By Greg Petty

December ushers in winter and all of the activities associated with cold weather and snow. We await that first snow fall so we can join others sledding down our favorite hill. We’re set because we live within walking distance of Bond Park and its large hill bordering the lake. Personally, the season always brings out the longing to go skiing. I started skiing out West (New Mexico) as a 16 year-old way back in the ancient days of 1967. I have been hooked ever since. Those were the days of very long skis, primitive bindings and ski straps tied around your boots!

While the mountains of California, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah are awesome, we are fortunate that we can ski and snowboard close to home at Beech Mountain Resort. The town sits at the highest elevation of any town in the East and the skiing on the one-mile high peak is also the East’s highest, all within about a four hour drive of the Triangle. The mountain averages 100 inches of snow annually, and it is supplemented with extensive snowmaking equipment. In fact this year the resort added ten more state-of-the-art SMI Super PoleCat snow guns. This year the resort has also added two new advanced runs and doubled the area for beginning skiers. The terrain park remains a favorite for snowboarders and skiers alike. The larger area for beginners is important to provide proper instruction for new skiers. Young, old or middle-aged, if you have never tried your hand at skiing you have to give it a shot. As Nike says, “Just Do It.” It is thrilling and so much fun. Let a Beech ski school professional show you how to ski properly and safely. You can enjoy the sport and mountain vistas for many years to come.

Beech Mountain Resort was the brainchild of Dr. Tom Brigham, a Birmingham dentist and a skiing enthusiast from his years growing up in Vermont. As soon as he learned about snowmaking machine innovations he began to search southern locations for the best mountain to build a ski resort. He selected Beech Mountain. His Birmingham friends George and Chessie MacRae owned land near Sugar Mountain, and Brigham convinced them to join his dream of developing Beech Mountain for skiing. They began to buy options for land at the top of the mountain. Local developers, the Robbins Bros., Grover, Harry and Spencer, came to the aid of strapped investors with the necessary financing. The resort opened in time for the 1967-68 season. It has hosted professional ski races with large purses and has seen the likes of Jean Claude Killy, winner of multiple Olympic gold medals and two World Cups, Spider Sabich and Billy Kidd on its slopes. On January 5-8, 2012 the resort will host the popular Winterfest weekend (well known for its Bathing Beauty ski contest), Telemark Festival, Snowshoe Race and Cardboard Box Derby. Beech will also host collegiate and junior ski races during the month.

At the end of January my son Aaron and I scratched our skiing itch and visited Beech Mountain Resort for a long weekend of outdoor fun. We stayed at the Pinnacle Inn at Beech Mountain near the ski resort. The Inn has one and two bedroom condos with full kitchens and a fireplace. The two bedroom condos can easily accommodate four-six people as most have sleeper sofas. After each hard day of skiing we enjoyed the heated pool, indoor hot tub and heated sauna—perfect après skiing with your family or friends.

Aaron took his snowboard and I rented skis, boots and poles from the friendly and efficient staff at the resort rental shop. I was appreciative of the modern shaped skis I received and found them so much easier to ski on than my outdated equipment. We were off to explore the slopes and were soon debating which lift would take us to the blue trails so we could get our ski legs before attacking the advanced runs. We took Lift #1 for the Lower Shawneehaw run for the first two or three runs. The treat near the end of the run is the advanced terrain park, and I delighted in watching as Aaron hurled himself into the air off of the jumps.

After our warm-up runs, we enjoyed a great lunch and a craft beer or two at the Beech Tree Lodge. While you’re at the Lodge check the schedule for the live bands that play there in the evenings. We were finally ready to tackle the advanced slopes riding the #5 and #6 lifts. Southern Star and White Lightning runs did not disappoint us, and we would enjoy them with periodic return trips to the terrain park for the rest of the weekend. We are anxious to return to the mountain to check out the new advanced slopes opening this season.

When you are looking for a hardy breakfast to start your day, if you need ski clothing or practically any item at all, go to the locally famous Fred’s General Mercantile. Proprietor Fred Pfohl’s motto is, “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it.” After walking around the store I agreed with him, the item selection was amazing. We enjoyed the home-cooked breakfast items every morning at the downstairs Backside Deli such as the Beech Mt. Breakfast and the delicious biscuits with homemade sausage gravy.

After a long day of skiing, massage your sore muscles in the hot tub and then get ready to go out to dinner. We have the perfect dining spot for you—Jackalope’s View at Archers Inn. Candi Catoe has gathered a select staff to produce fabulous seasonal food paired with wines from their extensive selection. Jackalope’s View is a winner of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence since 1999. The Southern Dream Tini cocktail melted away the muscle strain from the skiing. For dinner Aaron chose the grilled Filet Mignon with tobacco onions in a demi-glace sauce and I had the Chicken Marsala. We paired the food with a glass of Echelon Pinot Noir—Bellissimo!

A conversation with Catoe led us to the upstairs lounge for an after-dinner aperitif. We were served by the friendly and gracious “Bill the Bartender.” We ended up kibitzing with Bill, fellow skiers, visitors to the Archers Inn and locals who dropped by for a cocktail or to play on the pool table.

All in all we enjoyed the perfect ski escape in vibrant Beech Mountain. We hope you join us on the Beech Mountain Resort’s trails this year. Perhaps a holiday gift of a visit to Beech Mountain Resort is just right for someone you know. Happy Skiing!

 

 

Beech Mountain Resort

1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC 28604, web beechmountainresort.com, 828.387.2011

 

Beech Tree Lodge–Beech Mountain Village

Pinnacle Inn Resort

301 Pinnacle Inn Rd., Beech Mountain, NC 28604

pinnacleinn.com  |  828.387.2231

 

Fred’s General Mercantile

501 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC 28604

fredsgeneral.com |  828.387.4838

 

Jackalope’s View at Archer’s Mountain Inn

2489 Beech Mountain Parkway, Banner Elk, NC 28604

archersinn.com |  828.898.9004

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