If you took our advice from earlier in the week and kept your reservations or plans to ski at your favorite ski area of the Southeast this weekend, then you’re one lucky leprechaun today! Natural Snow and the fact that some ski areas made and ARE MAKING SNOW will make for one great weekend! (The image to the right was taken at Snowshoe Mountain by Kent Jackson!)
Up to 5” of snow has fallen across the Southeast and Mid Atlantic Ski Resorts! As of this 9am update we are seeing moderate to heavy snow falling from Maryland to North Carolina! That will make for one wonderful day of skiing! Be sure to wear green and GET US SOME PHOTOS – email them to [email protected] !
HERE’S SOME QUICK NOTES AND HAPPENINGS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH:
Wisp at Deep Creek Resort – 18° – 5” of new snow and 118” on the season! They have 30 trails open today and some St. Patrick’s Day fun planned. Wisp calls this their “Annual Beachin’ Weekend” and it’s the 4th year providing two days of St. Paddy’s Day activities! There’s an X-Cross, Live Music by the “Happy Mon Band”, a Soap Box Derby, Nastar Racing and a Rossignol Rail Jam Series event going down. Be sure to check it out!
Canaan Valley – 20° – 3” of new snow and 135” on the season. They have 31 trails to play on today until 4:30pm and things could not look any better for some St. Paddy’s Day fun!
Snowshoe Mountain – 14° – They have seen 2” of new snow as of 6am with more falling and 114” on the season! Lindsay Kutsko writes, “Happy St. Patty’s Day from a very snowy Snowshoe Mountain! We had 2 inches of fresh snowfall and the snow is continuing to fall with accumulation of 5 inches expected from this storm. All trails will be open today except for Skipjack which will be open for NASTAR racing. Those interested in trying out their skills can register for $5 at the race hut at the top of the slope. The only trails not groomed were the very top of Knot Bumper and Lower Shays. The base is 32" – 44" with groomed packed powder and frozen granular surface conditions. Skiers who purchase a new season pass for the 2007/2008 season can ski for the remainder of this season for free. The conditions are awesome and you’ve only got a couple more weeks for spring skiing as the slopes will close on April 1.”
Timberline Resort – 14° – 5” of new snow and 137” on the season. They have 37 trails open today and some added fun for your enjoyment! Make plans to attend the Snowy Luau Festival! It’s a long standing Timberline tradition which has grown each year to current reputation as the biggest festival in the region. This family oriented weekend features authentic Hawaiian music, Polynesian dancers, pig roast on the deck and a huge bon fire. There will be prizes for the best and most unique costumes and downhill races. Saturday night there will be fireworks display on the summit of Herz Mountain and a torch light parade flowing like lava from the top of the mountain to the base lodge. Then still more Hawaiian music and follow by even later rhythm and blues music until 2 am by Macho Willie. There is no cover charge for any of the performances.
Winterplace Resort – They only reported a TRACE of snow but they will have nice conditions on 28 trails today.
THE VIRGINIA RESORTS GET SNOW!
Bryce Resort – 4-5” of new snow and 23” on the season. That has reopened two slopes to make them 100% open today.
Massanutten Resort – 24° – 3” of new snow and 16” on the season. They are open with 13 trails and 7 lanes of tubing for day and night skiing. They will end their snowsports season on Sunday.
Wintergreen Resort – 19° – 3” of new snow and 22 trails open for your skiing and riding pleasure for day and night skiing. This snow takes them to 19” on the season.
NORTH CAROLINA RESORTS LOOKING GOOD!
Appalachian – 18° – In addition to receiving a dusting of snow, they have made snow all night and are still making snow as of this 8am update. They are 100% open with both terrain parks and ice skating is open for day and night skiing. Don’t forget that App has their last Shred for the Cup Rail Jam of the season ongoing today!
Cataloochee – 24° – Dusting of snow and 7 of 12 trails are open for Day Skiing Only today.
Sugar Mountain – 13° – 1” of snow is being reported. They have 17 trails open for day and night skiing and you’ll also want to note that they have their SPYDER SAMPLE SALE is under way! Don’t miss 30% off 2008 Spyder sample items, 50% off 2007 Spyder sample items and 60% off any left over 2006 Spyder Samples items. Plus, 20% off other brand name apparel like Burton, Nils and Obermeyer.
Sugar is also offering MARCH MADNESS- with up to 25% savings on lift tickets, rental equipment, and lessons. (Some restrictions apply.)
We also received several emails asking us why Ski Beech didn’t reopen with the natural snow, etc. Some on the messageboard even speculated that Beech was pushing some snow around yesterday evening. Beech was not pushing snow around and they wouldn’t reopen a day after closing simply because they’d have to reconnect with employees such that they’d have enough staff to run the place. What makes one resort look ahead and continue to make snow and excel to the point that they can remain open and still make it make fiscal sense – and yet another not do so? That is the question that a lot of people asked this morning. Maybe that’s a subject for another day.
Others asked us over the last 24 hours as to WHY some resorts seem to get more traffic than others – enough to warrant staying open. Without elaborating, THAT is probably THE ANSWER to your first question. Regardless, you guys who emailed us those questions should just look at the glass as half FULL and go ski the open resorts. App, Cat and Sugar are rewarding us with additional skiing! Go ride it!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Send us your photos and videos from today and be sure to check back later on Saturday as we have a lot of photo submissions to post. You guys have been skiing SOMEWHERE. Check back to see just where!
SPEAKING OF GOOD LUCK – Jake Parrish, may the luck of the Irish be with you young man! Jake is one of our SkiNC sponsored skiers. He is leaving on Thursday, March 22nd for Colorado to compete in some national races. He’s a great young skier and always writes in. Let’s all get behind him mentally and perhaps give him some good “mojo” for some nice results out west!
Until Next Time…
THINK COLD AND SNOW!!!
Send comments and emails to: [email protected]
For more information about the ski resorts of the Southeast and Mid Atlantic visit www.SkiSoutheast.com
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