Most of the ski areas made snow for the last two nights now and some never quit making it yesterday as temps stayed cold all day long. We were up on Beech at about 3pm or so and the temp at that time was 22° so snowmaking for the last two nights and some change has made for near perfect conditions across the board.
We received an email yesterday asking about discrepancies between what we are reporting and some other reporting services, including one ran by the Southeastern Ski Areas Association. We’ve covered this before but we’ll comment on it this one time so that this information can get in the archived articles and you guys can just search for your own answers to it in the future.
We check in with all of the mountains daily and we do so bright and early to get you THE information right from the source. Nearly every morning we see numerous errors on other reports. We can’t control what others are reporting, we can only tell you that what you are getting on THIS website is 100% accurate, based on the reports from the resorts themselves and combined with our more than 100 On-Snow Reporters. ‘Nuff said. We could elaborate, but conditions are too darn nice today to squabble so let’s move on.
Wintergreen Resort in Virginia made snow last night and they want you guys to know that they are continuing to make Repairs to the Big Acorn Lift today with plans to have this lift and the 5 trails it serves open on Friday, maybe sooner. Today, they will be skiing and riding on 12 trails and 3 lifts will be running. The Plunge will be open with 2 hour sessions starting at 2:00 pm for some exciting tubing.
Snowshoe Mountain has now received Ninety-nine inches of snow on the season! Andrea Smith reported yesterday morning that they had received another 2” of snow and conditions at Snowshoe are simply amazing right now. They also made snow and are advising that snowguns will be operating on a few trails this morning. The Ballhooter lift will be delayed in opening until 10 a.m. this morning. Also the Cascade lift at the Silver Creek area will close at 4:30 p.m. and the Mountaineer lift will open at that time. LOWER SHAYS REVENGE IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Finally, if you’re looking ahead to this weekend, the infamous Jose Cuervo Games of Winter, here’s a great deal for you. Get two nights lodging and two days lift tickets, next weekend February 3 & 4, for only $145 per person. Call 877-441-4FUN and make your reservations today.
Wisp Resort isn’t reporting any snowmaking last night, but conditions are great at the Maryland based resort. They are skiing and riding on 33 trails and groomed conditions. The Garrett County resort receives an annual average of 100” of snow and they are already up to 79” on the season! Wisp is celebrating this weekend with “Wisp Winter Weekend: with two days of racing, STAGE WISP CONCERT featuring Deanna Bogart and they also have a Bear Claw Snow Tubing Party going on!
Ober Gatlinburg is celebrating this Friday with their, Southern Exposure 2006.
Friday, February 3, 2006 – Noon – 6:00 PM
12:00 PM – Skiing & Snowboard Competition
1:30 PM – Skiing and Snowboard Jumping
3:30 PM – Award Medals for Competition
5:00 PM – Cardboard Sled Classic Derby
Benefiting Helen Ross McNabb Center ~ Contact Kelly Hodges at 865-329-9119 for Entry Form and Rules ~ Limited to 45 Sleds
The public is welcome to come up and view all activities (free of charge except for tram and/or parking fees).
Appalachian Ski Mountain DID make about 2” of fresh, manmade snow last night (contrary to the fact that the SSAA is not reporting it (see!)) and is looking quite nice this AM.
Cataloochee made snow last night and we didn’t get their report yesterday morning early enough to report that they ended up receiving about 2” of snow from the snowstorm that hit. Conditions at Cataloochee will be extra nice today.
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 its at on Thursday night’s Challenge Cup Race Night. Call the ski area for more information.
Hawksnest has poured on the snowmaking over the last couple of days. It’s LADIES SKI FREE day at Hawksnest today. Guys, that’s where the snow bunnies will be! Check out Hawksnests camera this morning and look at the difference a couple of days of snowmaking will make! Hawksnest also has their tubing hill open today.
Sapphire Valley is still being reported as closed. No word just yet on whether they’ve made snow lately. We’re guessing that they have but they are being rather quiet this season.
As mentioned before, we were up at Ski Beech yesterday afternoon, and the drive from Sugar and Banner Elk showed some areas with a pretty good dusting of snow. MAN, when you hit the 2/3rd point in the drive up Beech Mountain Parkway, the scenery went WHITE. Whatever everybody else got, put Ski Beech down for double as everything is white up there and there were actually some drifts of pure powder. Snowmaking went on around the clock and will continue today as long as temps allow. Today is Retro rate Wednesday! Only $15.00 for slope tickets and $10.00 for ski rentals! Conditions should be PHENOMENAL at Ski Beech today.
Sugar Mountain will be as sweet as – well – Sugar today with around the clock snowmaking for the last couple of days. They are skiing on 17 trails and snowmaking continues as long as temps allow.
Wolf Laurel didn’t report whether they made snow or not, so we’ll do it for them. They made tons of snow and the snowguns are still blasting the slopes this AM. Expect snowmaking as long as temps allow.
As you can see by this morning’s update, everybody is making snow like crazy and with the cold that we’ve had in place for the last couple of days, things will be PHENOMENAL today. Today may be the best day to ski as some “underdeveloped” snow (rain) will enter the picture for the next few days. Behind that comes Winter…snow and cold return to the region and we’re hoping for some time after!
Until Next Time!.
Be sure to email photos, snow reports and comments to: [email protected]