High Times ? Skiing the North Carolina High Country | Cityview ...

But luckily for Knoxville ski and snowboard fans, there is a lofty, snowy, nationally significant winter sports spot less than three hours away. The North Carolina High Country is a bonafide winter sports destination?perched just across the Tennessee state line from Johnson City.?

The High Country isn?t just a single isolated ski resort like so many scattered around the mountains; it is a cluster of winter sports sites, with three separate, regionally significant downhill ski resorts. That alone makes the area worthy of more than a rushed road trip for one day on the slopes. The High Country is truly a destination ski region where a multi-day stay offers a real choice of different ski experiences, all within a half-hour or so drive of each other.

That diversity of slope experiences is anchored by equally unique and popular resort towns, and those too are all a short drive from each other. Even without enumerating the facilities at each ski area, the surrounding towns of Banner Elk, Boone, and Blowing Rock ramp up the possibilities with a range of great restaurants, distinctive places to stay, and a wealth of attractions, all spanning a price spectrum that ranges from luxe to minimal bucks.

That kind of ?ski destination??where there?s as much to do off the slopes as on? invariably gets the nod when the most nationally significant ski resorts are discussed. Think the resorts of a Lake Tahoe, California, a Summit County, Colorado, the Stowe area of Vermont, or the Mount Washington Valley of New Hampshire.

Sure, our slopes are smaller, but Banner Elk has been proclaimed a ?ski town? by Ski Magazine, and the highest High Country peaks net as much snow as Buffalo, New York! And at less than three hours away, it?s not like you have to make plane reservations and plan months ahead. From Knoxville, it?s easy to watch until great weather rolls in, take a few vacation days, and roll out for a snowy, inspiring winter sports experience. A midweek ski trip virtually guarantees maximum slope time with ski up to the chairlift convenience.

Here?s a rundown of what?s happening this winter in the High Country.

Learn to Ski and Board

The High Country?s first ski area, Appalachian Ski Mountain, debuted in December 1962?50 years ago in December 2012. That?s a lot time to get your product perfected!

Appalachian?s 12 slopes are covered by one of the South?s most intensive snowmaking systems. The 365 feet of vertical drop at Appalachian is served by six lifts, including two commodious four-person quad chairlifts.

The resort?s family focus includes free Wi-Fi in the lodge for parents watching their kids and the best menu of made-from-scratch meals served at any High Country ski area.

There?s also the French-Swiss Ski College. This is one of the South?s most historic ski schools, with the distinction of playing host to Olympic gold medalist Jean-Claude Killy back in 1972. French-Swiss taught its one millionth lesson in 2002?evidence of why Appalachian is one of the most inviting ski areas for beginning skiers and snowboarders. And for non-skiers, there?s outdoor ice-skating.

Snowboarding is a truly strong suit at Appalachian Ski Mountain. This is one of the top ski areas in the East if you?re a parent with a kid who wants to emulate carrot-topped Olympian Shaun White. The resort has three dedicated terrain parks maintained by avid boarders with up to 60 features to slide down or jump over. This is also a hotspot for the Burton Snowboard-sanctioned learning programs, including a Learn to Ride Center, the Burton Freestyle Center, and the only Burton Progression Park south of Maryland. That park permits beginners to systematically improve their skills in a safe, accessible setting.

App?s boarding scene includes a wide variety of events that reflect another aspect of High Country ski culture?this is home to a real community of people who put snow sports first when it comes to lifestyle.

The East?s Highest

The first fact about Beech Mountain that skiers always find fascinating is a superlative: the East?s highest ski area. Beech Mountain tops out 5,506-feet, and the views from up here are some of the best in the High Country. Three states sprawl across the horizon: North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Another distinction for Beech is also based on altitude: the municipality of Beech Mountain, that wraps around the ski resort, is the loftiest town in the East. That often nets particularly atmospheric opportunities to stroll the alpine-style resort village, ice skate on an outdoor rink, or wander to dinner in a memorably snowy setting.?

The resort?s 15 slopes and seven lifts serve 830 feet of vertical feet drop. One of those lifts is a high-speed detachable quad, four-person chairlift?the speediest lift in the South. Beech is also a top snowboarding site, with two terrain parks. The resort?s large ski school teaches the entire spectrum of skills, but its adaptive ski program is nationally known for teaching the handicapped to ski and race.

Events are another big deal for Beech. January?s Winterfest is a highlight of the High Country ski season, featuring bathing suit beauty contests (outside!) and a down-the-slope Cardboard Box Derby.

Sweet Life With Slopes

Sugar Mountain Resort boasts an impressive list of distinctions. Among them: the South?s biggest ski area, with 20 slopes and 115 acres of skiing. Sugar also has the greatest vertical drop: 1,200 feet. Sugar is known for its ski and snowboard instruction, along with the most extensive beginner terrain of any High Country ski area.

Sugar?s size requires a massive snowmaking system, and it?s known for meticulous slope-grooming with huge tank-track machines?one of which requires a cable to haul it up, and slow it down, as it grooms the region?s only double-black diamond expert run: ridiculously steep Whoopdeedoo.

