On 2 January, my friends and I set out from Charlotte, NC, where we spent the weekend breaking in the New Year, and headed up to the North Carolina Mountains with our sights set on a great weekend of skiing. There were six of us and even though we all had a different skill level, everyone was filled with enthusiasm and excitement as we made the trek up to the mountains. Being an avid skier myself—who hadn’t had the chance to ski in a few years—I was especially excited about getting back out on the slopes. I love having a chance to take in the beauty of the mountains while at the same time flying down the ski slope, feeling the wind in my face.

Shortly after arriving at our cabin, we picked up our skis and headed out to the slopes to try and make use of the remaining daylight, before taking on night skiing later that evening. One of my friends had never skied before, and I must admit when we first got her out on the slopes the scene was pretty comical. We started her off easy on the bunny slope–but eventually she decided for her own safety that she would enroll in a lesson or two at the ski school. Throughout the course of the week she fell more times then we could count, and ended up flying down the mountain backwards on several occasions—but all in all, she managed to pick up the basic skills of skiing within three days. By the end of the week she was having a lot of fun and was very proud to have accomplished the sport.

I myself had a wonderful time as well. I was a little rusty–having not skied for a few years–but after a couple of runs down the mountain I was back to the skier I had been before and challenging myself with new slopes and techniques. I also decided to take some intermediate lessons to learn a few new skills and just to get some feedback on my form and style. I had never taken a lesson before but I was glad I did. The ski instructors were very helpful and it was interesting to learn how to become a better skier.

All in all, our ski trip was a success. Although there was one tiny, little problem—I don’t know if any of you remember, but the week after New Year’s was an unseasonably warm one in North Carolina, even in the mountains. The ski resorts were only able to make snow the first night we were there. Although that snow maintained for a couple of days, by Thursday and Friday of that week we were constantly swerving to avoid various mud puddles and grassy areas on the slopes. I have to say we did not do much skiing towards the end of the week, but that was okay because we used that time to sightsee and to just bond as friends.

One ski resort I would recommend is the Wolf Ridge Ski Resort in Mars Hill, NC. This ski resort is a popular one, located about five miles from I-26 at Exit 3, about 30 miles north of Asheville. The resort holds 82 acres of ski terrain with slopes suiting all levels, from the wary beginner to the seasoned expert. It has 15 slopes, 4 lifts, and offers tubing, an option for the non-skiers in your group. It is a family-oriented resort with plenty of parking and two beautiful ski lodges complete with massive stone fireplaces that accommodate families, walk-ins, and large groups. The Wolf Ridge Ski Resort also boasts of its top-rated snow sports school, which offers group and private lessons which can be useful to both individuals and families. If you are looking for a place to ski near Asheville, Wolf Ridge Ski Resort is a great option.

Another ski resort, located in the Maggie Valley area, is the Cataloochee Ski Area. This resort has 10 slopes, 3 lifts, a rope tow, and a magic carpet lift. It is nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and is about 40 minutes from Asheville. This resort, like Wolf Ridge, offers slopes for all different skill levels and even has a terrain park complete with ramps, rails, and boxes for the expert skier wanting to practice his tricks. The resort also has a cozy little lodge that is great for warming up and enjoying a nice mug of hot cocoa. If you are in the Maggie Valley area, this ski resort would be a great place for you.

I myself am trying to make it up to the mountains for one more weekend of skiing, before the warmer spring weather sets in, and hopefully I’ll be able to find time in my schedule to plan a trip. To me there is nothing more thrilling then skiing down a freshly coated mountain on a sunny day taking in that fresh mountain air and I know some of you must share my sentiment. Happy skiing!

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