It is 16 degrees this morning and mostly sunny with a 74-inch base.
Oh wait, sorry. Those are the conditions for Powder Mountain in Utah this morning, not the southeast.
That is where I will be getting my turns in today. I’m out west, fresh off of the SkiSoutheast Summit at Massanutten. From one paradise to another.
I’ll keep everyone updated on the conditions out here in the SkiSoutheast #outwest Discord channel. I promise, it’ll just be inspiration, and I won’t rub it in too much. It looks like we’re going to get a few bluebird days before it absolutely dumps snow again.
Temperatures in the teens, though?! It was 55 degrees at Masssanutten Saturday. I’m in for a bit of an adjustment.
As for the southeast, it looks like we are finally getting those snowmaking temperatures that meteorologist Brad Panovich told us about. There were some inches of base lost after this spring-like weekend, don’t get me wrong. But the thermostat should be taking a dip this week, and give us the weather we need to take everyone into the last holiday weekend of the winter.
Red Bull Heavy Metal
The kid from Blowing Rock is taking home some more hardware.
Luke Winkelmann, a pro snowboarder from North Carolna and the 2019 rookie of the year, took home a first place finish at the Red Bull Heavy Metal contest at the Minnesota State Capitol building in Saint Paul.
Egan Wint took home first place on the women’s side of things.
Here’s what else you need to know to ski and ride in the southeast today:
Cataloochee
A slight drop in the number of trails open today, as Cataloochee will have 15 ready to go for you today.
The park team is currently hard at work at a new terrain park build.
Beech
The Burton and Girls Go Shred 100% female demo session at Beech looks like it went off with a bang!
Beech has 15 open trails today.
Winterplace
Cheap twilight session lift tickets are available again tonight. Ski or ride for just $49 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Thursday through Monday.
Winterplace is wrapping up a pretty crazy weekend. The Meet Me In The Holler: Rail Jam went off yesterday, and the après ski Retro Party looked like a blast.
Mountain Operations is ready to take full advantage of cold temps to continue to build up the base. The resort is switching things up a bit to ensure the top-notch conditions on the mountain. There will be just 15 trails open and 4 lifts spinning today.
Starting tomorrow, February 12, we’ll be temporarily limiting certain areas of the mountain due to warmer temperatures and precipitation. Don’t worry, though – this is all part of our plan to ensure optimal snow quality for the holiday weekend ahead!”
Chair 3 will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, and the Bottom Heaven Holler Rail Garden will be hike-only.
All terrain between Woods Run and Milkshake will be closed to prepare for snowmaking. R2 will also be closed.
While these adjustments may seem like a bummer, we’re actually gearing up for an epic snowmaking session on Tuesday night! By limiting operations now, we’re ensuring our mountain ops team can work their magic effectively, moving snow around and prepping for an incredible weekend on the slopes. Keep in mind, that we’ve got plenty of snow stockpiled around the mountain – we just need those temperatures to cooperate! Our commitment to delivering the best experience possible remains unwavering, and we can’t wait to see you all out there shredding the fresh snow this weekend. Thanks for your understanding and continued support.”
Wintergreen
From the snow report:
Chance for some wet weather in the afternoon. Come get those midweek turns in. soft snow all day. Slope conditions are great, just need a good waterproof layer to keep you warm and dry.
Snowshoe
Back again to 100% open, Snowshoe was blessed with cold temperatures during this warm-up, and it is celebrating in a big way.
From the snow report:
Good morning from 4,848ft! We’ll continue to see mild temperatures today, with more wet weather rolling in later this afternoon and lasting through the night. The good news is that temperatures drop on the backside of this system, bringing us some natural snow as well as allowing our snowmakers to get back in action. Timberjack is open as a ski trail without features. Please be sure to ski/ride under control at all times and follow all safety signage. Looking for some indoor family fun? The Bear’s Den has you covered!”
Appalachian Ski Mountain
That terrain park looks like its ripping over there at App. Don’t take my word for it, though. Listen to young gun Henry Cuthbert.
Timberline
Snowmaking temperatures are finally creeping back across the region.
Here’s what the snow report said today:
It may be a little warm, but our base is holding up great. We’ll be bouncing back to prime conditions once snowmaking weather hits in the coming days. Until then, you can enjoy some fun and forgiving conditions that are great for beginners and families. All open terrain has been groomed for a soft, granular, spring-like surface.”
The Rest
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.