The weekend is looking very nice as the rain looks to be holding off until later on Saturday and although it could mess with night skiing a little, it could also change over to snow quicker than first expected and give us another shot of maybe an inch of additional snowfall.
Enjoy your day! We’re getting right to the report so that we can get out and make some turns with some friends over at Appalachian Ski Mountain around noon. If you’re over there, look us up.
We’re promised a report from the crew over at the Snowshoe Shavers Center Campout and we hope to be able to share that and some pics or video with you guys over the weekend so be sure to keep checking back for that. A majority of the 35 slots that were invited for the Snowshoe campout are people from the skiSoutheast.com Messageboard and those guys and gals will be enjoying an awesome meal at the Backcountry Hut as well as some awesome conditions at Snowshoe this weekend. In case you’re not aware of what the campout is all about – When Snowshoe Mountain opened 35 years ago there was no lodging. Visitors would often drive up that once "way out of the way location" and ski all day and then literally crash (campout) in sleeping bags and blankets in Shavers Center. That was what being a "SKI BUM" was all about. Since Snowshoe is celebrating their 35th Anniversary this season, they thought that it would be cool to invite 35 guests on a first-come-first-served basis to campout old school style at Shavers Center for this weekend. Of course those peeps won’t be exactly old schooling it because Shavers Center is a far cry from what it was back then. There’s a nice cafeteria, bar, lounge and nice bathrooms these days. You can also walk out one door and down a hall and be in one of the coolest arcades around. Walk out another door and about 60 yards or so and you’re entering one of the nicest ski villages one the East coast with many wonderful restaurants, Starbucks, shops and more. So they are not exactly "ski bumming it" but they will get a taste of what it was like back in those days. Also speaking of "taste" many of those guests (again first-come-first-served) are being treated to a great experience at the BackCountry Hut. That is a dining experience second to none. I’ve been there and done that a couple of times and it is outrageously delicious! If you have not tried it, perhaps you ought to check it out on Snowshoe’s website and book a trip during your next getaway.
Here’s a quick tour:
Ober Gatlinburg – 46° this morning, no snowmaking overnight and 4 of 8 trails open with ice skating open and the Upper Half of Bear Run is open as well.
Wisp Resort – 25° – They haven’t updated their report as yet this AM (8:10am) but the Photo of the Day will attest to some great conditions (as do their live cams) and Wisp will have at least 24 of 35 trails open, snowtubing, terrain park and mountain coastering for today through 9pm this evening.
Bryce Resort – Horst and Ryan added 2" of new manmade snow on Thursday before the temps rose above freezing. They were not able to make snow overnight. They will have VERY NICE conditions on 7 of 8 trails for today and tonight. Snow tubing is open as well.
Massanutten Resort – 27° – The temps were a bit colder at Massanutten overnight and that did allow for some added snowmaking which allowed Mass to add another open trail to the mix. They now have 10 trails open of 14, both terrain parks and 8 lanes of tubing open.
The Homestead has not reported in yet, but will probably offer 3 of 7 trails and tubing for today.
Wintergreen Resort – 37° – They took full advantage of that fully automated snowmaking system of theirs while the temps were frigid Thursday night and they now have 12 of 26 trails open, snow tubing and terrain park fun as well. That’s more terrain than Wintergreen has had open this season to date. Snowmaking temps return tonight and that will allow for even more trail openings.
Canaan Valley – 31° – They have 12 of 39 trails ope, snow tubing and ice skating as well! Conditions are great at the Valley today as Packed Powder conditions will be the norm after nearly 14 inches of snow fell on Thursday into Friday!
Snowshoe Mountain – 33° – They have 53 of 60 trails open and snowtubing, terrain parks, snowmobiling and more. Snowshoe has the same light drizzle in the forecast for a small portion of the day with that changing to snow later and then snow is in the forecast for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and on!
A lot of SkiSoutheasters are taking part in the 35th Season celebrations at Snowshoe. Yesterday was the start of the Shavers Centre Campout. 35 lucky guests are kicking it old school and sleeping on the Shavers Centre floor like they did back in the day, so drop by and see what 1970’s Snowshoe was all about. With some of those guys from the messageboard in there I can only imagine that it was a GREAT TIME!
Timberline Resort – 30° – They added another open trail to the mix today and now offer 21 of 37 trails, snow tubing and some cross country terrain open as well. We have to get up with Jessica Scowcroft and those guys because they are only reporting 78.8" of natural snow on the season and the 13" that they received on Thursday into Friday gave them 90" on the season!
Jessica did share, "We’re having a RAIL JAM Competition"
When: Saturday, January 10, 2009 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Bear Claw Terrain Park
Registration: 8:30am – 10:30am
Entry fee: $10
Helmets required. Minors must have an adult signature to register.
Categories: men and women, ski(alpine and tele) and snowboard. 13 and under and 14 and over.
Various PRIZES awarded to the top 3 competitors of each category.
1st jam in a 4 part series! Competitors earn points for attendance and for placing 1st-3rd. The snowboarder with the most overall points will be awarded a brand new MONUMENT snowboard. The skier will be awarded a new pair of twin tip skis. (brand TBA) The series final will take place on 3/21 during our Snowy Luau celebration.
Winterplace Resort – 39° – After 4" of snow on Thursday they have great conditions on 20 of 28 trails. Snowtubing is also open as well as their terrain parks.
Appalachian Ski Mountain – 38° – 8 of 10 trails open, ice skating and both terrain parks
Cataloochee Ski Area – 37° – 9 of 14 trails open, tubing and some terrain features.
Hawksnest Snow Tubing Park – 36° – OPEN
Sapphire Valley – Open with both of their 2 slopes and the Frozen Falls Tubing Park.
Ski Beech – 37° – 5 of 15 trails open. Harris Brothers are playing in the Beech Tree tonight from 9-12 with no cover charge. Ice skating is open!
Sugar Mountain – 37° – 12 of 20 trails open and snow tubing and ice skating as well. Today, the 14th Annual National Winter Trails Day comes back to Sugar Mountain Resort. The event offers children and adults new to snow sports the chance to experience a complimentary snowshoe guided tour.
Wolf Ridge Resort – 4 of 20 trails open with tubing open as well.
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