Appalachian – Didn’t Make Snow but conditions are really VERY NICE right now. We’re grading it as 8.5 out of 10. App has moved the Terrain Park and Terrain Garden features to THIN SLICE.
Cataloochee DID make snow last night and they also jumped their base up a HUGE number in the last two days. Not sure if that’s not a typo???! There maximum base number jumped 12” yesterday and another 8” since. 20” in two days! Gotta be a typo. Maybe 20” on ONE slope, but not all ten guys. Regardless, Cataloochee is in great shape. We’re not seeing any snowmaking going on this morning via the cam, so again we’re not certain about the snowmaking tallies.
Don’t forget that Thursday is the 3rd race of the Cataloochee Challenge Cup Race Series. Individuals race against the clock for the best of two runs. Top three challengers in both men’s and womens’ age divisions win cool stuff. You must be 21 years of age or older to participate. Racing begins at 8pm with a post awards party at 10pm, so dust off those racing skills and test your luck. The Cat is where it’s at on Thursday night’s Challenge Cup Race Night. Call the ski area for more information.
Hawksnest didn’t make snow either and they are reporting no change in base depth which is accurate. Cold temps overnight will have Hawksnest running very nice today after grooming. They have (8) trails and the tubing operating today. One look at their webcam will tell you how nice the conditions are up there today!
Sapphire is still closed. Thanks to Sapphire’s staff for keeping us notified.
It’s MEN SKI FREE day today and tonight at Ski Beech. They are in great shape and operating on 12 trails. Get us some photos up there!
Sugar is reporting that they made some snow last night and they are looking quite nice today on 17 trails and 5 lifts. Tubing is open as well!
Wolf Laurel is operating with very nice conditions today on 12 trails.
We Don’t Make This Stuff Up!
After answering a few emails about our conditions reporting yesterday compared to some other sources, I got a rebuttal email from someone challenging us to give examples of where we say that our data is the latest, most accurate as compared to other reporting sources. First, of all, we go by the old adage that “He who throws dirt, loses ground” so we try to stay out of the “pointing fingers mode” but we occasionally hear radio reports that are reporting 9 trails open someplace where there are only 5 etc. I could spend a lot of time giving examples this morning across numerous websites around the country who report conditions from all over. However, just today – just this once, we’re going to show you the errors that were posted JUST TODAY on ONE website that are incorrect. For the purpose of this comparison, we’re going to use the Southeastern Ski Area Association’s own website. They supposedly get their data FROM the ski area’s most recent report.
He are the errors from this morning alone:
1. They are errantly reporting Hawksnest’s base as 15-35”. Hawksnest has been at 18-45” for two days.
2. They are errantly reporting that Sapphire Valley is open with two trails and 8-22” of base. They are closed and reporting 5-12” of base. How would you like to drive over there only to find it closed?
3. They are errantly reporting Sugar being open with six lifts. They have five running today.
If you want more errors…check out the www.SkiSoutheast.com update this morning.
To be very clear, we are not trying to trash any other reporting source, but most like the SSAA and others, depend in the resorts to get them data. If they don’t then they just report what they last have. We don’t do that. If we see something that we know is an error or looks wrong, we call the resorts and update accordingly. Hopefully this answers the emails and that you guys understand that we are not working to report information DIFFERENT from other sources; we are working to report the LATEST, most accurate information. Case closed, hopefully!
Until Next Time!
Be sure to check out www.SkiSoutheast.com for more news and stories for all of the Southeast’s ski areas.
Be sure to email photos, snow reports and comments to: [email protected]