Just for the fun of it, we’re skipping around some today reporting some notables from each of the ski areas. In summary, it looks like a very nice day for skiing, snowboarding and tubing. Winterplace provides us with the photo of the day which shows off a well-maintained, groomed tubing hill. Check that out!
The weather looks great for today and we’ll keep an eye on the moisture heading in this evening and report a bit later. We need your Holiday-crowd, conditions photos and trail reports people! Send them and we’ll post up pronto. We got a few overnight and I’ll share those with you later today.
Here’s the early report…check back later for more.
Canaan Valley – Reported 23° at 4am this morning. They didn’t report it, but we gather that they made snow. They have 5 trails open today as well as tubing.
Snowshoe Mountain – 31° – The region’s largest ski area added another slope opening to their mix today. They report, "It’s another great day at Snowshoe. Snowmaking occurred overnight across the basin side, at Silver Creek and on Cupp Run, our 1.5 mile, 1,500′ vertical signature slope in the Western Territory. Cupp is expected to open after the New Year. Snowmaking continues this morning at Silver Creek, but warmer temperatures during the day will halt snowmaking. However, temperatures should return to the freezing mark tonight, allowing snowmaking to restart overnight, as we continue to add to our great base and look to further expand our open terrain, as we did yesterday with the addition of Camp 4. Snowshoe continues to have the most open terrain in the region, with 37 slopes open today–that’s 62% of the mountain. With cold temperatures continuing overnight for the next few days, more slopes may open by the end of the week. Snowmobile and snowcat tours are both now running through our adventure department. Experience Snowshoe after dark with an adrenaline-fueled, behind-the-scenes look at the resort that’s fun for all aged. It’s a one of a kind experience and not to be missed! Call today to schedule your tour. Be sure to log onto Snowshoemtn.com for a full schedule of the many New Years Eve parties taking place across the mountain! And don’t forget to check out the schedule for next week’s College Winter Break!"
Timberline Resort is reporting 36° and they added a couple of trail openings to their offering today as they now show 7 trails to play on.
Winterplace Resort also added another slope opening to 14 trails available for Holiday skiing and Snowboarding today. They also are boasting ONE SWEET looking Tubing hill open today at 9am. Check out the photo of the day!
Wisp Resort in Maryland is reporting 32° and 20 trails, tubing and terrain park fun for our Holiday enjoyment today!
Ober Gatlinburg was the warm spot this morning with 47° and 4 trails to ski and ride today.
None of the Virginia Resorts were able to make snow.
Wintergreen Resort – Virginia’s largest ski area reported in with 34° this morning. They wrote, "Great Holiday Skiing, Riding, and Tubing. Eagles Swoop, the Lower Cross Trail, Potato Patch, Discovery Ridge and Dobie are all open. For those guests that want to tube, the Plunge and the Slide will be open starting at 10am. Tubing tickets are on sale now over the web and in person."
Bryce Resort – They are reporting 5 trails, groomed conditions and night skiing on a base of 18-43" of groomed snow. They also offer tubing and terrain park features.
Massanutten Resort was showing 36° this morning. They are fighting the fight but could use some snow making and cold temps. They still offer 2 trails and snow tubing today.
As far as we know, The Homestead has yet to make snow or open.
North Carolina Weather and Conditions:
Temperatures overnight did not quite allow for snowmaking as all resorted reported with temps hovering around 33-34°. Conditions should be quite nice for Thursday though since the snow will have setup nicely at near freezing and all resorts will no doubt do some nice grooming.
The forecast for Thursday is for highs in the mid 40s and clear skies. It should be a marvelous day for skiing!
Here’s some notables.
Appalachian Ski Mountain is 70% open. They added another open trail today and that makes for 7 open trails on groomed conditions serviced by 4 lifts. They also have six or more terrain features available in their two terrain parks (Appal Jam and Appal Jack.
Cataloochee is showing 31° although they were not able to make snow last night. They operate with 7 trails today, several terrain park features and their popular tubing park "Tube World" as well. Cataloochee reported about one-inch of new snow from Wednesday morning’s snowfall and groomed conditions so skiing and snowboarding should be a blast today.
Hawksnest Resort is showing 33° and what should be pretty nice conditions for Thursday. Lenny Cottom and his crew write, "Happy Holidays!! We are open for skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. On Thursday, Dec 27th slopes will open at 9am for skiing and boarding until 10pm. Snow tubing will be open at 9am until 9pm. Last tubing session is 7pm to 9pm. The weather pattern for the holidays looks favorable for snowmaking great conditions. As snowmaking allows we will add more terrain for you."
Ski Beech is showing 35° at 7am and they are reporting frozen granular and packed powder conditions. They picked up about an inch of new snow from Wednesday. Beech has Upper and Lower Shawneehaw, Freestyle and Play Yard open today (4 trails) from 9am-10pm.
Sugar Mountain showed a low of 31° this morning but as far as we can tell they did not make snow, so that low temp could be a little off. Sugar has 9 trails open as of their last report at 4:40pm on Wednesday.
Wolf Ridge has not updated their own website report since Christmas Day, but according to their snow line, they will offer 6 trails, tubing and some good terrain park features.
THINK COLD, pack your gear and get your rear – UP HERE – and Enjoy your day…
Until Next time…
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