What a difference a week makes – classic November skiing in the Southeast. Last Saturday I was at Sugar and the conditions were as good as could be expected, if not a little better. Fast forward one week and this is what Sugar looks like this morning.
While we’re at it, let’s go ahead and get to the ski conditions for today.
Cataloochee Ski Area
Cat is reporting a 16-30 inch base, same as yesterday’s report. They are skiing from mid-station on 6 runs – Lower Omigosh, Rabbit Hill, Easy Way, Upper Over Easy, Over Easy and Beginner's Luck, supported by 2 lifts – Omigosh & Easy Way, and 1 conveyor on Beginner’s Luck.
Sugar Mountain
Sugar is reporting a 6-28 inch base with some thin areas, the same as yesterday minus the admission of bare spots. Sugar is also running with their same configuration, 2 slopes – Upper Flying Mile and Lower Flying Mile, with one lift going 3/4 of the way up the mountain. Tubing is closed but ice skating is open.
I almost called this article good news & bad news. The bad news was due to the current conditions, but then I started to think about it a little more. How can any day skiing, no matter how bad the conditions, be bad? So Sugar does have some bare spots today – but at least we’re skiing and the flip side is that the crowds will be light.
Today's Temps
On with the good, good news. We’re due for some cold weather this weekend and next week. There’s a chance of snow in the forecast for the Southeast Mountains starting today in WV and seeping into the NC mountains night. Looks like THEY are also calling for a chance of snow for much of the area on Wednesday. We’ll have to just wait and see on that one.
Tomorrow's Temps – much colder around the region.
There is one ski resort with some news to share. I spoke with the folks at Appalachian Ski Mountain yesterday and they are leaning toward Tuesday or Wednesday for their opening. They were originally shooting for Monday or Tuesday, but decided to push back a day so they can capitalize on the quality snow making conditions expected on Monday. As they put it yesterday while I was talking to them, you get to put down a better quality of snow when no one is on the mountain.
Short update for this Saturday. Hopefully we’ll have some good snow news for tomorrow.
Tim Bahlke
Drop me an email at [email protected] to let me know what you think or with suggestions on what we could be doing better.