Snow, Cold Temps and LOADS OF FUN Planned at the Southeast’s Ski Resorts for these FINAL DAYS of the season!

Cataloochee to Open April 1^st for ONE day!?!?

Here’s the latest on the question of when Cataloochee Ski Area in beautiful Maggie Valley, North Carolina will call it a season.  Public Relations “Sweetheart” Tammy Brown wrote yesterday to say the following:

“Well……….here’s the latest – We will close on March 26th at 4:30pm but will REOPEN on Saturday, April 1st for one day only of skiing and riding from 8:30am-4:30pm! Lift ticket prices will go back to the days of our beginning in 1961 to $2.75!  Regular rental rates will apply -NO FOOLIN’!!!!!!!!”

So it’s no April Fool’s joke, Cataloochee WILL be open on April 1^st!

That cool little marketing move will insure that Cataloochee Ski Area will also have the longest season of the Southeast and Mid Atlantic ski resorts (unless of course someone decides to stay open til April 9^th).  That’s not likely!

Cataloochee’s season began on November 17^th.  Sugar opened one day later and Ski Beech one more day later on the 19^th.  Appalachian Ski Mountain opened on the 23^rd of November – as did Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia .  By opening on April 1^st, Cataloochee can lock down the longest season of this year. It would have been even cooler, in our humble opinion, if Cat stayed open until April 2^nd.  THEN they could say that were the first to open and closed the season on the last day that any others were open as well.

(Is another surprise in the offing? We’ll keep you posted.)

Tammy did express thanks to The Cat Crew and SkiNC in her message, “MANY thanks to the Cat Crew and Ski NC and all of our guest this season for their support – we love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

More Snow Fell!

An additional dusting of snow fell overnight in Western North Carolina and more impressively the SNOWGUNS were blasting at Cataloochee and Appalachian in North Carolina last night.  Actually, App was STILL making snow a minute ago when I looked.  Someone needs to tell Brad that it’s Spring!  Those guys are doing a remarkable job of keeping their surface in GREAT shape right down to the last days of the season! If you’re hitting the slopes today, you’re in for a treat.  Appalachian has actually made snow most every night recently (and they received 3” of natural snow night before last) and they have actually GROWN their base depth in the last week.  Conditions will be sweet at Appalachian, with 100% of their terrain open and in NICE SHAPE on this last Wednesday of the 2005-2006 season for the North Carolina ski areas.

Cataloochee will be open with 8 trails and 4 lifts.  The Advanced Upper Omigosh trail is open with some thin spots serviced by the Omigosh Double Chairlift. The Advanced Alley Cat, the Advanced Cat Cage Ski and Snowboard Terrain Park, Intermediate Rock Island Run and Intermediate Lower Omigosh is open serviced by the Rock Island Run Quad Chairlift. Beginners Easy Way and Beginners Rabbit Hill is operating serviced by the Easy Way Triple Chairlift, and the Wolf Creek Hollow Ski School Area will be open and serviced by the Handle Tow on a base of 18-42” and a machine worked surface.

As we head North into Virginia , Wintergreen Resort is the lone resort remaining open.  New Public Relations Director, Sarah Lovejoy is reporting, “We have SUPER SAVER RATES IN EFFECT ! ! The countdown has started . . . just 5 days left of our 2005-2006 season so make your plans now to come ski and ride. Today, we have 15 freshly groomed trails with a machine groomed surface and 4 lifts will be running. And, don’t forget our Wicked Huge Park Party April 1st and 2nd.”

Wintergreen is closing normal ski operation this Sunday, but they will reopen for one last weekend the following weekend.  They do have some thin coverage and bare areas being reported.

On April 1st and 2^nd Wintergreen will transform all of Upper and Lower Dobie into one mega park for skiers and riders. Great food, music, contests, pond skimming and more. Check out the website for additional details at www.WintergreenResort.com

Canaan Valley CLOSED til Friday –

Some reporting services are reporting that Canaan Valley is open.  They are actually CLOSED until Friday when they will open for the weekend before calling it a season on Sunday, March 26^th.  This closing also includes Tube Park .

Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia picked up another 3” of snow, taking them to 157” on the season. Fresh powder is on the mountain today and that will make for some incredible skiing and riding. Snow is in the forecast through the weekend so get out and take advantage of the great conditions. Be advised that the Ballhooter Lift will be opening at 10 AM today. With over 35 open trails and fresh snow coverage, Snowshoe offers the best skiing in the Region. All open trails were groomed overnight except for Knot Bumper, Grabhammer and Choker. Start making your plans to join Snowshoe this weekend for their annual Mountaintop Beach Party Music Festival. For this weekend we are offering a special 2 day/2 night lodging package for only $109. Call 877-441-4FUN for reservations and more information. Enjoy fun and games on the slopes, live entertainment, fireworks and more.

Timberline Resort also has some fun planned for this last week and some change.  They will stay open until April 2^nd and they are getting more snow right now!  It’s cold, it’s snowy!  What more could you want?

Timberline is hosting a pretty cool “RETRO RACE” on the 25^th. This race is open to the public, it is a modified GS with bamboo panel gates. Start time: 11:00 am. Rules: must have straight skis and retro ski outfits are encouraged!

You Telemark skiers take note! On the 26^th, Timberline will host a Spring Skiing Workshop. Do you want to improve your on piste skiing, bumps, crud, or racing skills? Join them for a telemark workshop that is open to all levels and personalized to your needs.

Then on March 31^st – April 2^nd it will be a “Jimmy Buffett Weekend! They also have some locals Cup Races and Events planned to close out the season. Fun Spring Skiing contests, Prizes and special fun races are planned.

Winterplace Resort is also seeing a little natural snow this morning. They’ve picked up a trace of new snow this morning with sunshine and clouds and snow flurries off and on throughout the day, It is going to be a great day for Skiing, Riding and Tubing at fantastic March discount rates!!! Plus there is more snow in the forecast for this week!  Winterplace has 24 trails for your enjoyment today!

Wisp Resort in Maryland also got another 2” of new snow and that takes them to 116” on the season, which is more than a foot over their normal average snowfall for an entire season!  That and cold temps are making for a great finish to the season.  Like many of the ski areas, Wisp has some fun planned of their own. This Saturday you’ll want to join them for a POND SKIM.  Bring your skis, board, raft, kayak or SOMETHING else to try and skim the icy pond.  Wisp has 18 trails open today and some reports of thin coverage and bare areas.

So the final days of Ski Season 2005-2006 are upon us and the ski areas are putting some fun into the mix for your added enjoyment.  Get out and play for a few more days!

Until Next Time!

Be sure to email photos, snow reports and comments to: [email protected]

Visit www.SkiSoutheast.com and www.HighCountryWeather.com for more information.