Friday, February 13, 2015

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.beechalpen.com/   Alpen Inn
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