Some Under-developed Snow Will Hit Friday – Ski Early!

First Trax

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Okay people…quit complaining. There’s nothing that anyone can do about a little rain. We told you about this days ago and it is now here today. Gusty winds that push some moderate rain will hit the mountains today. Get some skiing in early and then head to the shops and restaurants. There is a 90% chance of rain for the mountains of NC today…but this morning is fine…so hit it early and often and then have a restful day.

The good news is that once this bit of underdeveloped snow gets through the area, colder temps will hit and that means snowmaking. Even a little in the way of natural snow is forecasted for the West Virginia mountains with some mix in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday. We’ll keep an eye on that for you as well.

All in all it looks like good skiing and riding EARLY today. While skies are overcast all across the region…it is also pretty dry in most of the areas right now as we post this report. Do some first tracks and retreat as soon as the rain hits.

Saturday looks nice…then some Wintry weather comes in the first of the week. We just got an update from meteorologist Matthew East and we’ll get that posted pronto.

Check the SLOPE CONDITIONS PAGE as things are pretty much the same as they were 24 hours ago. Not much snowmaking happened last night. None of the North Carolina or Virginia and Tennessee resorts made snow. Massanutten in Virginia is hanging on…barely…with two thin coverage trails. Wintergreen is looking pretty good condidering. The North Carolina resorts are in pretty nice shape considering the weather. Most of the resorts are showing some thin coverage areas. Appalachian and Cataloochee look the best this morning, with Wolf Ridge getting a nod for good coverage this morning. Sugar Mountain has the most terrain open in North Carolina although they are seeing some thin cover and a few spots beginning to show.

The West Virginia Ski Areas were able to make some snow each of the last two nights. We are seeing Canaan Valley with 30° temps this morning. Snowmaking happened overnight.

Snowshoe made snow last night. The temps dropped into the low 30s early in the afternoon and some of the light misty drizzle changed to snow during the day. They are reporting 32° this morning and a frozen and groomed surface on 37 trails. Lots of good grooming was going on while I and some family and friends took in an exciting snowmobile tour. Conditions are quite nice at Snowshoe right now with very little in the way of thin spots.

After some expected rain on Friday, Snowshoe is looking at snow in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday.

Timberline Resort looks nice and they continue to open more slopes. Jessica Scowcroft wrote that they have now opened Salamander. They now have nine trails open.

Appalachian Ski Mountain showed a low last night of 35° but it’s already warmed to 40° as of this 7am post. No snowmaking occured, but App is looking pretty nice for Friday with 7 groomed slopes open, ice skating and the terrain parks all in operation.

Cataloochee is reporting 36°. No snowmaking. They will have 7 trails open for Friday and very nice conditions as well. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, they have their tubing hill going and some great terrain features including a C Box, Wall Box, Battleship Rail, Flat Rail and Flat Box 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.

Hawksnest is open to the top of the mountain with 6 slopes and their tubing hill. They do have some thin areas, but conditions are pretty good for Friday. Justin Grimes writes, "Due to popular demand we are adding an additional snow tubing session on Friday and Saturday night. The additional session will be 9pm to 10:45pm. Snowtubing tickets can only be bought at the mountain the day you want to snow tube. Tickets go on sale at 8:30am and any session can be purchased for that day."

Ski Beech is showing 40° and they are hanging in there with 4 trails. No snowmaking occured last night and they are showing some thin coverage areas now. There’s plenty of good, skiable terrain…but they are looking thin in some spots.

Sugar Mountain is showing 38° at the summit of their mountain with 9 trails open today. They are doing a phenomenal job of reporting conditions lately and reported a 6" drop in base in the last 30 hours or so. There are some thin coverage areas but all in all pretty nice conditions for Friday.

Wolf Ridge Ski Resort has 6 trails open today with Groomed conditions and pretty nice conditions considering. The sides of the trails are "sneaking in" a bit, but good side to side coverage for the most part.

SEND YOUR TRIP REPORTS, PHOTOS AND VIDEOS TO [email protected]  

THINK COLD, pack your gear and get your rear – UP HERE – and Enjoy your day…

Until Next time…

Be sure to visit www.SkiSoutheast.com  for more stories and skiing in the Southeast!

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