Up to 6″ of snow has Fallen Across the Southeast and Mid Atlantic Ski Areas – Awesome Conditions Abound!

First Trax

Stay up to date by getting notified of new posts!

We’re again looking at some cold temps across the region on this beautiful Saturday morning after a surprise snowfall blanketed the region with anywhere from a dusting to 6” of new snow, after 2-5” of snow on Thursday. As of this post it is lightly snowing here at my office and we’re getting some reports of some significant snowfall.

Expect great conditions (although rather breezy) no matter where you go today! Winds will be in the 10-20 mph range with some gustier winds tonight. There’s also another chance for a dusting to 1” of additional snow tonight and into Sunday morning! Hey I LIKE this weather pattern!

Low temps are in the single digits from Western North Carolina up to Wisp Resort in Maryland this morning and we have detailed the temps and snowfall tallies below. But first…

If you are in the High Country of Banner Elk and Beech Mountain today, drop in on the 3rd annual SkiNC Summit that is assembling as of this post (8:18am). They are at Ski Beech today and you can catch them in the parking area that it second from the top (on level with the ice skating rink). Some 50-60 skinc-ers will be enjoying some fun and friendship – as well as awesome conditions at Ski Beech today. I know that they’d enjoy meeting you. Most of the messageboard crew will be there and we have one of our staffers that will be there as well. Look for the SkiNC flag flying around the trails up there today! These guys and gals have organized this and met all on their own over the years without any influence from SkiNC. They are avid snow lovers and a group of really good people. Yes, they can get roudy at times, but their pretty harmless. Your’s truly has a prior commitment at Hawksnest and I will be up there sporting my SkiNC shirt. I’ll be in a garnet Spyder jacket, and black helmet with SkiNC stickers if you want to drop by and say “hi”. I will be riding with about six or so 13 year olds while celebrating my newly-turned-teenagers birthday. We should be up there from about 1pm on, as I have some friends and family that will be skiing the night session as well. If you can, stop by and say “hi”.

We Are Assembling Our Crack “Hit Team” to go to Washington D.C.!

If you read Friday’s story (if you missed it simply look further down the front page this morning!), you’ll note that we had our new mobile attack unit on the road up at Punxsutawney Pennsylvania to take out the old, non-cooperative rodent who went against our wishes and forecasted an early Spring. Seems that we’re going to have to get them on the road yet again and this time for one of our meteorological (former buddies) Mike Stinneford! Mike has been periodically keeping us informed of the weather patterns and what to expect long range and we have to admit that his reports have been pretty dead on, although on this occasion we’re hoping that he’s mistaken. Here’s your warning Mike, you have time to change your statement!

Mike has been getting us some notes, usually prior to what we read from some other resources such as Herb Stevens (the skiing weatherman, etc.). Yesterday, while we were reeling from our depression of having to deal with the forecast and then the demise of Punxsutawney Phil, we received this email from Mike. He wrote, “Morning Mike, Happy Groundhog Day from chilly and foggy DC! Going to go long here, in honor of the Super Bowl. We’ve got another shot of cold air coming in, and next week will see some very cold temperatures, especially at night. I would not be surprised to see some areas fall below zero. Cold may last as long as the President’s Day weekend. After that, it looks like a mild weather pattern will set in and last for the rest of the winter. Resorts will probably start closing in March, not so much from bad conditions, but due to lack of interest due to spring-like weather in the lower elevations. The good news is that it looks like primo conditions the week or so. Have a great day.”

Have a great day!?!? After hearing that! We’re going to hope that Mike had a momentary lapse of judgment and that God throws him some massive weather twists for the rest of the season, from now through President’s Day and beyond.

Resort Summaries from Around the Southeast and Mid Atlantic!

Wisp at Deep Creek Resort – They were at 7° with 5” MORE snow since Friday! That is some 18” of snow this week (I was there for the 6” of snow last Sunday) and they have really been dumped on in the last three weeks! Snow is in their forecast for today, Sunday and Monday as well. For an awesome powder day, head to Wisp and you won’t be disappointed! They have 30 trails open today as well as 30km of Cross Country skiing! You guys and gals should try to visit their soon.

Canaan Valley – David Cooper has been sending us some phenomenal photos from up there and ever since he began doing that they have been getting bombed with snow! It is 7° and they’ve received 5” MORE snow since Friday! They now offer 35 trails for skiing and riding and 30km of Cross Country skiing today! Can you say POWDER!

Snowshoe Mountain – 1° and 6” of snow since Friday! That’s now 48” of snow in the last 18 days and 67” on the season! After a slow start, Snowshoe looks to be catching up on the seasonal snowfall totals. They have 56 trails open today. Communications guru, Andrea Smith (who was SUPPOSED to be serving her last day on Friday) wrote this morning, “Another whopping 6" of snow fell overnight making 48" over the last 18 days alone! The conditions should be great out there is morning as only Ballhooter, Shays and Bearclaw were not groomed overnight. The Cascade slope at the Silver Creek Ski is closed for a race, but other than that we are 100% open! Expect possible flurries throughout the day and 1" to 2" of accumulation overnight. The temperatures are looking cold this weekend with more snow showers in the forecast on Sunday and Monday as well, so plan to dress in layers and keep your skin covered when heading out on the slopes. This weekend is the Jose Cuervo Games of Winter and Monday is the infamous Cupp Run Challenge! Get ready to come out and take advantage of the best conditions around and our new Mission Mountain Escape package with two nights lodging and two lift passes for as low as $53 per person per night!”

