I arrived at McHenry, Maryland (Home to Wisp at Deep Creek Resort) at about 9:30pm Thursday night. I-77, I-64 and I-68 were sporadically snow covered, but a very easy drive until we got to within about 10 miles of the exit onto Friendship Road. The next ten miles was a winter wonderland of deep snow. It was 8° and still snowing when I arrived and Wisp was blasting the trails with an amazing cloud of manmade snow to add to the nearly 6” of snow that obviously fell today! As an example of the amazing 180 that winter has pulled recently, consider that Wisp Resort has now seen 39” of snow on the season, with 20” of that coming in the last 5 days or so. (I have posted a Photo of the Day (already) on www.SkiSoutheast.com if you’d like to check out the 7am shot of what awaits visitors to Wisp this morning!)
Speaking of Photos of the Day –
I have been finalizing tweaks on a new email server that almost totally eradicates the SPAM jerks of the world and that has admittedly put me a bit behind for the last couple of weeks on posting all of the photos and trip reports that many of you have sent in. I will be catching up as much as possible (between carving some sweet turns this weekend) so bear with me and keep sending them. The Photos of the Day features on SkiNC.com and SkiSoutheast.com offer phenomenal ways for people who have never been to our ski areas to see what awaits them. It also provides a great means of knowing what the conditions really look like before you get there!
We’ve also got two separate and unique videos running on SkiNC.com and SkiSoutheast.com right now. Be sure to check out a nice video that was done by Mark McKelvy on SkiNC.com right now.
AWESOME CONDITIONS…WHEREVER YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY TODAY!!!
The last two weeks has been phenomenal for snowmaking across the entire region and resorts have been making snow to beat the band. Conditions for skiing and snowboarding (as well as tubing) will be nothing short of awesome today and this weekend.
QUICK TOUR —
Here’s a quick glance at some needed notes…but for the complete details of conditions across the Southeast and Mid Atlantic, check the SLOPE CONDITIONS page.
I am working remotely this morning from Garrett County in Maryland, which is amazingly similar to our High Country of Western North Carolina in terms of the overall feel that you get being here. The elevations are a bit lower (3115 feet), however they received 118.5” of snow last season, 121” during the 2004-2005 season and average about 100” per season.
Oops, I got off subject for a second. I was going to say that since I am working remotely this morning, I am combining the data on SkiNC.com and SkiSoutheast.com such that I can post as many Trip Reports and Photos and still hit fresh snow that is calling my name this morning! So here are the quick highlights.
Wisp Resort – Another 6" of snow in the last 24 hours (20" in the last 96 hours!) They have 24 trails ready to ride today on a base of 16-62” of manmade and natural powder!
Canaan Valley – Saw another 2.5” of snow (43.5” on the season) and they offer 28 trails today and through 9pm tonight.
Timberline Resort – Saw about 2.5” of snow (44.5” on the season) and they have 18 trails open today.
Snowshoe Mountain – Received 5” yesterday (43” on the season) and they have added two more open trails to their mix, giving them a region-leading 46 slopes and trails to ride today on Powder conditions. We received an awesome photo from there yesterday and will share that with you later today. Their website was down this morning but we’re guessing a server reboot was happening.
Winterplace Resort – They were looking pretty snowy when we drove past yesterday. They ended up getting 3” of new snow (17” on the season) and they are offering 16 trails today on packed powder conditions.
Massanutten Resort – They are saying that they missed the snow on Thursday, however they have been blasting the manmade variety and added to the base and now have added two more slopes to give them 10 trails open today.
Wintergreen Resort – No report of accumulated snows, so we’ll call it a TRACE of snow at Wintergreen yesterday. The too have been blasting the slopes with their high-tech snow making system. They added two more slopes to their open terrain and now have 15 trails to play on. Sarah Lovejoy reports, “Fantastic conditions for our Wounded Warriors Weekend! Upper Wild Turkey and the Plunge open up today, with Tyro and the Terrain Park scheduled to open tomorrow. Devils Elbow is progressing and should open this weekend as well. “
Ober Gatlinburg – All of Bear Run Now Open!!! Slope sessions Friday are 9am – 4pm or 3pm – 10pm with $28 Lift Ticket. Friday night 6pm – 10pm Lift Ticket only $15! Ice skating and other activities open daily.
Appalachian Ski Mountain – It is 13° at 8am this morning and App reported from 1-3” which is about what most of the area is reporting. That takes them to 13” on the season and they are still offering seven trails for your riding pleasure today!
Cataloochee Ski Area – Reported a TRACE of snow, but increased their base depth by up to 10” to give them 9 slopes and 5 lifts on a base of 30-60” today.
Hawksnest Ski Resort – At 8am it was 11° and they saw 3” of new snow and increased their base substantially in the last 24 hours to 25-40” base with eight slopes open and their great tubing hill! We have been getting some phenomenal reports of great conditions at the Nest lately!
Ski Beech – How about 9° this morning and 2” of new snow to take them to 20” on the season. They are offering 9 trails today!
Gil Adams writes, “With the opening of Robbins Run, and the Meadows not far behind, our snowmakers have their sights on getting the entire mountain opened up before too much longer. For those of you who have longed for packed powder and fluffy snow, you need to be up here now. There have been some sensuous turns made on snow that can bring out the best in your technique. The forecast, as far as can be seen, calls for this winter weather to continue. Hooray!!”
Sugar Mountain – Reported 2” of snow! That takes them to 17.5” on the season. Sugar also cranked out the manmade variety as they added 6” to the base since yesterday and now report 32-60” with 17 trails of skiing pleasure today.
Wolf Ridge Resort – They are reporting a DUSTING of snow and great snowmaking to add to their base and now offer 18-46” on 9 trails.
If you have been waiting for MID SEASON CONDITIONS and more open terrain, WAIT NO LONGER. Get packed and make the trip to YOUR favorite mountain for the weekend. You will have the time of your life!
Until Next Time…
THINK COLD AND SNOW!!!
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For more information about the ski resorts of the Southeast and Mid Atlantic visit www.SkiSoutheast.com
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