Is winter…dare I say…back?
The temperature surely is indicating so. It’s 36 degrees this morning in Raleigh, and I was walking my dog in weather that surely would mean a great day on the slopes in any other month. The temperatures at Sugar and Cataloochee are similar to that this morning, while it’s a frigid 17 degrees at Snowshoe today. I didn’t see the snow guns blasting on the ResortCams this morning, but maybe we’ll see them fired up at some point tonight. Fingers crossed.
It is truly last call today in North Carolina. Sugar Mountain is open until 4 p.m. for one last time. Cataloochee will spin three lifts on four trails until 4:30 p.m. the final time in the 2023-24 season. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay there. Meanwhile, Snowshoe will be open for another week, and close on Sunday. Kids ski free all next week. Take advantage of that good deal!
My season most certainly is not over. I’m hoping to get a few more days on snow between now and the closing of resorts in New England, and I will be riding either Snowbird or Brighton – or perhaps, both – in May thanks to my friend’s wedding that will be at the base of the resort. But this was my first full winter fully taking advantage of the ski areas in the southeast, and it has me feeling sentimental as the lifts are set to stop spinning this afternoon.
This year wasn’t just my first full season riding my snowboard in the southeast, but the first of many. When I made the decision to move to North Carolina, I did so knowing that it was the final stop on the East Coast for snow sports. I knew that the ski areas were fun, and that they produced talented skiers and snowboarders, but to be honest, that’s all I knew. I went into this thing blindly.
Then I stumbled upon SkiSoutheast, and was lucky enough to be hired by our editor and founder Mike Doble. Not only did I get a part-time job, but I inherited this awesome community that is SkiSoutheast, and the skiers of the southeast alike. The passion for snowsports down here burns just as bright as it does in Colorado, Montana, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Y’all are hungry for powder, but you know how to have fun on the slopes in rain, sleet, 70-degree weather, and slush. And for that, I salute you.
I had a few things on my bucket list that I checked off this year. I had a few things that will have to wait until next year. Quite simply, I was adamant that I had to try Appalachian Ski Mountain and Sugar Mountain this season. I spent four days at each (and even camped out in the App Ski parking lot once).
I am also on a mission to snowboard in 10 different states (or in the case of Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, provinces) this season. Right now, I have six under my belt: North Carolina, Virginia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Utah, and Quebec. Just four states to go.
Here’s what you need to know to ski and ride in the southeast today:
Snowshoe
From the snow report:
We’ve got classic spring skiing weather on tap for your Sunday Funday! We’ll start the day off with some pristine corduroy before things soften up this afternoon with temperatures expected to rise into the low 50’s. Expect soft, playful spring conditions across the mountain, with a few thin spots here and there. The Western Territory is still in play with Lower Shay’s sporting some of the best snow on the whole mountain. Please note that Cupp Run is closed, and Lower Shay’s is expert terrain. Don’t forget – Kids 12 and under Ski free the rest of the season, starting tomorrow, March 25!”
Cataloochee
It’s 34 degrees this morning. There are four open trails: Lower Omigosh, Easy Way, Rabbit Hill, and Wolf Creek Hollow.
Sugar
Three lifts, and 10 trails are open today. Temperatures are in the 30s. There’s a base of 20 to 64 inches. It is the final day of March Madness – tickets are 25% off all day.
March Madness
Speaking of March Madness, I hope whatever team you cheer for is dancing this weekend.
Yesterday was a big day for North Carolina – both UNC and NC State won to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
Raleigh was celebrating, and so was I.
Video of the Day
Red Gerard is one of the most versatile riders in snowboarding. He already has X Games and Olympic medals hanging on his wall. He also has progressed tremendously as a backcountry rider, competing against the big dog Travis Rice in the Natural Selection Tour. He also comes from an incredibly talented family – his sister Tieghan Gerard is the brain behind the food blog Half Baked Harvest, and his brother Malachi Gerard is a stellar videographer who has made his own name in the snowboarding community. Red just recently dropped some footage from his 2023-24 contest season on his YouTube page, and it’s a raw look at what goes into becoming one of the best riders in the world.
It also has a killer soundtrack that includes The Beatles and Notorious B.I.G.
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