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!
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