None of the North Carolina resorts made snow last night and one look at the weather forecast reveals the fact that there may be no snowmaking temps in the forecast until perhaps Sunday evening. The forecast for today and Thursday looks great for skiing with very nice conditions no matter where you head. The pick of the day in NC will have to be Appalachian and Sugar Mountain. (That has been the case a lot this season.) The forecast is for sunny skies and temps in the 50s to 60s on Thursday. Bring your sunscreen!
Friday looks o-k-a-y but some rain comes in later in the day and Saturday looks rainy as well. No snowmaking into Tuesday…could mean that another ski area may call it quits a little earlier than expected. We’ll have to wait and see what the rain does Friday and/or Saturday.
Appalachian Ski Mountain looks darn nice for today with 100% of their terrain open. Cataloochee has dropped another trail to offer 6 trails for today. Sugar Mountain is open with 17 trails today as well as snow tubing.
All three of the open ski areas in North Carolina actually look very nice for today!
Moving UP the Eastern Seaboard into Virginia –
Bryce is open with 6 trails and snowtubing. Massanutten Resort has 11 trails open, terrain parks and snowtubing. They are now saying that they will cease ski operations on Sunday, March 23rd. Wintergreen Resort MADE SNOW and has 15 trails open for today as well as snow tubing.
We spoke with The Homestead and they are closing on the 17th of March and only open with 1 trail.
West Virginia saw a bit more snow and MADE snow!
Canaan Valley reports a TRACE of snow and 16 trails with what should be very nice conditions today til 4:30pm. Snowshoe Mountain was able to make snow and has 58 trails open today. Timberline reported 2" of snow and they have 27 trails open today. Winterplace reports awesome March conditions on 28 trails, terrain park and snow tubing for today.
Wisp Resort also reported a TRACE of snow and 28 trails, terrain parks and snow tubing open.
LOTS OF EVENTS GOING ON OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS!
This the time of year that we always see some pretty cool events and festivities taking place at the ski areas and we’ll share all that we’re made aware of. Here are some updates in no certain order:
Wisp Resort:
Freestyle Skier Rule on March 14, 2008 – Ok all you TW wanta be’s bring it to Wisp and rule the boxes and park features under the lights, open only to the Freestyle community, registration at 6pm, comp starts at 7pm, $15 entry fee.
An even bigger event goes down on Saturday!
Beachin Weekend/Cardboard Box Derby March 15, 2008
The 5th Annual Beachin’ Weekend & Cardboard Box Derby happens! Another year, another Beachin’ Party! Bust out the swimsuit and sunglasses for this fun & wacky weekend to celebrate spring skiing at it’s best!
Saturday, March 15th:
10 AM – 2 PM – Music & Games provided by DJ Jonny Rock (www.soundsfun.net) on Outdoor Deck *Weather Permitting
Contests Include: Swimsuit Slalom, Toilet Paper Snowman Building, Holla Hoop Contest, Closepin Mania and more.
Guests are encouraged to participate and cheer on contestants!!
1 PM – Registration and Judging on Belly Flop for Cardboard Box Derby benefiting the Blind Skier Program of the Garrett County Lion’s Club.
All derbies must be made of cardboard, tape and string. Individual entry fee is $20, Business entry fee is $150.
Creativity and originality is highly encouraged!
3 PM – Cardboard Box Derby Race Begins on Belly Flop
4 PM – 7PM – Live Music provided by Tom Watt – The Buffett Man
Tom Watt is a Jimmy Buffett Impersonator, who not only looks like Jimmy but sounds like him too! Bringing along a whole band for some live Jimmy Buffett Covers! Tom Watt was awarded the International Guild of Celebrity Impersonators Award "Best Male Musical Star." Look for Tom Watt is the film,"Hoot" which is due to be released this Spring. He was chosen as a stand-in for Jimmy Buffett! www.tomwatt.com
Sunday, March 16th:
10 AM – 2 PM – Music & Games provided by DJ Jonny Rock on Outdoor Deck *Weather Permitting
Don’t miss the ever-popular Cardboard Box Derby featuring creative cardboard derbies that race down on-snow – it’s gets better every year!
