Snow is back, back again. Snow is back, tell a friend.
(Please read the above to the tune of “Without Me” by Eminem).
While Sunday left several resorts closed due to the rain that swept through the region, we have been rewarded for our patience.
Timberline and App Ski are back open, after closing due to the rainy conditions on Sunday. Meanwhile, Massanutten is expected to open back up on Friday, this time, for the season. Mother Nature blessed that Virginia Mountain with 2.5 inches, and the team is taking advantage of that to layer some manmade snow over that for you.
West Virginia seems like the place to be on this Monday. Snowshoe received 3 inches of snow last night, while Timberline landed 3.5.
Half of Timberline’s trails are open now, with all four lifts in operation. And Canaan Resort is staying silent on a possible opening day, but it got another 3.5 inches of snow as well overnight.
Winterplace now has a tentative opening day of December 16 at 9 a.m. After the resort got an inch of new snow, and temperatures are forecasted to stay in the 40s at the highest for the foreseeable future, things are looking good.
Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone
As my season on snow starts up, I’m dealing with the same thing that nearly ever skier and snowboarder deals with in the early days on the mountain: getting back into shape.
We all know that “ski shape” is different from almost any other type of shape. It doesn’t matter if I ran a half-marathon last month, or have been hitting the gym before work. My snowboarding muscles still haven’t been activated since my last day on the mountain in April
The best part about starting my season right in North Carolina – as opposed to Utah, or New Hampshire, or Maine, like I have done the past few seasons – is that because of the limited open terrain, it’s forced me to pay more attention to the technical stuff. Here’s what I mean.
Three years ago, I took a roadtrip out to Utah with a friend to kick our season off before mountains on the East Coast really opened up. We rode through the trees at Brighton Resort, dropped massive chutes at Snowbird, and finished each day off with a parking lot beer, since it was 2020, and most places weren’t open indoors.
We got in shape fast that season, simply because we had to, or risk falling behind the Utah locals that were showing us around, and had already been skiing and riding for a few weeks. But we were also simply trying to keep up for most of that first week, falling asleep with aching muscles, and struggling to recover in time for first chair the following day.
During my first two days on the mountain this year, there was limited terrain open at both Beech and App Ski. Instead of doing the same thing over and over again, with each run, I took the time to focus on improving a different part of my riding. For some runs, that meant taking an entire lap while riding switch. For others, it meant working on lipslides, a trick that I think is so, so cool, but increases the risk of falling.
Riding by yourself – especially on an early-season Monday – is therapeutic, but it can also leave you with a lot of alone time. When I ski or ride with friends, I’m quick to try new things, either because I am inspired after they try them first, or hearing their words of encouragement to do so. When I’m alone, that’s a different story. A five-minute long chairlift ride is more than enough time to talk myself out of trying something new.
But then on Saturday, I saw a video that reminded me of why we keep trying to progress. Drew Peterson is a professional freeskier for Salomon. He absolutely rips, and could send it down the craziest lines with relative ease all while mixing in a backflip or two. But recently, he did the unthinkable: He tried snowboarding.
“it’s really easy to stick with what we’re comfortable with,” he says. “But trying something new can help us change perspective and see our same routines or surroundings with fresh eyes. This can be especially helpful for winter to avoid falling into a rut. And, if you’re challenging yourself to learn something new, you might as well choose something fun!”
I met Drew two years ago at Salomon’s Quality Ski Time tour, where he premiered his documentary Ups and Downs. It’s not your typical hype video, that’s meant to get you to get off the couch, buy new skis and hit the mountain on a powder day. Instead, if focuses on the topic of mental health in skiing, and follows Drew after he recovers from a Traumatic Brain Injury he suffered while on a ski mountaineering trip. It is worth the watch.
So if you’re reading this today, and you’re bummed out by the limited terrain your local mountain has to offer, think about getting uncomfortable with it today.
Now, here’s what’s going on throughout the southeast.
Ober Mountain
Skiing and riding is underway in Tennessee.
Cub Way and Lower Castle are open for business at Ober. The resort is working with a 10 to 20 inch base, and is open from noon to 9 p.m.
I’m excited to get to ride in Tennessee, once the region gets more consistently cold temperatures and Ober opens a bit more terrain up. It’s been about six years since I’ve been to Gatlinburg. I spent three rainy days in the spring there during an extended Appalachian Trail section hike. I look forward to getting there in the winter time. Besides, how could I miss the opportunity to go snowboarding during the day and Dollywood at night?
Bryce
Bryce is back open again today, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ski patroller Bill Nabers was out on the hill Friday, and sent his report our way:
First patroller day today. Good skiing though it started to warm up at noon. Bryce was unable to make snow the last two nights. Very marginal temps and 60% humidity. Hopefully, (snowmaking resumes) next week. Good coverage on Bootlegger and nice snow.”
Bryce will offer its discounted early season rates on lift tickets through December 22. An adult weekday pass is just $40, and the price bumps up to $55 on the weekend.
Sugar
It might have rained a bit during SugarFest, but one couple didn’t let that interrupt them from creating a core memory.
Congratulations to the two of them!
Don’t forget to break out those Santa suits, because a lift ticket is just $25 on Wednesday if you show up dressed head-to-toe as Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, or one of the elves.
Beech Mountain
Cheap lift ticket alert!
If you (or your child) go to school in Watauga, Avery, Ashe, Mitchell, Carter, Washington, or Johnson County, and school is cancelled, you can get a lift ticket for just $15.
Southern Rails looked like a blast, particularly if you’re a fan of back-lipslides (in my opinion, the steeziest trick someone can perform on a snowboard).
If you’re at Beech today, make sure to bring the low light goggles or some safety goggles. Discord user JohnBooswald is there today, and is reporting that visibility is low.
Speaking of the Discord, we have welcomed another 13 members to our channel since last Friday. I know that personally, it’s been an awesome way to keep up with the general vibe of each resort in the southeast, and check in on skiers and riders who are in different locations. Plus, I love getting the videos and photos of snow falling from the front porch. Keep those coming!
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.
Keep skiing the southeast.