Timberline Resort – Pam Long just updated us this morning and they too are at 1° this morning and they received 6” of new snow (taking them to 73” on the season!) and they will be skiing and riding on 27 trails and 100% of their back country terrain is open as well. There will be live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night and on all holidays. Most weekends will feature two entertaining musical groups from 4 pm until 2 am both Friday, and Saturday and holidays. There is no cover charge. The Fireside Grill and Timbers Pub open daily at 11 am, the Pub opens at 1 pm on Sundays.

Pam Long wrote, “This weekend (Feb 2-3) is a Rhythm and Blues weekend! Entertainment this weekend will feature two bands both Friday and Saturday night starting in the Timbers Pub. No cover charge.”

Winterplace Resort – They received 2” of new snow and they have 23 of 28 trails open. Turkey Chute-Now Open! They now have had 26” of snow on the season and you can expect AWESOME conditions today. Rob Story has been getting us a lot of great reports from up there this season!

Ober Gatlinburg in Tennessee is reporting 7 trails and Groomed / Powder Snow conditions on a base of 26-45” and great conditions. They also offer one of the most unique and enjoyable après ski scenes in the region. You should pay a visit to the Smoky Mountain resort soon and check out the massive ice skating arena and unique shops. Also take a ride on the only aerial tramway in the region!

Bryce Resort – Reported no natural or manmade snow but the same great conditions that they were offering yesterday. 8 trails and sweet conditions for skiing and riding until 9:30pm.

Massanutten Resort – They have reported no snow as yet but are expected some light snow today and Monday. They are 100% open with 14 trails and 9 tubing lanes open with awesome conditions!

The Homestead – They have 7 of 10 trails open with a TRACE of snow and very nice conditions for today!

Wintergreen Resort – Is not reporting any precip last night so we can assume they saw a TRACE. Sarah Lovejoy wrote, “Thanks to our phenomenal snowmaking team, we are almost 100% open! Today, we will be skiing and riding on 22 trails with a machine groomed, packed powder surface, and 6 lifts will be running. We will continue making snow as temperatures permit to increase our base. Come out this weekend and try out the latest and greatest gear at Freestyle’s Demo Days or show your best moves at the Bordercross on Sunday.”

Appalachian – 14° this morning and they received 1” of surprise snow Friday evening after 1” on Thursday. App is 100% open on Saturday including both the Appal Jam and Appal Jack terrain parks. They also offer Ice Skating. App is also now only making snow during non skiing hours!

Cataloochee – 10°, and a Trace of new snow after 2” on Thursday. Marketing Director, Tammy Brown wrote, “On Saturday, we will be skiing on 12 out of twelve slopes with 5 lifts operating on base of 35-75” and a man made powder surface. Our box terrain features, including our C Box and Mailbox will be stationed at the top of the Over Easy slope and accessed by the Easy Way Triple Chairlift. All rails including our up and down rail and flat rail will be found in the Cat Cage Terrain Park accessed by the Rock Island Quad Chairlift.

Hawksnest – 11°, and about 1” of new snow Friday evening after 2” on Thursday. Hawksnest hasn’t made snow over the last two days, because it hasn’t been needed! Great conditions! They will be open to midnight Saturday night with 9 trails and tubing (open til 9pm)! Snowguns are off!

Ski Beech – 7°, and 2” of new snow on Friday evening! The wind chill at 7:45am was minus 5°! Their 5506’ elevation will be skiing and snowboarding on a base of 22-42” and 14 trails open. Beech also offers Ice Skating in a Picture Postcard atmosphere and if you want to get in out of the cold, stop in to their many unique village shops or the Beech Tree Restaurant! Snowguns are now off for today!

Sugar Mountain – 7°, 2” of new snow and great conditions on 20 slopes and trails as well as 5 lanes of snow tubing. Sugar has turned the snowguns off after a great night of snowmaking!

Wolf Ridge – 18°, and a trace of snow overnight after 2” on Thursday! They offer 17 slopes and trails as well as tubing for your pleasure today. They too have the snowguns off for today!

Get out and enjoy the awesome conditions and be sure to dress in layers!

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  

REMEMBER TO VIEW ARCHIVED ARTICLES IN CASE YOU MISSED A STORY POSTED EARLIER TODAY!

Previous Post
Snow and Cold Continues As Well As AWESOME Conditions at the NC Ski Resorts!
Next Post
What a week! Rob Story Posts A Great Report on Conditions at Winterplace and Snowshoe Mountain this week!
Author
Related Posts