Cataloochee today, skied about a dozen runs before the crowds showed up.
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Cataloochee today, skied about a dozen runs before the crowds showed up.
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all my superiors and a lot of my coworkers were at sugar before coming to beech and all say the same thing: it was miserable and gunther was the reason. real authoritarian, i hear. no way to go through life.Quote:
Originally Posted by teledave
I typically ski Cataloochee and hadn’t been to Beech/Sugar in a few years. Was impressed at the investments Beech has made over the past couple of years.
Yes Sugar is steeper for 2-3 turns at the top, but Beech skis better overall - especially when fully open.
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Took the groms (4 and 5) to Cataloochee Wed and Thur this past week. Drove up Wednesday morning for post lunch turns, it was hot (50*+) and made for slushy and difficult chair loading for the groms. Thursday morning we awoke to a dusting of snow and temps in the teens. They had been blowing snow and combined with the dusting made for some decent turns. The kids had a blast and I got a chance to skied in my Hoji Frees for the first time. They need some fine tuning (will take to Tech Talk), but very happy with them so far.
Had a few frustrating experiences with employees not doing their jobs and/or being dicks. I've had more "seriously?! WTF!" moments at Catalahochee in 3 trips I've made there, than all my winters spent in Tahoe/Summit Co combined.
Going to try and get a Sugar/Beech trip in this winter and maybe another short midweek trip back to the 'oochee.
NC chairlift:
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Same chair, Thursday:
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Thursday Morning dusting:
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Big brother helping drag his little sister through a flat spot, random snowboarder in the way. (On of the most stressful parts of skiing easy trails with kids is everyone else who is out of control and in their way).
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the picture is of course sideways but a lil Oz stoke from last Thursday at the Beech. i got there later in the afternoon but there was a good 6" of freshies that morning.
awoke to a fresh 5" yesterday at Elk River. probably a few more on the mountain. didn't get any turns in but probably will on wednesday with the forecast calling for 8"+ today and tomorrow.
Whatever happened to the base webcam? Someone years ago posted it so we could watch people crash at the bottom into the mud one spring.
Now all we got is a rimed-out wobbly phallic thingamabob to look at on the summit cam.
https://www.resortcams.com/webcams/b...untain-summit/
https://cataloochee.com/the-mountain/webcams/Quote:
Originally Posted by muted
-thier all interchangeable.
well, careful. The NC 6 yr old model (french fry until i hit the orange net then ask the guy in the red jacket wheres mah dad) doesn't translate well to say snowbird (dad frantically chosing a base area to head to/search; only to find said grom having a coke with an old c0llege bud -Quote:
Originally Posted by jables
I heard him say to the patrol 'my dad is marshall tucker you probably know him the red coats always stop him to talk to him where we live"
'do you live in atlanta / is your dad from "x" ?
'howd you know?'
Learned to ski at Cataloochee, this thread was a real trip down memory lane. Moved to the Rockies in 2014 and haven't been back since. Need to change that soon.
Is Oz even steep enough to actually maintain downhill momentum with 6"? I've been stopped by an uphill breeze there before.Quote:
Originally Posted by stealurface831
anybody getting some this weekend?
i was hoping all these winter weather events would translate to at least a storm day or two in the high country but it seems all we've gotten is rain and ice. looks like we are at the turning point of the season where everything starts to melt but i don't know.
Creamy + dreamy splitboard adventures in Canaan before it froze up Thurday night. Hopefully last nights couple inches will rebond to the bomber base and the crust monster will go away
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Taking a Southeast Ski Safari on the Indy Ski Pass, stop 1 Massanutten
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^^^^^^^^
That pic of Massa nuttin brings back many fond memories roadtripping in from NoVa and RVa back in the 80's.
keep 'em coming.
West By God - Canaan Valley
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Winterplace - 50/50 on masks, shit load of busses in the parking lot, vertically challenged
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Nice, looks like you're getting 2nd or third trax. Way to get after it early.
Canaan Valley as a kid was maybe the first place that I skied in an absolute blizzard at night. Hardly anyone there, filling in my tracks for the first time. Trying to see, but hell, viz was less important all of a sudden, skiing by braille in the hazy yellow light.
Traveling with my parents to WV to ski was another level for me then.
Oh, also, that Winterplace appears to have a lot of No-Fall zones. Off the snow into the trees, I remember that now. That was at that other place in WV.
had the meltdown games at app today for the last runs of the season. 120 foot pond skim along with a super impossible rail and chinese downhill. storm rolled in during the middle of the pond skim so that got cut short but everything else picked back up after a lightning break. caught the w in the chinese downhill and netted a new pair of anon googles which made up for the absolute yardsale i took after crossing the finish line. facesplant, tomahawk, ragdoll, the whole deal. it was a good one.
This thread has been fascinating and I will ski a southeast hill one day.
Forgot the trail names, but definitely remember plenty of laps there. Including some night storm skiing as a VT student. We used to hit a strip club now and then on the way home, Southern Exposure, which must have burned down in 2000 I think.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackbeard
Lots of fun trips and good pow days at snowshoe as well. Skipped a final for an 18” storm there, which I fortunately was able to make up later.
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https://www.redbull.com/us-en/videos...b-snowboarding
Pretty wild edit from Snowshoe. I'm surprised they were able to put this together up on the mountain.
Looks like some places have made enough snow to open. It feels like a warmer than usual start of a winter.
Planning to take the groms out on a NC overnight or two when it snows. Then we're looking at spending 4-5 midweek days at Snowshoe first week in February. There is a BMX National in VA the weekend before so we're eyeing a race and ski week. Should be fun.
