It’s Tuesday.
Snowmaking temperatures are back, and the resorts are ready to take advantage of that.
Get Out There
Mike Rogge is the editor of the Mountain Gazette, a print magazine focused on stories that impact the people and towns that surround the mountains. It’s a great publication, and for those of you looking for another subscription for you to leave out on your coffee table or gift to a loved one, consider subscribing. But he also writes these editor’s notes that hit my email inbox every so often. They’re musings about whatever is in his brain at the moment. The one that landed in my inbox this morning was titled “Just To Be Out There.”
It opens asking a simple question:
You ever ski or ride in the rain? You ever opt-in to a hike on a foggy day? You ever just do something outdoors just to get out there? That’s what I’ve been doing this season, digging deep into my East Coast roots (I’m from the Southern Adirondacks, born and raised), skiing in the rain, skiing in the heat of January, and making the best of an otherwise unremarkable season.”
One line in particular stuck with me more than the rest.
“I admire those who go out everyday like clockwork.”
We are at the point in the season where any episodes of bad weather can seem like more of a personal attack than usual. It’s easy to get outside in 55-degree rain in the early days of December, when the season has just barely gotten started. It gets more difficult when you’ve had those killer powder days, and mother nature has decided she doesn’t want to cooperate this weekend.
But we’re about to enter into February, which means that our days on the slopes in the southeast are truly becoming numbered. It would be foolish to not take advantage of every opportunity to get out there.
Now is the time when I introduce you to Taylor Elliot, a snowboarder out of Salt Lake City. She’s known for hitting handrails in street video projects like “Too Hard” and “Here For You.”
She also recently was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and talked about her experience with that battle on the podcast The Bomb Hole. That episode dropped last week. Here’s a snippet from it.
For many reasons, if we get to opportunity to go skiing or snowboarding, we are fortunate. That doesn’t mean we haven’t worked hard to get the chance to enjoy sliding on snow, but it does mean that a bunch of things have gone right in our pursuit to do so. So the next time you’re out there and the hardpack is a little too hard, or the grass is peaking through the snow, or the lift lines are too long, remember to appreciate the fact that you’re out there at all.
“I strapped in and the disability, when I was moving, the disability was gone,” Elliot said. “I was an able bodied person, and I don’t even have the words to describe it, I mean, it was the best 30 seconds of my life.”
I pieced together a little edit from my weekend at Sugar and Beech. Take a look:
@joshsullivan36 Three days in the NC High Country
Without further delay, here’s what you need to know about the southeast today:
Bryce
Bruce resort is 100% open with great skiing, Bill Nabers said.
“Nice crowd today with Arlington County schools on mid term break. Tubing was humming as well.”
Appalachian Ski Mountain
We’ve got 100% of the trails open at App today yet again.
Just a reminder, App Terrain Park, Roxy, Alpine Ski Shop, and Girls Go Shred are teaming up for a special session Saturday, February 3.
There will be a custom terrain park area with features that are designed to allow learning and progression. The event is for women and girls only, and coaches will be there to help offer advice if needed.
Then Sunday, the Shred for the Cup Series is back with the slopestyle finals.
Snowshoe
The ‘Shoe got another dusting of snow since yesterday, with about an inch of fresh stuff out there this morning.
There are still 59 trails open and all 12 lifts spinning. From the snow report:
There is already something pretty magical about frosted evergreens glistening in the sunlight. But, add yourself alongside them smooth carving like a feather drifting in the wind…well, that’s what dreams are made of! Every good dream needs a good ending, so follow up your day on the slopes with good food, good friends, and good times at Al Dente. Located slope side in the conference level of Mountain Lodge. Reserve your table on our website or Snowshoe Mountain App.”
Timberline
Yes, it’s Tuesday. Yes, Timberline is 100% open.
“After a warm week with scattered rain, cold temperatures returned yesterday with half an inch of accumulated snowfall,” the snow reporting team said. “You’ll find a machine groomed surface on the majority of terrain today. Off the Wall and The Drop will remain ungroomed for a more challenging terrain option.”
Beech
It’s student night! Slope tickets will only cost $15 per ticket on Tuesday night for students of all ages! The night session runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online or in person.
Massanutten
No Hessitation should be assessed by ski patrol to reopen later this morning. Snowmaking resumed overnight, and temperatures will be in the 30s, with sunny skies.
Video Of The Day
I know there’s been a lot of Zeb Powell coverage with the X Games going on this past weekend, but I have one more video featuring the Waynesville native for you this week.
Burton Snowboards and Selema Masekela – the host of the X Games – sit down and talk about Zeb’s rise through the ranks, from the slopes of Cataloochee to Stratton Mountain School, to the X Games knuckle huck gold medal from 2020.
The Rest
Don’t forget: Clear your calendar from February 9-11. That’s when Massanutten and SkiSoutheast will host team up to host our summit. It’s a great way to meet like-minded, snow-loving people, and possibly make some lifelong friends in the process.
Thanks to everyone that has already joined us on Discord.
Think snow!
Think cold!
Click here to join us on our new SkiSoutheast Discord channel. It is a great way to meet new snow loving friends and shares experiences, ask questions, and more!
And as always, email me at [email protected] with your thoughts and photos.