With Snowfall Totals Climbing this is a December to Remember!!!

First Trax

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It’s another beautiful day in the North Carolina Mountains…it’s around 7:30 and the sun is trying to do some shining. Weather for the rest of the week looks just a tad milder, New Year’s Eve temperatures are supposed to be mild as well, check back later this week and I’ll update you on ski area festivities for ringing in 2011 slopeside. It’s hard to believe that 2010 is nearing an end. It’s been a great year for me, personally and professionally and I hope the same has been true for all of you. I’ve been working at Appnet (our parent company) for a couple of months now, and I’ve been really enjoying myself. I have seen some challenges and learned some new stuff. It’s been fun getting to know SkiSoutheast.com and SkiNC.com as well. The communities that surround these two wonderful websites are pretty sweet too, and I’m looking forward to getting to know all you SkiSoutheast-ers later in the season. Quickie reminder: the SkiNC Summit is going down on January 22 at Beech. It’s the same weekend as their beer fest so there should be no shortage of good brews and fun times. Also, the SkiSoutheast Summit will be at Snowshoe the first weekend of March. So, start putting your pocket change away, there are two really fun weekends on the horizon. These will be my FIRST summits, so I am definitely starting to get excited.

I always tend to get nostalgic towards the end of the year, and this year is no different. My grandmother was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer this year, and at nearly 80 years old has survived a mastectomy and chemotherapy. Results from her last scan show…NO CANCER. It’s amazing what the human body can do, and I am thankful that she’s been such a trooper. Now, along with the things I am thankful for at the end of every year comes my long list of New Year’s resolutions. The same thing rings true every year…I make a list of maybe five things I’m trying to get accomplished, and I never hold true to any of them. So, this year, my resolution is to not make any, and try to just live a little bit better all the way around. I’ll be healthier, I’ll exercise more, I’ll eat better….you know, all those typical things rolled into one. Remind me next time you see me that I’m trying to just live better, and ask me how I’m doing at it. A little accountability never hurt anyone.

So, as you may or may not know Mike is in Tremblent (insert French accent here) for the week with his beautiful family and had a heck of a time actually getting there. For a great account of his Amazing Race Canada style adventure read all about in the Open Mike section. I was certainly amused, and I think you will be to. I’m super jealous of Mike out there hitting up the amazing Canadian snow…but, I’ll just look out the window and remember that conditions here are pretty sweet too. Cheers, guys and gals….

Here’s what’s going on…

Appalachian Ski Mountain -14°- 100% open again today from 9am to midnight on 12 of 12 runs. If you’re in the area, and you’re looking for a quick way to make a bunch of runs and get your legs under you, Appalachian is great late night because the crowds have died down and you’ve got some great conditions to try out.

Cataloochee – 17.8°- Open on 100% of the mountain today! With another trace of snow falling in Maggie Valley, the surface conditions remain excellent. Open for day, twilight, and night sessions as well as tubing today! 

Beech Mountain  – 22°- Open today with all slopes and lifts running. Also open today for the first time this season the tubing park with sessions running from: 10-12, 12-2, and 2-4. Sessions are offered on a first come/first serve basis. Another 2.6 inches of snow fell at Beech in the last day. With almost 19 inches of fresh powder from the last storm, Beech is looking amazing today. Temperatures may see the 30’s today so I suggest you get on out there!

Sapphire Valley -23.3° – Open today on 2 of 2 runs for skiing, riding, and tubing. Call ahead for session information.

Sugar Mountain -21°- Another couple of inches of the pretty white fluff we all know and love blankets Sugar Mountain, that’s over 58 inches this season. Sugar is open on 20 of 20 slopes today with 7 lifts running. Look for NASTAR Races over on Big Red today.

Wolf Ridge Resort – 16°- Almost 20 inches of snow from this storm have settles at Wolf Ridge Resort. December has never looked better down there. Open for skiing and riding as well as tubing today from 9am to 10pm!

Bryce Resort – 28°- It’s going to be almost HOT at Bryce today. Seven slopes open and seven lifts plugging away today. Also at Bryce today is USSA Slalom at 9am. This is fun for even the non-skier to watch!

Massanutten – 21°- Massanutten’s snow reports is reporting two inches of fresh snow, so we’ll go with that…all slopes are running and no snowmaking will get in your way today! Ice skating and tubing are also available for the non-skiers and riders!

Wintergreen-22°- The slopes continue to get bombed overnight with snowmaking ops, so morning conditions are looking great everyday! Wintergreen is open on 26 of 26 trails and is ready to rock and roll with a 30-60 inch base…killer considering they’ve had hardly any natural snow!

Canaan Valley -12° – Not to worry, just another 3.6 inches of NEW SNOW fell at Canaan in the last day. That’s almost 80 inches this season. If you were ever in doubt about hitting up Canaan I sure hope you’re over that. It’s a POWDER WEEK on their 39 of 39 open trails. HAVE FUN!!

Snowshoe Mountain -10°- DRUMMMROOLLLLL…Another FIVE inches of snow at Snowshoe! Holy Cow! That’s 66 inches of snow this season. And…this morning groomer’s choice is: Upper Shay’s!! Here’s what our favorite Snowshoe Gal LP has to say “Sometimes we have to get through some wild weather to reap the benefits, and yesterday was just one of those days. But today we have 5" of fresh snow on the ground, bringing our 2-day total to over a FOOT of snow. Today’s winds should be much calmer than yesterday, allowing us to get those lift turning and let our guests play! Snowshoe continues to offer the region’s most open terrain. We have 52 slopes open between the Snowshoe area and Silver Creek. The Western Territory is 100% open top to bottom with some of the best conditions we’ve EVER offered in that area. Lower Shay’s Revenge and Widowmaker were once again left ungroomed overnight to allow them to bump up. There should be some fun skiing and riding in those areas after a couple days of fresh snow and some good skier traffic. We do continue to make snow on the limited terrain that remains closed and we hope to open both Choker and Sawmill in the next few days.”

Timberline -12° – A stone’s throw from Canaan you’ll find Timberline also got another 3.6 inches. They are hogging all the snow this year, with 76.6 inches this season. Look for amazing tree line powder runs and pretty great groomers everywhere you go on Timberline’s 36 open trails!!

Winterplace – 16°- Whooop Whoop another inch of snow at Winterplace brings their season total to 40 inches! 25 of 28 trails are open today with great powder and packed powder surfaces. Look for Panorama Terrain Park to open later today!!

Wisp Resort-16°- Another beautiful inch of snow at Wisp through the last day brings their season total to 66 inches…the same as Snowshoe. This is certainly a December to remember! Wisp is open today on 100 % of the mountain with 3 terrain parks and ice skating. The crazy cool (as Mike would say) Mountain Coaster is open today too!!

Ober Gatlinburg -15°- Overnight snowmaking make for great morning conditions! Ober is open on 7 of 9 lifts today and a 30-55 inch base! Check out ice skating, tubing, and all the other fun stuff going on at Ober today!!!

That’s it for today folks…I know I say it every day but send us some photos!! We love to see what you’re doing. Even if you’re not on the slopes and you’re sitting inside admiring the views with a hot toddy in your hand, take a picture from the observation deck and send it to us!!! Safe travels and happy shredding….

Please visit our sister sites… www.HighCountryWeather.com  and www.HighCountryWebcams.com  !!

One more thing….THINK COLD! THINK SNOW!

Send me anything… [email protected]  or [email protected]  

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