Despite growing up in the Atlanta area, I've never skied anywhere east of the Rockies except Catalahoochie (and not until after having kids). I've heard Snowshoe is fun. Any beta or recommendations?
On a side note: Are there boot fitters (that anyone can recommend) anywhere better Atlanta and Snowshoe?
Glad that this thread got started last year (even though I think the OP went west as you should). We had a baby last Sept so our plans to spend a few months out west are on hold.
Are you in Atlanta? The drive to Snowshoe is a haul, 9 hours, but it’s the closest thing you’ll get to a “ski vacation” in the Southeast. Majority of the lodging is booked thru the resort with lift ticket deals tied to them. Just avoid going over MLK or Pres weekends. Western Territory has the best skiing, with some newer glades at the top of the resort (Widowmaker area).
Beech Mtn in North Carolina is a closer option, but with less skiing. Somewhat of a resort feel there compared to the other NC ski areas.
Boot fitters in ATL - you’re limited to Peter Glenn or Rocky Mtn Ski & Board, the guys at Peter Glenn are pretty knowledgeable - might be worth stopping by to see them.
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Thanks Blackbeard!
Haven't skied Beech yet but was considering making a trip there as it's not a lot further than Catalahoochie. Snowshoe is only 2 hours from the BMX race in VA and most importantly, we're going to take my parents to watch the 14 month old and hopefully the groms some. The resort feel and village should provide them with more things to do and feel more like vacation for them.
I've never even stepped foot in either of those places in ATL so I haven't a clue if they're reputable. I've spent 5.5 winters between Tahoe and Summit county and just always had connections/friends in shops there. Ill stop in Peter Glenn and see what they have to say. I'm open to waiting to be at Beech/Maggie Valley/Snowshoe too if there is a solid recommendation at any of those places.
Somehow allowed myself to get roped into a night session at beech tonight. Easily the worst conditions I have ever skied. Boilerplate ice with patches of 1-2 inches of WETTT man made mixed in. 60 to 0 in half a second, even with freshly hot-boxed bases. Snowmaking in full effect with gusty wind to boot. Same old sketchy lighting situation.
White Lightning is completely bare and there is no blowing going on over there. Understandable though with the warm temps returning soon.
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Nice :-) love the wet marshmallow grabby goo when it's too warm or they don't have the guns dialed up just right. I prefer the squealy Styrofoam stuff. If coverage looks sketchy I just ski Little Apple instead. Less to worry about covering there. How long are you out of school for? My kid's back from college in Oklahoma said he'd like to get some turns in over the break. Thinking the days just after NYD. I'm off til the 6th.Quote:
Originally Posted by stealurface831
School is back in session the 16th but unfortunately I’m headed westward next week. Hopefully weather will cooperate and you guys can get some quality turns in. If slush turns are able to be had when I am back home in March, I’d love to ski ya then.Quote:
Originally Posted by SumJongGuy
Haven’t even bothered heading out yet, pretty depressing start after such a good start last year.
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Seriously depressing. Everything on the frontside was fully opened and skiing well this time last year. Oz wasn't far behind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackbeard
I've only been there once when Oz was open....... I only get there a couple times a season though..Quote:
Originally Posted by stealurface831
Yikes, once in the past 20 years I saw conditions this bad just BEFORE Christmas but NEVER during or anytime in January.
Sugar webcam 1/1/22. Beech is ever so slightly better.
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Atlanta feels like April/ May rn
Now that im back living in my homeland , not sure I see the utility in skiing Cat when in roughly the same time to get to MV I can be using my Altabird pass
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I'm with you for multi day trips. As long as you have about 12-18 hours to devote to the airport, rental car, parking/UBER etc flying makes sense. The rental car and flight cancellations shitshow right now just has me opting for a day trip here and there.. So it's local options only..Quote:
Originally Posted by SirHeady
Definitely felt like Spring in ATL warm enough to not even need long sleeves before sunrise. Wild pop up tornado yesterday that looked to be headed our way but fizzled out, thankfully. Only thing worse about the warm temps is the rain which is keeping mtb trails closed.
We just booked midweek trip to Snowshoe for first week in Feb. We were hoping to do an overnight to NC before and are fortunate we can go midweek on short notice but at this rate not sure it'll happen. Fortunately the groms will have fun no matter what.
Sugar reporting 8" from 24 storm total. Let's hope temps are favorable for snow making and retention. Naturally, I'm helping my sister move tomorrow and Wednesday so I can't provide any in person reconnaissance.
Hopefully some of y'all get out and it's good.
We skied Sugar today. Nice laps until about 1pm then slammed as usual. Guns were on a little too long blowing sticky goo on the lower side. Fun day though. Beats working.
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Glad ya'll were able to make it up.Quote:
Originally Posted by SumJongGuy
Any Gunther sightings/interactions?
Closed and not even close to poachable. Looked like 8"-12" maybe a little more up top but that's rental ski coverage there LOL.. Birch and Northridge to FM all day.. Mostly just standing in brutal lines after 1pm..Quote:
Originally Posted by stealurface831
I was referring to the run's namesake, the old Austrian guy who runs the place. He is a notorious asshole and has beef with my old man. He alleged to have seen my father slipping and/or shadowing a course on a few different occasions in high school, getting him DQ'd. Pulled his passes multiple times throughout the 80s-90s.Quote:
Originally Posted by SumJongGuy
i don't need another reason to prefer Beech but thanks. I actually felt kinda sad passing the resort that used to be Hawksnest on the way. I totally would have skied there today if it hadn't died a horrible tubing park death..Quote:
Originally Posted by stealurface831