There?s as much to do off the slopes as on at Sugar?day and night. Get giddy on the rush down 700-foot tubing runs. Glide around 10,000 square feet of outdoor ice-skating. Take the only resort-guided snowshoe tours in the region?and see why so many families elsewhere in the country are choosing this easy, adventurous way to embrace winter in the snowy woods.

Lodging is extremely diverse at High Country slopes?and Sugar?s a good example. You can ski right from the door of your guest room, condo, or rental home, near the base lodge, or from the snowiest, most spectacular summit condo. Or cocoon away from the ski season bustle, secluded off in the wintry woods.?

?More than Snow

Just chill if you like, but the High Country?s off-slope options will distract even the hardcore couch potato. Surrounding towns have more than enough to do?just like those resort towns at the nation?s best-known ski sites.?

The list includes everything from art gallery exhibitions to spa treatments. Westglow Spa was recently named a ?Top Destination Spa? by Travel & Leisure magazine. There are winery tours and tastings at the three wineries in the High Country: Grandfather Vineyard and Winery, Banner Elk Winery, and 1861 Farmhouse Restaurant and Winery. And if more active is your addiction, there are snowy hikes on local trails and even scenic drives on the Blue Ridge Parkway or a car-borne climb of Grandfather Mountain.

The skiing?s great, but it?s actually the off-slope options that argue most effectively for more than a one-day ski trip to the High Country.

?Skiing Maggie Valley

Can?t get away for a long weekend? Never fear, Knoxvillians. The mountains of North Carolina can also offer you a one day getaway so you can experience the slopes without cutting into your precious vacation time. Cataloochee?North Carolina?s first ski area?is just across the Great Smoky Mountains and about two hours southeast of Knoxville near Maggie Valley. In recent years the 50-acre, 740-foot vertical ski area has expanded snowmaking and is offering consistent November to March ski seasons. Though not as big as the High Country?s largest resorts, Cataloochee?s dozen slopes and five lifts, including one quad, are a great option for the day skier wanting to stick a little closer to town.

The resort?s rustic lodge has easy access to the slopes and features a ski and souvenir shop, food service, top-notch ski school, a warm fireplace, and a great view of the slopes from an observation area that fills with warmth on sunny days. One of Cataloochee?s strong suits: great views of the Great Smokies. From 5,400 feet high on the ski area?s summit, views reach all across the crest of America?s most visited national park.

There is some lodging on the mountain, but Maggie Valley is not far away from a variety of restaurants and places to stay. There?s also a tubing run four miles from Cataloochee when the urge strikes to do more sliding than skiing or snowboarding.? ?

???????

Sugar Mountain Resort

www.skisugar.com? ?? 828-898-4521

?Rates:?

? ? Adult lift/slope ticket: $41 to $68?

? ? Adult ski rental: $21 to $28

Base Elevation: 4,100 ft.?

Summit Elevation: 5,300 ft.?

Vertical Drop: 1,200 ft.?

Snowmaking: 100% Coverage

Total Skiable Acres: 115

Number of Trails: 20

Longest Run: 11/2 miles?

Number of Lifts: 7

Trail Classification:

Expert: 20% ? Intermediate: 40%? ? Beginner: 40%

?

Appalachian Ski Mountain

www.appskimtn.com? ?? 828-295-7828

?Rates:?

? ? Adult lift/slope ticket: $37 to $65?

? ? Adult ski rental: $19 to $25

?Base Elevation: 3,635 ft.?

Summit Elevation: 4,000 ft.?

Vertical Drop: 365 ft.?

Snowmaking: 100% Coverage

Total Skiable Acres: 27

Number of Trails: 12?

Longest Run: 1/2 mile?

Number of Lifts: 6

Trail Classification:

Expert: 25% ? Intermediate: 50%? ? Beginner: 25%

?

Beech Mountain Resort

www.beechmountainresort.com? ?? 828-387-2011

Rates:?

? ? Adult lift/slope ticket: $35 to $63?

? ? Adult ski rental: $20 to $26

Base Elevation: 4,675 ft.?

Summit Elevation: 5,506 ft.?

Vertical Drop: 830 ft.?

Snowmaking: 100% Coverage

Total Skiable Acres: 95

Number of Trails: 16

Longest Run: 1 mile

Number of Lifts: 7

Trail Classification:

Expert: 30% ? Intermediate: 40%? ? Beginner: 30%

?

Cataloochee Ski Area

www.cataloochee.com? ?? 828-926-0285

Rates:?

? ? Adult lift/slope ticket: $39 to $72

? ? Adult ski rental: $25

?Base Elevation: 4,660 ft.?

Summit Elevation: 5,400 ft.?

Vertical Drop: 740 ft.?

Snowmaking: 100% Coverage

Total Skiable Acres: 50

Number of Trails: 17

Longest Run: 2/3 mile

Number of Lifts: 7

Trail Classification:

Expert: 20% ? Intermediate: 35%? ? Beginner: 45%

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