If you must get in some skiing or riding this week, the day to go is Tuesday. And when I say "must" go, that means you must be willing to part with lots of money and must not mind standing in a lift line. Christmas — the most pricey and popular ski week (or two) of the year — has commenced.
Here's what it looks like at 6 degress below zero, at 7 in the morning, when snow is being made in the wind, at the base of Ski Beech.
Tuesday looks like the best day to be in the hills because cold weather has returned and the ski areas, after a balmy break, are making snow again. At Sugar Mountain for instance, at 7:15 this morning they were reporting a temperature at the base of 0.0 degrees F. Which might make you say, "Gosh, if it's that cold at Sugar how cold is it up the road at Ski Beech, the highest ski area on the East Coast at 5,506 feet?"
It was 6 below. As in minus 6. Or -6.
Here's quick rundown of the likely culprits for a Tuesday trip from the Triangle.
Ski Beech. This morning, Beech was reporting 4 of 15 slopes open and 3 of 10 lifts running, and a base of 10 to 24 inches "w/ thin areas." When a ski area reports "thin areas" going into Christmas week and they have the opportunity to make snow, expect that they'll be making lots of it — a full head of snow, in fact, not a cheap cheap combover. More terrain likely will open in the next two days. Now, for the bad news: a full day lift ticket Wednesday will run you $60. Compare that to Beech's usual Tuesday lift ticket of $19. Weatherwise, the temperature is expected to reach a Frosty-the-Snowman-friendly 12 degrees today and hit 30 tomorrow. Alas, it warms into the mid 40s for the rest of the week, with rain/drizzle/steady rain forecast for Wednesday. Bummer.
Sugar Mountain. Sugar this morning is reporting 11 trails and 4 lifts running with snow making in effect. The forecast is similar to that for Ski Beech and holiday rates apply through Jan. 1, which means an adult lift ticket is — cha ching! — $64. Compare that to a regular season mid-week ticket of $39.
Appalachian Ski Mountain. It's cold at Appalachian, too — the temperature dipped down to 3 overnight. And snowmaking is in effect (though Appalachian is reporting a somewhat more robust base of 33 to 56 inches). All three chairs, the conveyor lift and the handle-pull tow are running, and 6 of 8 runs and both terrain areas are open. Lift tickets are $59 now through Jan. 1 (a regular mid-season day pass: $33). AppSkiMtn, btw, was 0.3 degrees this morning, but with the wind chill advisory in effect — did we mention there was a wind-chill advisory in effect? — it feels like 24 begrees below 0.
Winterplace. Is the situation better a little farther north, in West Virginia? Curiously, at 6:03 a.m. Winterplace was reporting a temperature of 37 degrees (OnTheSnow.com had a different but equally curious report: 6 degrees and "hazy"), with "snow flurries and temps dropping throughout the day!" 12 of 28 trails and 4 of 9 lifts are open, with a base of 20 to 50 inches. It's supposed to be frigid at Winterplace today, reach into the mid 30s Tuesday and rain Wednesday. Adult lift ticket prices are $59 for the holidays ($45 typically during the week). Though it's in West Virginia, divided highway the whole way (literally to within two minutes of the slopes) makes this a doable day trip.
Wintergreen Resort. The closest and most popular ski area for Triangle skiers also tends to get the least ski-friendly conditions. Slopes open today: Intermediate Eagles Swoop and the beginner Upper and Lower Cross, Potato Patch, Upper and Lower Dobie. Snow is currently being blown on the Intermediate Eagles Swoop, Sunrise and Tequila, beginner Upper and Lower Cross, Potato Patch, Upper and Lower Dobie and the advanced Upper Cliffhanger and Lower Wild Turkey. Efficient as Wintergreen's computerized snowmaking operation is, expect these slopes to open as soon as possible, especially during Christmas week. An adult holiday lift ticket this week will run you $69, up from Wintergreen's typical midweek price of $47. Now, about Wintergreen's often more ... balmy weather: Windy with a high of 25 degrees today, partly sunny and 38 Tuesday (looks like they'll probably have to stop blowing snow midmorning), rainy and 55 Wednesday.
To keep updated on mountain weather conditions, go here.
To keep updated on Southeast ski conditions, go here.
