Ski NC: What’s New This Season

North Carolina gets a lot of tourists, making tourism one of the largest industries in the state. Western NC gets 3 million visitors at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and even more along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Between NASCAR, the Outer Banks, and other attractions all over the state, tourism supplies ~$15.5 billion and nearly 200,000 jobs to the North Carolina economy, along with about $2.5 billion in tax revenues.

But not all of North Carolina’s tourism happens in the beautiful spring, summer or fall. Our mountainous western region hosts many excellent – even world class – ski resorts who do a brisk business at high elevations all winter long!

Ski North Carolina keeps a constantly updated skiing news and conditions report going, along with links to the area resorts and lots of information and advertisements for condos, chalets and other lodging options at or near all the best slopes.

Sunday’s New York Times carried a special travel section on skiing this past week, with some interesting information about what’s happening to the big ski resorts in Europe, where global warming has closed down much of the Alps, most of Germany’s lower elevation resorts, and is threatening the entire industry. In the article Resorts Prepare for a Future Without Skis talks about what the Swiss alpine resorts are doing to keep themselves awash in visitors despite the lack of snow. Installation of posh spas, glassed-in swimming pools and non-snow sports choices (golf, anyone?) is happening all over the Alps.

So far, North Carolina’s resorts have mostly escaped the most dreadful effects of global warming through the combination of artificial snow-making, good siting and elevation. While opening dates have occasionally been pushed back closer to Christmas and closing dates vary radically, It is generally cold enough above 4,000 feet in NC’s mountains to keep ski-able snow on the north slopes for at least three months of the year.

Appalachian Ski Mountain near Boone already has 3 of 10 slopes open with 8-16 inches of snow and a groomed surface. 2 of their 5 lifts are open. They’ve installed new permanent snow machines and doubled its pumping capacity – providing the capability of 1 millions pounds of snow per hour! Appalachian has some of the best snowboarding terrain in North Carolina and hosts a large ice skating rink.

Cataloochie Ski Area is open in beautiful Maggie Valley just 35 miles west of Asheville and bordering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hawksnest Ski Resort near Banner Elk will open this Friday, December 7. With 12 slopes and 4 lifts plus special snowboard runs, there’s plenty to do.

Sapphire Valley Ski Area and family tubing favorite Scaly Mountain will also be opening this week or next. Ski Beech Resort will also be opening soon. At an elevation of 5,506 feet, it’s the highest ski resort in North Carolina and usually brags a fine natural base from its ~80″ of snowfall every winter.

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort is open for both day and night skiing on 2 of 20 slopes (1 of 9 lifts) atom made granular snow. They’ve added a new 10,000 square foot ice rink and also offers a tubing park. Wolf Ridge Ski Resort near Wolf Laurel will be opening soon for the season, with a new terrain park for snowboarders and a new quad lift.

So get together with your family and friends and come on out to the high country for some bitchin’ boarding, skiing, ice skating, mallow-roasting and chalet fun! Check the links for contact and reservation information, deals on accommodations and equipment, and live weather updates on your favorite ski areas!

Links:

Ski North Carolina

Appalachian Ski Mountain

Cataloochie Ski Area

Hawksnest Ski Resort

Sapphire Valley Ski Area

Scaly Mountain

Ski Beech Resort

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort

Wolf Ridge Ski Resort

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Filed under Blue Ridge, Family Activities, North Carolina, Ski Resorts, Snow Tubing, Snowboarding, Tourism, Winter Sports | Comment (0)