Ice in the High Country

February 1, 2008 11:30 a.m.

The central and eastern parts of Watauga County were hit with an ice storm overnight. Roads were improving by mid morning and the sun is expected to return by the afternoon. Some residents experienced power outage, some lost internet and phone service and there were some downed trees blocking traffic.

The forecast for the Saturday and Sunday . . . Sunny skies and high temperatures in the fifties !

January 26, 2008
Blowing Rock Winterfest Polar Plunge

On Saturday, January 26 Blowing Rock North Carolina held many of their Winterfest activities. THe day started at 9 a.m. with the Silent Action & Raffle in the Blowing Rock Elementary School cafeteria. Raffle tickets provided a chance to win prizes or select an item from the silent auction. This event is sponsored by the Rhododendron Chapter of the American Women’s Association.

At 10 a.m. the most popular event of the Winterfest celebration took place at the Chetola Resort. The Polar Plunge into Chetola Lake attracts dozens of jumpers. Dozens of brave souls will line up for the dunk into Chetola Resort’s famed lake and hundreds of spectators . . .

Click here to see more photos . . .

Recommended reading:

"The Way We Lived in North Carolina" by Joe A. Mobley , Peter H. Wood , Thomas H. Clayton

Click on image at right to learn more . . .

"Based on the premise that the past can be most fully understood through the combined experience of reading history and visiting historic places, The Way We Lived serves as a travel guide North Carolina's history, enhancing the reader's appreciation and understanding of historic preservation. Discussion of recently designated historic sites has been added to this edition, as have twenty-eight detailed maps newly prepared by Mark Anderson Moore. A new appendix provides an extensive list of historic sites to visit. This volume provides an entertaining and informative guide to North Carolina history for students and professionals, teens and seniors, natives and newcomers."
    ~ Book Description from Amazon.com

March 12, 2008: Beech and Hawksnest closed for the season

January 28, 2008
Ski Slope updates . . .

Click on the following links for updates from ski slope websites. .
Sugar Mountain Ski Resort
"100% open. 43-98 inches. 6 lifts, 20 slopes open."
Appalachian Ski Mountain
"Open. 38 - 72 inches. Ice Skating open."
Hawksnest Ski Resort . . ."11 of 13 slopes open. 4 of 5 lifts open. 30 - 44 inches. "
Ski Beech "13 of 15 slopes open. 5 of 10 lifts open. 18 - 28 inch base depth."

Recommended reading:

"Backcountry Skiing: Skills for Ski Touring and Ski Mountaineering (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert Series)" by Martin Volken, Scott Schell, Margaret Wheeler

Click on image at right to learn more . . .

"Martin Volken and his co-authors provide skiers with all the tools and knowledge they need to safely and successfully travel in the mountains. The guide features intermediate-to-advanced techniques for ski touring and ski mountaineering, from planning wilderness trips to perfecting turns in rolling terrain and mastering uphill climbing. For those skiers ready for a more technical, high alpine environment, they draw on traditional mountaineering skills, including roped climbing, setting protection anchors, using ice axes, climbing on bare rock, and more. In addition to mastering techniques, Backcountry Skiing also features information on recent evolutions in ski equipment; avalanche safety tips; a primer on mountain weather and glaciers, trip planning tools, a discussion of emergency situations, nutrition and fitness advice, and winter camping basics. Throughout this guide, a special emphasis is put on being well-informed and making good decisions-whenever you strap on your skis and skins and head out into the backcountry."
    ~ Book Description from Amazon.com

December 15 - 16 , 2007 Schedule of Events
1-800-SUGARMT
237 Dick Trundy Lane | Sugar Mountain, nc 28604 Website: www.SeeSugar.com/sugarfest (see link below)

From their website (see link below):
"With its 1,200-foot vertical, Sugar Mountain Resort is the largest ski area in North Carolina, and one of few resorts breaking a 1,000-foot vertical south of New England. Sugar boasts a 1200 ft vertical! The mountain offers skiers and boarders 20 trails and 8 lifts spread out over 115 acres."

"The lower mountain features graceful, gentle terrain; perfect for lower intermediates and beginners. The summit, however, will surprise even seasoned experts with several narrow, expert trails sporting 60-percent pitches."

• Saturday December 15, 2007
• 9:00 - 9:30:   Consumer Demos
• 11:00:   Ski and Snowboard Makeover
• 3:00:   Snowball Eating Contest
• 4:00 - 7:00:   After Ski Party with Boss Hawg
• 5:45:   Fireworks Display

• Sunday December 16, 2007
• 9:00 - 9:30:   Consumer Demos
• 9:00:   Edge of the World / Burton
• 9:00:   Rail Jam Expression
• 10:00:   Ice Sculpting
• Website Link:   SeeSugar.com/Sugarfest