TIMBERLINE PLANS:
Davis, West Virginia
March 11, 2008 – For Immediate Release
ALOHA! TIMBERLINE’S SNOWY LUAU TO BE HELD MARCH 14th thru 16th
For 17 years Timberline Four Seasons Resort and ski area has been hosting this Spring celebration. During this weekend celebration the 1,000 foot vertical mountain will explode with fireworks set off from its 4268 foot elevation on the Eastern Continental Divide. Then 150 skiers will descend through the darkness from the mountain top holding torches representing lava streams down a volcanic mountain. At the spring skiing celebration happy people will be singing and dancing and greeting each other with the traditional “Aloha” and dressed in colorful flowered shirts, straw hats and grass skirts. The Snowy Luau has become a tradition and is now the biggest Spring celebration of the region.
In keeping with the Hawaiian tradition skiers and friends of Timberline will enjoy traditional outdoor roasted pig with Hawaiian music with live entertainment all day and most of the night. Authentic Hawaiian dancers, singers and instrumentalists will appear at Timberline lodge throughout the day.
The Luau is a very traditional Pacific celebration which dates back to at least 1856. This Hawaiian feast features Polynesian food, beverage and entertainment including Hawaiian music and hula dancing.
Aloha in the Hawaiian language may have multiple meanings including “hello”, “good-by” and is frequently an expression of affection. The spirit of Aloha conveys the sense of care and hospitality characteristic of Timberline’s spirit of friendliness and West Virginia graciousness. Recent trends using the term more frequently are also noted elsewhere in the United States. Hollywood actress, Beth Midler, born in Honolulu, uses the greeting frequently. References are frequently made in the popular Disney movies and TV shows and in the drama “Hawaii Five-O”.
The weekend’s events will include day and night skiing, fireworks, a lava parade, Saturday afternoon and evening entertainment by Hoaloha performers, various Polynesian food entrees, Hoaloha Polynesian revue dancers, Luau Nastar, Lahaina Triathlon, Lava Garden Children’s Obstacle Race, Sleds, Shovels and Sliders Hawaiian Derby, Snow Sculpting Awards, Costume Parade, Hawaiian Lunch Specials, Kids Fest in the Lava Garden and Polynesian Dance Lessons. The award ceremony will culminate with coronation of the Snowy Luau Kahuna.
The Polynesian Revue features authentic Hawaiian dancing and music. The musicians are native Hawaiians and their instruments are also authentic. Their singing is the characteristic smooth close tenor harmony with a musical background of the steady rhythm of guitar, ukulele and bass.
The live Hawaiian music continues throughout the day and well into the evening. Late night entertainment will feature Reggae/Rock from 11:00 pm till 2:00 am by Stolen Element.
The public is invited. There is no cover charge or charge for any of the performances.
The Timber’s Grill is open for public dining until late including a late night menu and the Timberhaus Cafeteria is open all day from 6:00 am until 11:00 pm. Timbers Pub is open daily at 11:00 am and Sunday at 1:00 pm.
Timberline Ski Area will remain open through the first weekend of April.
For more information call 1-800-SNOWING or visit www.timberlineresort.com .
Fireworks and a lava parade will mimic a Hawaiian volcanic eruption March 15, 2008 on Timberline’s 4,268 foot Herz Mountain. The lava flow will be simulated by 150 torch carrying skiers winding their way from the mountain top to the celebration at the base ski lodge. During the weekend of March 14th – 16th Polynesian food, authentic Hawaiian music, skiing events and contests and dancing will continue all day until late at night.
Hula dancing at Timberline lodge on March 15 & 16, 2008 at the Timberline ski lodge will be accompanied by native Hawaiian musicians with ukulele, guitar and bass accompanying the high tenor close harmony characteristic of the harmony of Hawaiian music. Twenty-six musicians and dancers will present the Polynesian revue at Timberline lodge as part of the Annual Snowy Luau celebration. The Hula dance was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The weekend will also feature Polynesian food, colorful costumes, multiple skiing events and continuous music from early Saturday afternoon until early Sunday morning.
Until Next time…
Be sure to visit www.SkiSoutheast.com for more news from the rest of the Southeast and Mid Atlantic ski areas!
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