming this morning!
Ski Beech is at 20° this morning and they have the best conditions of their season thus far on 10 of 15 trails and they are making snow in selected areas, which means they may open more terrain soon. Beech is offering ice skating and their village shops and bakery are all open.
Sugar Mountain – The low was 18° up at Sugar and they continue to make snow. Sugar writes, "With cold temperatures hovering, snowmaking continues to increase the existing base on open slopes. Other slopes like The Terrain Park, Bouldardash and Sugar Bear are scheduled to open soon."
Sugar also is taking some care of their guests by aiming the snowguns away from guests as much as possible during ski sessions.
Thanks to Phillip Sisco who plows snow around Tynecastle and Sugar Mountain for writing us and advising that Sugar Mountain saw 5" of snow Thursday morning. We reported 5" as well, but remarked that when we went over their mid-morning that there was maybe 2-3" left on the ground and not 5" of fluffy white snow that Sugar was still reporting. We didn’t mean to say they didn’t GET the snow, just that it wasn’t still on the ground so that visitors wouldn’t be disappointed at so much less than 5".
Phillip wrote, "I plow snow on sugar….there was 5 inches(actually it was more like 6 inches) of new snow thurday am before it rained for an hour compacting it….just thought you would like to know."
We did…but thanks Phil.
<Ira Cronin of WCNC TV will be broadcasting LIVE atop Sugar’s Big Red at 6pm
Sugar has 16 trails open today (the most in the area) and we heard from Ira Cronin, the Sports Reporter and Anchor for WCNC TV (NBC) in Charlotte that they are going to be LIVE from the top of Sugar Mountain doing some interviews with some of you guests, so if you’re up on Big Red around 6pm you may get on the air. Hey guys! How about yelling SKINC on the air for us!
Thanks to Tabitha up at Sugar Ski & Country Club for giving WCNC an assist. It seems that they can only get a satellite signal from the top of Sugar and an overlook over at Blowing Rock!
Wolf Ridge has not updated their report since Friday morning but we called and were told that they are open with 7 trails and 4 lifts, terrain features and snow tubing. They are making snow on the upper runs trying to get more open as quickly as possible and remember that they may get a bit more snow than most of the Western North Carolina mountains over that way today!
TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN REPORT: "Improving by the day!"
Ober Gatlinburg is at 26° this morning and making snow to open more terrain soon. They have 5 trails open for today and the Upper half of Bear Run is open today. They also provide a great village of shops and indoor ice skating on an Olympic sized ice rink and the only aerial tram in the Southeast and Mid Atlantic.
VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN REPORT: "Great Snowmaking and More Terrain Open"
Bryce Resort is in such good shape that they turned the snowguns off for today and they are reporting a base of 24-49" on 7 of 8 trails and they have their terrain park and snow tubing open til 9pm.
Massanutten Resort is reporting 27° this morning AND the most terrain that they have had open thus far this season! They made snow and will as long as temps allow and the announced that Easy Street (easier terrain park) will open later today. Mass has 10 trails and 8 lanes of snow tubing open today as well.
The Homestead is not updating reports that often and as a result are not be carried on some reporting services, but they are emailing us every couple of days and they are open today with the same 4 trails and groomed conditions at the four-season resort that happens to have some ski trails.
Wintergreen Resort is reporting 26° and more terrain is open today that at any point this season. A lot of our messageboard crew has been asking when "Highlands" would be open and the answer is TODAY! Wintergreen made more snow and is open today with 13 trails and 7 lifts, and snow tubing as well. Anne Marie Jones (does anyone else just like a gal with three names?), writes, "HIGHLANDS OPENS TODAY! Upper Cliffhanger and Lower Wild Turkey open today our Progression Terrain Park will open tomorrow. The consistent winter weather forecasted for the rest of January, will allow for a big increase in open terrain over the next week. We plane to open new terrain at least every other day. With cold temperatures, our fully automated YORK snowmaking system can produce amazing results. Make plans to visit over the MLK holiday and enjoy some great skiing, riding and tubing!"
They are open today with Upper Cliffhanger, Lower Wild Turkey, Hydraulic, Eagles Swoop, Upper and Lower Dobie, the Upper and Lower Cross trail, Potato Patch, Tequila, Upper and Lower Sunrise and in the Discovery Ridge Learning Area with 6 lifts running.
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN REPORT: "Snow measured in FEET!"
Snowshoe Mountain is reporting 12° this morning, definately the coldest spot we’ve seen this morning and Laura Parquette writes, "82% of our slopes are open, and Widowmaker should open tomorrow morning. We now have a total of more than 180 acres of skiable terrain."
Snowshoe has 48 trails and all 14 of their lifts operating this morning with what Laura reports as "Packed Powder, Frozen Granular, Groomed conditions". We think about covers it! Of course Snowshoe has some great terrain parks and snow tubing open and the best ski village in the entire Southeast and Mid Atlantic to provide you with shops and eateries second to none in the region.
Canaan Valley is reporting 18° this morning and they have the most terrain open of the season for them at 12 trails, serviced by 2 lifts. They offer tubing, ice skating and cross country skiing today as well!
Timberline Resort is showing 17° this morning and 17 of 37 trails open. That is more than they have seen open this season. They also have 17 kilometers of cross country ski terrain open as well. Kayla Wolford and Breona Hall report that the Tucker County area has seen 22" of snow this past week!
Winterplace has seen 11" of snow this past week which is nearly 1/3rd of the snow that they have received all season so conditions are perfect for today on 21 of 28 trails, terrain parks and snow tubing!
Winterplace writes, "We have On and Off snow flurries forecast for throughout the day! Absolutely AWESOME skiing and boarding! The conditions are as good as it gets! We are currently making snow on all of the trails that are not open and expect to open more of them soon!"
They are also reporting that their "Snowtubing Park and Kiddie park will open at 9 am. The Lower Terrain Park is now open and we will continue to make snow in the upper terrain park."
MARYLAND MOUNTAIN REPORT: "Should be in West Virginia! BRAGGING!!!"
Wisp Resort is showing 17° and 30 trails open today. That is the most of the season and leaves only 5 trails not open. They also have 15 kilometers of cross country skiing trails open and 9 lanes of the faster snow tubing hill on the planet! If that isn’t enough for you adrenaline junkies – check out their new Mountain Coaster for some added fun in the snow!
That’s it for today snow fans…
Enjoy your day…
Until Next time…
Be sure to visit www.SkiSoutheast.com for more news from the rest of the Southeast and Mid Atlantic ski areas!
Send your snow photos, videos, comments or emails to: [email protected]