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Ski Resorts in the High Country Back Open, Number of Events Scheduled This Week

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A lot of folks were enjoying Beech Mountain Resort over the weekend as winter finally arrived. Photos by Ken Ketchie

By Jesse Wood

With temperatures staying below freezing for a couple more days, the ski resorts in the High Country are taking advantage of the weather to make as much snow as the weather permits.

The ski resorts – Sugar Mountain, Appalachian Ski Mtn. and Beech Mountain – all opened during the weekend, and Hawksnest Tubing, which has been making snow, plans to open on Wednesday.

Appalachian Ski Mtn. currently has a base of 24 to 48 inches.

“App can really lay down some snow and it only took two nights of snowmaking to completely transform the mountain from bare ground to a complete winter wonderland,” according to the latest post at SkiSoutheast.com. “They had 8 slopes open (and still do today) and coverage was insanely good.  The weather was perfect with bluebird conditions and temperatures just above freezing.  It was awesome!”

Coming up this week, Appalachian Ski Mtn. has a couple events, including Burton Ladies Park Night, which takes place on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 5 p.m., and the Smith Shred the Cup Rail Jam, which begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10.

Beech Mountain Resort has five trails and three lifts open with a base of 12 to 30 inches, and got a chance to open its new tubing run this weekend. Currently, the tubing run is closed for the week as the resort makes more snow, and it will re-open next weekend, according to a Beech Mountain Resort representative.

On Saturday, Beech Mountain Resort will host the Winterfest Beer Festival and Acoustic Syndicate, one of the best bands born and bred in the state of North Carolina. The beer festival takes place from 3 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and Acoustic Syndicate begins at 5:30 p.m.

Across the Banner Elk valley, Sugar Mountain Resort has six slopes open, including Northridge, Switchback, Upper Flying Mile, Lower Flying Mile, Easy Street and Magic Carpet Area.

Sugar Mountain Resort has a base of 10 to 34 inches.

On Tuesday, Jan. 5, Sugar Mountain Resort will host the Septuagenarian party for those 70 years young or more. The part recognizes Sugar’s senior citizen skiers and “favors, refreshments, and good company” takes place in the Last Run Lounge at noon.

On Friday and Saturday, Sugar Mountain Resort will host Edge of the World for snowboard demo days that begin at 9 a.m. on both days. And of course, Saturday is also National Winter Trails Day and Sugar Mountain Resort is participating once again.

The event offers children and adults new to snow sports the chance to try snowshoeing for free and several guided tours for kids and adults are available throughout the morning and afternoon.

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A view of Sugar Mountain Resort from the highway in between Banner Elk and Tynecastle.

Photos of Beech Mountain Resort over the weekend

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A view of Sugar Mountain Resort last week. And, what a difference a couple days of cold weather has on the slopes at Sugar Mountain Resort and the rest of the High Country ski, snowboard and tubing areas.