Beech & Wolf are now CLOSED for the Season; other resorts carry onward!

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We’re on day 114 of the 2009-2010 ski and snowboarding season and while there are 23 more days of the official season, several ski areas are now closed for the season. The official season is basically defined by ANY ski area that is open. If ONE ski area is operating…the season continues. Since Appalachian Ski Mountain is planning to ride til April 11th, we have 23 more days. I’m not sure WHY I had to define that, but I was asked in two emails from Saturday.

However for several ski areas, the season is over. Sapphire closed a week ago and Beech & Wolf closed after sessions yesterday. Others will close after TODAY’S sessions while others in addition to App will fight on.

More "end of season" changes in schedules and closures are the lead stories today.

Appalachian Ski Mountain will ski and ride onward towards their intended closing date of April 11th. However they will no longer offer night sessions for this season. They have a minimum base of 61" of snow on all 11 slopes and trails and all three terrain parks are in sweet conditions as well.

Cataloochee Ski Area will be 100% open from 8:30am to 4:30pm Sunday and then closed this week. They will reopen for the next two weekends for day skiing and snowboarding. Cat has a 43" minimum base and looks very nice for today.

Sugar Mountain Resort is 100% open with all 20 trails today and they will night ski & ride tonight. Today will be their last day of ice skating. Sugar announced on Friday morning that they will pull the plug on their season on Sunday, March 28th.

Beech Mountain Resort’s last day of ski and snowboarding operations was yesterday. They are now CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. Talia Freeman, Ryan & John Costin, Rhyne Garris, Gil Adams and all of their staff asked us to pass on their "thank yous" to all who joined them for the 2009-2010 ski and snowboarding season. They said it was a fabulous season and they hope to see you join them for the 2010-2011 season this November.

Wolf Ridge Resort is also CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. They have some nice plans coming up and posted, "Thanks for making this ski season the best ever at the Wolf. With record crowds every weekend and most weekdays, we could not thank you enough for your loyalty and patronage to the slopes. God provided the overwhelming amount of snow (over 100 inches) and temperatures that kept the slopes in premium condition the whole winter. We are already making plans for an exciting 2010-2011 "Ski the Wolf" upcoming season with more slope/lodge/equipment and parking improvements, so have a great summer and we will see you back on the slopes in November or December. THE LODGE STEAK & RIB RESTAURANT to RE-OPEN in Upper Lodge Soon: Watch for Grand Opening dates."

Editor’s note: Wow, ANOTHER resort speaking of having a record season! I guess we were right this week when we wrote that more than ONE ski area in North Carolina had a great season! (See the archives…it isn’t worth repeating.)

So in summary for the North Carolina ski areas:

Appalachian & Sugar will offer skiing during the coming week and only Sugar is doing night sessions. Cataloochee will reopen for the next two weekends. Appalachian rides til April 11th, Cataloochee til April 4th and Sugar til March 28th.

VIRGINIA SKI RESORTS REPORT:

Wintergreen Resort is open with 19 of 26 trails for day sessions today. They will close for this coming week and then reopen for next Saturday day skiing and snowboarding and then close for the season. Anne Marie posted, "50% DISCOUNTS ON LIFT TICKETS AND RENTALS, GREAT MUSIC, GREAT FOOD, ONE LAST HOORAH – AFTER THIS WEEKEND, WE PLAN TO RE-OPEN FOR A FINAL DAY OF SKIING ON SATURDAY MARCH 27th."

Massanutten Resort will offer all 14 trails and 7 lanes of tubing for Sunday from 9am til 7pm. They will close for the coming week and then reopen for next weekend if they can.

Bryce Resort is open today with 6 of 8 trails and tubing. They will close for the season after day skiing today.

So in summary, Bryce is closed for the season after today, Massanutten will ATTEMPT to reopen for next weekend – weather permitting – and Wintergreen will ski and ride today – close this week – and try to reopen for next Saturday for one more day and then close for the season.

WEST VIRGINIA SKI RESORTS REPORT:

Snowshoe Mountain is open with all 42 trails on the main portion of their mountain for day sessions today and right through Monday, April 5th. Check out this report from Laura Parquette, "All of our blues and greens and the majority of our blacks will start off the day with a great corduroy surface, which will soften up nicely with skier traffic and hopefully some sun. Later in the day we may see some thin spots creep up, and there’s a bare spot or two on some expert terrain, but nothing to prevent you from carving up these great spring conditions. And with cold overnight temperatures remaining in the forecast, our grooming team will continue to be able to get out at night, push snow around where needed and allow us to start each day with ideal snow coverage for this time of the season. Snowshoe continues to have the region’s most open terrain, and we’ll be skiing and riding until April 5th. Don’t forget that 2010-2011 season passes are now on sale, and by purchasing early you’ll save up to 25% and ski for free for the remainder of this year! Plus, we have great extended season savings including FREE SKIING, available March 28th-April 5th. Call 877-441-4386 for complete details!"

Winterplace Resort is offering 27 of 28 trails for today and will ski and ride right through next Sunday, March 28th.

Canaan Valley is 100% open for today’s LAST DAY OF THE SEASON! I can’t think of the last time they were open with all 39 trails on the final day of their season but they are now…so get out there and enjoy it. Davis, WV still has an average of 8" of natural snow depth on the ground and Canaan is still reporting 24-48" base depth for their final day of the 2009-2010 ski and snowboarding season. Too cool!

Timberline Resort hasn’t updated their report yet today but we assume they will be open with 36 of 37 trails for day sessions (at least) and they will remain open through March 28th.

In summary – Canaan closed after today’s sessions, Winterplace and Timberline will ski through March 28th and Snowshoe will make it through Monday, April 5th.

We’re on day 114 and there are 23 more days of opportunities to enjoy the snow for the 2009-2010 ski and snowboarding season!

Go enjoy the snow! Check out the Snow Report at https://www.skisoutheast.com/skireports.php  and please send us your favorite ski photos, ski videos, trip reports and comments to [email protected]  

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