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Lots of Snow on the Grounds at Area Winter Resorts as Spring Fever Blowout, March Madness Continues

"March Madness" at Sugar Mountain Resort is still happening. Great conditions at great prices.
“March Madness” at Sugar Mountain Resort is still happening. Great conditions at great prices. Photos by Ken Ketchie

By Jesse Wood

March 14, 2014. Lots of snow is still prevalent at the winter resorts – Sugar Mountain Resort, Hawksnest Resort, Beech Mountain Resort and App Ski Mtn.

With a mini cold snap hitting the High Country the past few days, local winter resorts had the opportunity to make another batch of snow before the ski season comes to an end during the next two weeks. And those that didn’t make extra snow, saw some fresh snow fall as well. 

On Thursday, snowmaking was in effect at App Ski Mtn. until 11 a.m. “to offer guests the best conditions possible,” according to App’s Facebook page.

That manmade snow was on top of the two inches or so of fresh snow that Mother Nature drifted onto the slopes. Just like today, the sun was shining amidst bluebird skies on Thursday. But with the warmer weather of Friday, skiing in a t-shirt was a real possibility.   

As of Friday, all but three slopes in the High Country are open. All nine slopes and three terrain parks of App Ski Mtn. are open; all of Sugar Mountain Resort’s 20 slopes are open; and Beech Mountain has 12 of its 15 slopes open. Plus, ice skating and tubing at the individual resorts are still offered as well.

Sugar has a 28 to 78 inch base on Friday, while ASM has a 36 to 70 inch base and Beech Mountain has a 30 to 80 inch base. 

Known as the Spring Fever Blowout or March Madness, skiing during the last month of the winter season means deep discounts, and as of right now, amidst great conditions.

Both ASM. and Beech Mountain Resort have combined to offer any N.C. Ski Area Season pass holder a which-ever-is-less discount on ski tickets of half price or $20 on any day or night in March.

Sugar Mountain Resort already began its annual March Madness discounts where skiers and snowboarders enjoy 25 percent savings on lift tickets, rental equipment and lessons for the remainder of the winter season. Plus, Winter Value Packages are discounted at 40 percent.

ASM also offered a special Unlimited March Pass for only $75, which is less than the price of two weekend tickets, Stanley noted. This pass is good until closing day March 23, so riders can enjoy the full lineup of events we have scheduled.

In a release earlier in the month that noted Beech Mountain offering weekday pricing for all seven days of the week for lift tickets and “stay-and-ski” packages, it also listed the advantages to hitting the slopes in March: moderate temperatures, extended daylight hours, shorter lift times and the aforementioned discounts.

App Ski Mtn. and Beech Mountain Resort are expected to shut down for the season on Sunday, March 23, while Sugar Mountain Resort will likely stay open for a few days longer. See scheduled events below.

Hawksnest Tubing Resort has already begun its “March Madness” rates as well. Hawksnest 20-lane snow tubing park has four different areas to tube and lanes that are anywhere between 400 to 1,000 feet long. Last week, owner Lennie Cottom said, ” So far, so good. It’s still cold, and we’ve got plenty of snow. We’ll keep going as long as it stays cold and people keep coming.” 

Check out the links at the top of the page for more information about each resort. 

Upcoming Events at Area Ski Resorts:

App Ski Mtn.

  • Sunday, March 16 – St. Patrick’s Day Jam with High Fives, Nighttrain
  • Saturday, March 22 – Meltdown Games and Red Bull Schlittentag
  • Sunday, March 23 – Neff Beach Bash

Sugar Mountain Resort

  • Sunday, March 16 – Eight Annual Easter Egg Hunt on the Slopes
  • 2015 Spyder Sample Sale at Sugar Mountain Sports Continues

 

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Zipliners were out and about at Hawksnest Resort on Friday. Along with snow tubing in the winter, Hawksnest offers year-round ziplining.

 

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Hawksnest Resort tubing lanes from afar.

 

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Lots of snow is atop Beech Mountain right now.

 

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The sledding hill sponsored by the Town of Beech Mountain has snow, too. Enjoy the fun while it lasts.

 

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All 20 of Sugar Mountain Resort’s slopes are open. Check ’em out for most of the rest of March at a discounted rate.