Visitors to North Carolina's six ski areas spent $88 million last season on lift tickets, equipment rentals, lodging and more.

The total economic impact of the industry was $146 million, according to an economic-impact study commissioned by the N.C. Ski Areas Association. That includes an estimate of employment value and other ripple effects of the industry.

The industry provides 96 year-round jobs and 1,556 seasonal jobs, according to the analysis, conducted by RRC Associates, a market-research firm in Boulder, Colo.

See a gallery of photos from the village of Little Switzerland in the mountains of western N.C. Photos by staff photojournalist Chuck Liddy

A collection of photographs of people and places in the Great Smoky Mountains during the early 1900s.

Jay Pfeil goes for a hike every day in the mountains of western North
Carolina. Then the Black Mountain artist goes home and draws on her
experience. Literally.

You've heard the stories about gas shortages in the mountains? About North Carolina having the highest gas prices in the country? That was yesterday's news — literally. Just last week, storm-shuttered refineries in the Gulf Coast were still having trouble getting gas to western North Carolina, prompting caravans of tankers to be ordered into the state. And Friday, the latest national gas survey found that we had the highest gas prices in the lower 48. (Hey, what happened to California?)

Friday, driving to the mountains we scored gas for $3.27 a gallon in Burlington. Today, coming back we filled up as much as we could with $3.19 gas in Black Mountain. And there was plenty of it — regular, premium, hi-test, Columbian. Lots of it, and cheap! Well, in the recent scheme of things.

Thus, get yourself to the hills people, while the getting is cheap. And if you'd like a recommendation on a spot that should be on fire by this weekend, go here.

Access will be limited this fall to Mount Mitchell State Park.