Grandfather and Sugar Mountains in February
With a deep blue sky, and knowing that snow fell on Sunday in the High Country, I escaped the snowless South and headed for Grandfather Mountain, and Sugar Ski Mountain after that, In the valleys, the temperature hovered just above 40 degrees, but when I arrived below the peaks of Grandfather an hour later, it had dropped below freezing.
I was amazed what five inches of fresh snow could do to that iconic place.
Along the road to Sugar Mountain, ice encrusted trees along the higher ridges contrasted beautifully with the rugged cliffs and slopes.
Looking to the west, the backside of Beech Mountain, the “other” major ski mountain in North Carolina, was white above 4,000 feet.
Turning toward the South, there was Sugar, in all its splendor…
Sugartop Condo dominates the mountain, with the snow covered ski runs dropping from the mile high summit. Snowmaking was not part of the plan today, after a fresh 6″ had fallen on Sunday. That’s the new “Gunther’s Run” on the far right, offering advanced skiers and snowboarders a wide open experience on their way down.
Once inside the resort area, homes near the slopes catch the afternoon sun.
Yours truly in my favorite element…
Snow surrounds this cascading creek between the houses…
Arriving at the base lodge, the scene was colorful…
Looking toward the top of the mountain, you could see skiers, chair lifts, and lots of natural snow, without the annoying jet engine roar from snowmaking nozzles…
This two minute video will give you an “Up Close and Personal” view of Sugar Mountain…
When you have a few minutes, check out this video from the heavy snow at Sugar on December 9th. Not mine, but really worth the time…
On the way back home, I stopped at this frozen lake near Linville. The High Country never disappoints.
