| As the holiday season approaches, people from all | | | | resorts. For the times when Mother Nature isn't so |
| around the south are tuning up their skis and pulling | | | | cooperative, there are some conditions that arise |
| out their snowboards in anticipation of a week long | | | | that every south eastern skier and snowboarder |
| ritual of winter fun - going to ski North Carolina. This | | | | should be aware of. |
| year promises to be a good one, as temperatures | | | | As the season progresses, daytime temperatures |
| remain consistently cold,and Mother Nature is being | | | | rise above freezing and the sun shines stronger on |
| generous with the real stuff! | | | | the slopes. In these conditions snow (man made or |
| Some of the highest peaks in the Blue ridge | | | | not) will have a tendency to melt, providing for a |
| Mountains are located in the northwest corner of | | | | wet, slushy skiing experience - in itself something to |
| North Carolina, standing guard over the quaint little | | | | get used to. Symptoms of this condition include a |
| resort town of Banner Elk in Avery county. Just east | | | | sudden slowing down and an inability to make a |
| of the continental divide is Grandfather Mountain, the | | | | successful cut, or turn. A well waxed ski may allow |
| highest peak in the Blue Ridge, and to the north west | | | | you to glide more easily through these "slush |
| of Banner Elk looms Beech Mountain, which boasts of | | | | puddles", but as far as turning goes, its best not to |
| being the highest ski area in eastern North America. | | | | even try. |
| Sure Mount Mitchell is higher, but its in the Black | | | | Conversely, as nighttime temperatures fall below |
| Mountains, a sub range of the | | | | freezing, andthe snow blowing starts, the snow that |
| Blue Ridge. | | | | turned to slush during the day turns to ice at night. |
| Although the elevation is high, and our slopes are | | | | Ice patches can be highly dangerous, causing one to |
| vast and challenging, North Carolina skiing does have | | | | speed up uncontrollably, feeling kind of like your feet |
| its ups and downs. This is still the south, and annual | | | | slipping out from under you on a frozen pond. A well |
| snowfall comes nowhere near to that of New | | | | tuned pair of skis with sharp edges digging into the |
| England, where lake effect snows keep the ski | | | | iceis your best bet for slowing down. Patches of ice |
| slopes blanketed pretty much all through the winter. | | | | can sometimes be hidden under a cover of fresh |
| Our best scenario for natural snow is when moisture | | | | blown snow, which can really be an unexpected |
| from an Atlantic storm system collides with the polar | | | | surprise. Any large patches of ice are usually well |
| jet stream dipping far into the south east | | | | marked, and snow cats can help break up the ice, |
| Appalachians - a phenomenon that happens far too | | | | grooming the surface to make for a safer, more |
| seldom to run a profitable ski resort throughout the | | | | enjoyable skiing experience. Repetitive days and |
| season. | | | | nights of these conditions can cause large patches of |
| Undaunted by Mother Nature, the fine folks of this | | | | ice, and will eventually lead to the closing of trails (and |
| northwesternchunk of North Carolina saw these huge | | | | the entire slope) as the season progresses. |
| mountain slopes with their lack of natural snow, and | | | | To be sure, these conditions exist at all ski resorts, |
| decided to do something about it! Sugar Mountain, | | | | and are a natural progression of the season. It just |
| Beech Mountain, and even Hawksnest ski resort in | | | | seems to be more exaggerated in the south! Rest |
| Seven Devils became early pioneers in snowmaking | | | | assured that the North Carolina Ski Patrol vigilantly |
| technologies. Today, man made snow supplements | | | | checks all trails, marking bare spots and patches of |
| ski resorts even in regions of the heaviest natural | | | | ice, and will not hesitate to close trails where |
| snowfalls. | | | | hazardous conditions persist. State of the art snow |
| In North Carolina, the roar of the snow guns can be | | | | grooming equipment and the ability to generate a |
| heard throughout the valley any time the | | | | fresh cover of snow gives the North Carolina ski |
| temperature dips below freezing. Thanks to modern | | | | resorts just the edge they need to provide for a |
| day snow making capabilities, our North Carolina ski | | | | more uniform surface condition, allowing for a fun, |
| resorts are able to remain open pretty much all | | | | longer and safer ski season. |
| through the winter - as long as it freezes of course! | | | | In my next article, we will explore in detail Sugar |
| The best conditions for skiers and snowboarders | | | | Mountain, Beech Mountain, and Hawksnest Ski Resort. |
| exist when thereis a healthy combination of natural | | | | Three top notch ski areas that make North Carolina |
| snow and the man made stuff. When this happens, | | | | skiing and snowboarding the best in the south! Ski |
| skiing and snowboarding on our vast mountain trails is | | | | North Carolina!!! |
| an experience that rivals any of the east coast ski | | | | |