Great President’s Day to be on the Slopes!

Happy President's Day. <<Thanks to Winterplace for the fun photo! Hopefully, many of you are out on the slopes today; and if that's where you're reading this, make sure you're out of harms way 😉 For the rest of you, whether it's work or aversion to crowds that's keeping you away, you can live vicariously through the lucky people on the webcams. Conditions are as nice as anyone could have hoped they would be!

All but one resort reported natural snowfall over the weekend. That was Bryce, but their base isn't lacking (36" – 62") and they're operating at 100% so they've got nothing to worry about.

Here's a look at the recent snow totals for the rest:

                        24 Hours         72 Hours

App –              —                      3"

Cat –               —                      4"

Sapphire –      —                      1"

Beech –          0.3"                 6.6"

Sugar –           —                      6"

Wolf –             —                      3"

Mass –            —                      Trace

Homestead –   —                      0.5"

Wintergreen – —                      4"

Canaan –        2.7"                 11.8"

Snowshoe –    Trace              9"

Timberline –   2.7"                 11.8"

Winterplace –  —                      5"

Wisp –             —                      4"

Ober –             —                      3"

There's quite a bit going on this week/weekend. For starters, it's Totally 80s Weekend at Beech Mountain, Feb 22-24! If the fun alone isn't enough to get you there, maybe this will help: those in attendance will most likely run into a SkiSoutheast face or two 😉

Here's the lowdown:

Dig out those parachute pants or leg warmers, and don't forget that favorite

bandana. Beech is going back in time again this February. The second annual Totally 80's Retro Ski Weekend takes place Feb. 22-24 in the Town of Beech Mountain. Relive the "new wave" era while enjoying 80's bands, old school DJs, a retro apparel contest and 80's-themed promotions. Live music begins Friday evening with an all-80's show from rockers Buick MacKane of Morganton at 9 p.m. at Jackalope's View restaurant.

On Saturday evening, retro band 80'z Enuff of Greensboro rocks Beech Mountain Resort with a 7 p.m. show at the Beech Tree Lodge. The ski resort also hosts a "big hair and big air" freestyle jump competition – complete with 80s DJ – at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Meanwhile, there will be mechanical bull rides and the SKINC 80's apparel contest later that evening in the Beech Tree. The best 80s apparel gets 500 CASH courtesy of SKINC!! All weekend long, skiers and snowboarders are encouraged to wear their most awesome 80's ski gear on the slopes.

 "Last year 80's weekend was really successful – definitely one of the most fun weekends we've had at the resort," said marketing director Talia Freeman. "A lot of customers dressed in their 80's ski clothes, as did a majority of our employees, so it literally felt like you were in the 80's. The turnout was great and I anticipate it being bigger this year." Reaganomics will be in effect as town businesses offer retro deals. For example, lodging is available at $80.80 per night, with restaurants providing $19.80 dinner specials. There will also be ski rental specials in town, and one store even has three bandanas for $8.80. "Flip up your collar and head to Beech Mountain the last weekend in February," said Amy Morrison, coordinator of the Beech Tourism Development Authority. "It's one totally tubular experience." For more information, check out the events page, or call 1-800-438-2093.

Today at Canaan (shown right), as with every other Monday, you can get a $15 lift ticket by bringing a non-perishable food item to donate to the local food banks.

Tonight at Massanutten, it's Monday Night Madness. Each Monday night (4-9 p.m.) from January 7 through February 25, 2013, ski or ride at Massanutten and contribute to a local charity. Slope-Use Ticket and Rentals are both $18 separately. A free beginner group lesson is available at 5 or 6 p.m. You must be at least 7 years old to participate in the  lesson.

If you're into Facebook stalking, you can go to any of the resorts pages and quickly see how much they're enjoying the season right now. Sure, if you look at a calendar, we're closer to the end than we are the beginning, but no one is concerned about that. There's too much powder on the ground to start counting down the days.

How beautiful does App look right now (photo courtesy of their FB page) >>

The only possible exception and pessimistic news for the day is that in response to a question on Facebook from one of our SkiSoutheasters, Wolf Ridge unofficially reported that they may be putting away the guns. You can check for yourself, but here's the conversation: "Is snowmaking over for the year?" "I don't know for sure but judging from this weekend I am afraid so. Please do not shoot the messenger…" We'll keep our fingers crossed that things change, and that you're in it until the end, Wolf!

That's it for today. Stay tuned to see what else is happening where this week. Happy turns and enjoy these awesome conditions for me! Email me at [email protected].