 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Carolina Snow Time |
|
henever and wherever I ski, I always ask, "Who owns this resort?" More often than not,
the answer is some mega major multinational corporation, more interested in selling
condos in the base area village than in the fun of the sport.
That's not the story in western North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains.
If you ask Reba Moretz, the refined Southern lady managing the gift and rental
operations at Blowing Rock's Appalachian Ski Mtn., "Who owns this resort?", she'll say,
"My husband, Grady."
Ask Kim, the classic American blonde playing with the beautiful toddler in
Sugar Mountain Resort's day lodge in Banner Elk, and she'll point out her
husband Gunter Jochl, cruising down the slopes in his blue jeans while
demonstrating the style he learned as a teenager in his native Austrian Alps.
And, if you ask, "Who owns this area?" of the fellow filling in behind the
base lodge's upstairs bar during Hawksnest Golf and Ski Resort's late,
late night ski sessions, there's a good chance Lenny Cottom will answer,
"Me and my dad".
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
his friendly, down home style is the distinguishing feature of the quartet
of North Carolina ski resorts near Boone and Blowing Rock, all within 20
minutes of each other.
The area's largest, best-known resorts are Ski Beech,
Sugar Mountain and Appalachian Ski Mtn., which offer
some of the best views in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Rounding out the cluster is Hawksnest Golf and Ski Resort,
a fun and funky little area.
|
|
|
|
|
Ski Beech - on Beech Mountain a few miles outside of Boone - is the oldest ski area in the South,
having opened soon after the invention of snowmaking equipment in the 1960s. At 5,506 feet, it's
also the highest ski area in the East.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beech Mountain's average annual snowfall of 80 inches is combined
with 100 percent snowmaking coverage, which keeps the ski area's 15 slopes open from
8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily from late November to early March.
Besides skiing and snowboarding, Ski Beech offers three 375-foot tubing runs and ice-skating.
It is particularly known for its special bargains, such as $10 retro days and free ladies days.
A village at the foot of the mountain offers accommodations, restaurants, a gift shop, a
nursery and lockers. On weekdays, day and twilight lift tickets for ages 13 to 64 are $28;
kids and seniors pay $21; children ages 4 and under are free with a ticketed adult.
For more information, call 1-800-258-6198, or
check skibeech.com on the Web.
Sugar Mountain Resort in Banner Elk is the largest ski area in North Carolina, and has one of the
longest vertical drops (1,200 feet) south of New England. Sugar's 20 trails and 115 ski-able acres
are open to skiers and snowboarders.
|
|
|
|
|
Most of the mountain is covered with beginner and intermediate terrain, but narrow, steep expert trails (Tom Terrific, Boulder Dash and Whoopdedoo) on top of the mountain are available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Snowboarders have their own park with a half-pipe, tabletop, rail slide and a new lift.
A tubing park features a 700-foot run and two lifts. The resort's base lodge has two cafeterias, a
lounge, a locker room and a game room. Slopes are open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; day passes
start at $33 for adults and $25 for ages 11 through 5; ages 4 and under ski free with a paying adult.
For more information, call 1-800-784-2768; on the Web,
check skisugar.com.
Appalachian Ski Mtn. in Blowing Rock ("Mtn. because we decided 'Appalachian' is long enough,"
in the words of Grady Moretz, Jr., president and patriarch of the family-owned and operated ski resort)
markets itself to families. With its well-known ski school and the largest ski clothing rental operation in the country,
Appalachian is an excellent choice for first-timers and families of mixed ability. It has nine slopes,
complete snowmaking coverage, skiing and snowboarding until 10 p.m., and ice-skating. Its
45,000-square-foot base lodge has an observation deck, restaurant, TV room, game room, lockers,
a nursery and more.
|
|
|
|
|
What you won't find at Appalachian is tobacco or alcohol. In 1974, it was one of the first ski areas anywhere to ban smoking in the ski lodge. And, they're 100% dry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
"It's not a statement of morality. It's a question of safety," says Brad Moretz, Grady's son
and the ski area's general manager, "It's not safe to drink and drive on the way to the slopes,
and it's not safe to drink and ski on the slopes."
Day ski tickets start at $25 for adults, $17 for kids ages 12 to 6, and $23 for students with an ID;
ages 5 and under ski free with a ticketed adult. For more information, call 1-800-322-2373; on the Web,
check appskimtn.com.
The smallest area, Hawksnest, makes up for limited terrain by appealing to a niche market.
Hawksnest Golf and Ski Resort - in Seven Devils between Boone and Banner Elk - recently
reopened for skiing, snowboarding and tubing. It bills its expert run, Top Gun, as the "ski challenge
of the South." The resort also has tubing and snowboarding areas.
A young crowd turns out for Hawksnest's "Nighthawk" hours - 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and
Saturdays - for skiing and snowboarding while bands play in the base lodge's lounge. The
lodge also has a restaurant. Day lift tickets start at $20 for adults, $16 for students, and $8
for kids ages 12 and under. Tubing in the resort's new park is $20 for two hours.
For more information, call 1-800-822-4295; on the Web,
check hawksnest-resort.com.
|
|
|
|
|
Accommodations available in the Boone-Banner Elk-Blowing Rock triangle
are as varied as needs and budget.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options range from motel rooms and condos to backwoods to in-town homes. Most of the ski areas put together "ski and stay" packages, which include accommodations and discounted lift tickets. For instance, Appalachian Ski Mountain's packages include one night's lodging and a day ski ticket. Per person prices start at $47 Sundays through Thursdays and $83.50 Fridays and Saturdays, depending on accommodations; call 1-800-322-2373.
The four areas offer lessons for all age groups and skill levels. Because of the area's high percentage of first-timers and southerners, they also rent ski and snowboarding clothes and equipment. As long as you call ahead, you can literally show up with nothing but the shirt on your back - there's no need to make any investment in boots, skis, boards, poles, goggles, bibs, jackets and hats.
Something else to keep in mind when planning your ski vacation: If you purchase a ski-and-stay package, you'll be limited to that that area during your stay. If you make your accommodations arrangements separately, you can ski any area you want.
Maybe I'm small town, but I prefer the corner grocer to Walmart. I'd rather live in the country than the city. And, when I'm skiing, it's nice to know that the owner personally made first tracks before the ski area opened, just to make sure conditions are good enough for his guests. They do that in North Carolina.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Barry Jay Warsch is an attorney who lives in Cooper City, Florida. He writes to support his travel and skiing habits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
