The rains are coming to an end today and SNOW is on the way!
We are now on the last leg of the rainfall that was forecasted. Some 3-4" of rain has fallen across much of the region. At some point later today the temperatures are expected to nosedive down and change this under-developed snow – over to the REAL stuff and 1-3" of snow is not out of the question early Friday AM across Western North Carolina. Then Friday, Saturday and Sunday look GREAT with sunny skies and highs in the low 30s on Friday, upper 30s for Saturday and maybe 43° or so on Sunday. Overnight lows will drops into the teens and 20s nightly and that means snowmaking machines will be roaring almost around the clock all weekend. With the tdrastic temperature change expected tonight AND some additional snowfall, look for great conditions for this weekend.
I can’t wait for the temperature drop because these 50°, 7am temps don’t work for me!
The rainfall and mild temps of the last 48+ hours has made for the expected drop in base depths at ski areas. Appalachian is recording a 10" drop in the last 24 hours and more than 13" over the last two days. Of course they still have 47-68" of base which is a ton of snow.
Cataloochee is reflecting a 14" drop in the last 24 hours, but they still have a 16-60" base.
Ski Beech has Upper Shawneehaw open again today. That means that they are open to the top with 5 trails. They are reporting a 6" drop in base or 10" in the last 48 hours. They are still reporting a 22-42" base.
Sugar Mountain is reporting a 15-47" base which reflects a drop of 4" in the last 24 hours and 10" over the last 48 hours.
We haven’t heard from Wolf Ridge as they’ve been closed all week, but they do plan to reopen on Friday for day and night skiing sessions.
Expect another couple of inches in base drop after today and then the snow and snow guns will blanket the slopes with some fresh powder! So get your gear and your rears up here and enjoy a great weekend, pre-Christmas ski or snowboarding getaway!
WE HAVE A WINNER!!!
Chris Hennecy of Myrtle Beach, SC just won the first of TWENTY VACATIONS that we will be giving away this season. By being the lucky, instant winner, he will be staying at "Just Chillin", a gorgeous log cabin located right down from the entrance to Appalachian Ski Mountain. He also won 4 lift tickets from App and free ski rentals from 1st Tracks Ski and Snowboard Shop in Boone.
Congrats Chris!
We posted the contest last night at around 10pm and the entries poured in. We called four of the entries at 8am this morning and at 8:25am we caught up with Chris in Myrtle Beach. Chris told us, "That’s crazy ’cause I was planning on picking up my girlfriend and hitting the slopes this weekend anyway. I just bought her a new snowboard for an early Christmas present."
Chris will be a popular guy with his girlfriend and a couple of his luckier friends for this weekend as conditions should be VERY nice at Appalachian for this weekend!
Thanks again to Donna and Suzanne at Blue Ridge Vacation Cabins for partnering with us on the log cabin giveaway. If you are looking for a great cabin getaway, Donna and Suzanne can help you find the perfect cabin close to the slopes! Visit www.BlueRidgeVacationCabins.com for more information.
Also thanks again to Appalachian Ski Mountain and 1st Tracks for making all of this possible.
THINK SNOW!!!!
Check the Slope Reports page for all of the details for today’s conditions and slope openings and be sure to click over to www.SkiSoutheast.com to see more information and photos, videos and more for ALL of the ski areas of the Southeast and Mid Atlantic.
Send your photos, videos, trip reports and comments to: [email protected]