Ski Trip

The Midwest is not known for it's snow ski resorts with long and challenging downhill runs covered with fresh power snow.  However, with the help of snowmaking and grooming machines a very realistic facsimily of the sport is alive and flurshing.  I was in high school when two of the four ski areas opened in the state of Ohio with two being less than a 45 minute drive away.  I would get a season pass and tried to wear out a pair of skis every season.  Still love the sport enough to travel north for at least one ski trip a year.  This year it was two weeks at Beech Mountain North Carolina.
By altitude the town of Beech Mountain is the highest town east of the Mississippi.  Ski Beech Resort is touted as the highest ski resort east of the same large river.  The resort has seen a lot of improvements in the last few years such as new lifts, new snowmaking capacity, two new large snow grooming machines, a refuberished village and Lodge with shops and an ice skating ring, and a European inspired umbrella bar at the top of the hill.  The 5506' Skybar is over a mile above sea level and features local fresh craft made beer and a large outdoor deck to enjoy the views and brews on a sunny day.  You don't have to be a skier to experience the 5506' since in the summer on weekends it and the quad lift are open for hikers, mountain bikers, and sightseers alike.  My favorite lift is the areas only high speed quad which gets four people to the top in a hurry especially during the week.
For lodging if you want to stay on the mountain  a chalet or condo rental from Beech Mountain Realty and ski shop is great.  The Alpen Inn is also an option.  The Best Western and several Bed and Breakfasts are located at the bottom of the mountain in Banner Elk and are equal distance from Ski Beech and Sugar Mountain.
This year past customer and now friends George and Roxanna came up to ski.  George has skied a lot in Europe  and trying to keep up with him wore my legs out by mid afternoon. Thank goodness the 5506' didn't run out of beer.  Grandson Fisher was ready for his first lesson but had troubles with the flue instead and had to stay home.  Next year Fisher.
Have included a drone video link of Ski Beech's opening day this year which is short and sweet along with a link to Ski Beech, Beech Mountain Realty, and the Alpen Inn.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5vD1rPw8W_w  Drone view

 

http://www.beechmountainresort.com/  Ski Beech

 

 http://www.beechmtnproperties.com/ Beech Rental

 

http://www.beechalpen.com/   Alpen Inn

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A Little Storm

This is the time of year we like to take a little vacation up north so I can snow ski.  We could fly out west for ten thousand feet of elevation or drive to North Carolina for five.  We chose the latter and find it works well with maturing legs.  This year skiing was interrupted by the same mega blizzard that hit Boston and points north.  We were staying at the town of Beech Mountain which is the highest incorporated town east of the Mississippi at 5,506 feet above sea level.  There are no gas stations and only one general store, "Freds".  Freds slogan is "If we don't have it, you don't need it" and this is generally true.  In front of their store is a pole that keeps track of snowfalls past and present.  The average yearly snowfall is just over seven feet and the highest recorded snowfall was 137 inches for the 2009/ 2010 winter.  The snow record for a single storm is 48 inches in March of 1993.  This snowfall coupled with hurricane force winds that are not uncommon at the tops of mountains and you can have an interesting situation.  Did I mention the roads are two lane and have switchbacks that make driving interesting even on sunny summer days.  Best to be prepared with extra food, firewood, blankets, batteries,  a boy scout knife, candles etc. When a weather alert goes into effect power outages are common and travel even with four wheel drive is tough.
After being snowed in for a day I decided it was time to take the four wheel drive and go skiing while Barbara stayed home and watched the birds, deer, and cars slide off the road.  Road the lift to the top and couldn't see a thing in the blowing snow.  Waited for someone to come along to follow down but nobody volunteered.  Was so happy to find the lodge at the bottom I made it my one and only run for the day.  The next day was beautiful with Carolina blue sky and great ski conditions.  Skied till my legs gave out.  GREAT!

Brought to you by: Team Gledhill, Prudential Network Realty Buying or Selling Property in St. Johns Co? Call 904-874-2588 or email info@teamgledhill.com

"Sharing Our Community with Buyers & Sellers...One Snippet at a Time"