Palmetto Proving Grounds

Beech mountain is the best in nc, IMO. If you can't find a house to rent on the slopes, I'd stay at the Alpen inn.

Beech Mth and Sugar Mtn are the 2 largest resorts and have the most snow making capability. With the warmer weather the smaller mtns are at a snow disadvantage. When you call and get a snow report they'll tell you they have so much fresh snow over a base of X inches. That's at a shady spot where snow has drifted, not in the middle of a slope. In the southeast, when its been warm like this, you'll get some bare spots and when the cold returns, you'll get some eastern boilerplate ice. Snowshoe, in W. Va. is an even larger resort, but still subject to the same weather related problems, but maybe to a lesser extent. Another consideration is what is the level of the skiers? You want a mtn with some varied terrain that fits your ability level. Sugar Mtn seems to have a bit more beginner terrain than Beech. If you're intermediate level and up, either should be fine. The thing about skiing in NC is that weekends are a pita. The lift lines are interminable and you spend a huge portion of the day standing around. The runs are not nearly as long as out west, they don't have as many lifts and the mtns are smaller, so skiers don't get disbursed over the mtn and all wind up at the lifts at the same time. Finally, what time of year are you going? Most years, by the end of February its beginning to warm and the season usually ends early to mid march.

Check out this website.

www.skisugar.com

At the moment with the warmer weather we are having, both mountains have some lifts and slopes shut down.

Drive a little bit further and go to WinterPlace it is well worth it. Its in West Virgina ( scored another Touch Down)

Have Fun

Drive a little further and go to Snowshoe WV

Agree.
and if not Snowshoe...at least Winterplace. It has to be the easiest resort on the planet to get to. Right on the interstate.

What's the one right off I-77?

Is it Winterplace?

I used to go there all the time years ago. At the time it was one of the better kept secrets if you like alot of runs without much wait between runs.

I would always chose Winterplace over Beech or Sugar because the skiing is better and you can get there in about the same amount of time. It is further distance wise but because its all interstate, its an easy drive. Snowshoe is about another three hours from Winterplace, by the way.

The lines at Sugar are much longer due to the slow two man lifts. Beech has a high speed quad lift from the base. Makes a huge difference.

I have stayed here several times. Great spot on Beech Mountain.

http://www.archersinn.com/