Snow skiing in the Southeastern United States can be a joy or a pain -- it's all left up to the weather.

If you happen to hit a Southern slope during a good weather period (within a day or two after a nice snowfall or several days of temperatures in the 20s or 30s) you likely can find some worthwhile skiing.

But too often temperatures tend to rise into the 40s, 50s and 60s on Southeastern slopes during the winter, providing skiiers with slush, very soft snow or sections of "corn rows" (soft snow piled up in rows from skiiers making turns).

Ski slopes operate each winter in North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama.

All the regional ski areas have modern snowmaking equipment and can fill a valley with deep snow in 24 hours. But to do so they have to have cold temperatures and proper humidity levels.

Appalachian and Sugar Mountain in North Carolina's high country usually get the jump on opening the season.

Last season the cold did not arrive in Dixie until almost Christmas and regional resorts found themselves opening the season very late. Most usually are open (at least partially) by about Thanksgiving.

The South just does not get much natural snow, even in its upper mountains, to provide a constant season-long base for skiiers.

Most of the slopes in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama usually open in early December, but some don't crank up full bore until around the time winter officially begins on Dec. 21.

Only Appalachian was able to open all its trails by mid-December last season. All the others were able to open only half or less of their trails by that date. But by mid-January nearly all the resorts had nearly all their trails and lifts open.

The Southeast lost one downhill ski area last winter as Hawksnest of Seven Devils, N. C., has closed its ski facilities, switching to a snowtubing-only operation. About 50,000 skiers tried the Hawksnest slopes in 2000. Hawksnest officials have been in an ongoing public feud with town officials of Seven Devils regarding development plans and traffic enforcement.

Practically all the Southern ski resorts have facilities that include rental lockers, snack bars or restaurants, first-aid stations and equipment rentals. All have an abundant number of hotels/motels in their areas, so finding a place to stay is not usually a problem (Christmas-New
Year's the exception). Some resorts also operate their own lodging facilities, with the quality running from very poor to very good.

Several Southeastern resorts continue to make improvements in their facilities. Among these, Cataloochee is in the second year of a $3.1 million expansion and has added a new quad chairlift, replaced a doule chairlift with a triple lift, added 2,500 feet to the base lodge, added a tubing park, etc. Appalachian has remodeled its ski shop and is providing a snowboarding-only section.

Further north, into West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware, conditions generally are better than in the Southeast, though even there you still oftentimes face a hit-or-miss with the weather.

Southeastern ski area basic information (Note: Lift ticket prices vary by day of the week, time of day, length of session and age of skier. Early season hours may vary. Ski packages might be available.):

Appalachian Ski Mountain
Where: Blowing Rock, N.C.
Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 6-10 p.m.
Terrain: Nine trails --- two beginner, four intermediate, three advanced.
Lifts: Three chairs, two surface.
Lift tickets: $10-$40.
Children's programs: Yes.
Getting there: Off U.S. 221 between Boone and Blowing Rock.
Info: 1-800-322-2373 or 828-295-7828.
On the Internet: http://www.skinorthcarolina.com/skiAppalachian.htm

Cataloochee Ski Area
Where: Maggie Valley, N.C.
Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturday 6-10 p.m. also.
Terrain: Nine trails --- three beginner, four intermediate, two advanced.
Lifts: Two doubles, one surface.
Lift tickets: $15-$34.
Children's programs: Yes.
Getting there: On U.S. 19, four miles south of Maggie Valley.
Info: 1-800-768-0285 or 828-926-0285.
On the Internet: http://www.skinorthcarolina.com/skiCataloochee.htm

Cloudmont Ski Resort
Where: Mentone, Ala.
Hours: Weekdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.; weekends and holidays 9 a.m.-4
p.m. and 6-10 p.m.
Terrain: Two slopes --- one beginner, one intermediate.
Lift tickets: $17-$30.:
Children's programs: Yes.
Getting there: On Ala. 117, just over the Georgia border
Info: 256-634-4344.
On the Internet: http://www.cloudmont.com

Hawksnest Ski Resort
Where: Banner Elk, N.C.
Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday through
Thursday; 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Getting there: On N.C. 105, seven miles from Banner Elk.
Snow tubing only.
Info: 1-888-429-5763 or 828-963-6561.
On the Internet: http://www.SnowTubingNC.com

Ober Gatlinburg
Where: Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Hours: Noon-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday through
Sunday and holidays.
Terrain: Eight trails --- two beginner, four intermediate, two advanced.
Lifts: Two quads, one double.
Lift tickets: $12-$35.
Children's programs: Yes.
Getting there: Off U.S. 441, the main route through Gatlinburg.
Info: 423-436-5423 or 1-800-251-9202.
On the Internet: http://www.obergatlinburg.com/ski.htm

Sapphire Valley
Where: Cashiers, N.C.
Hours: Noon-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; noon-10 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m.-10
p.m. weekends and holidays.
Terrain: Three trails --- one each beginner, intermediate, advanced. Note: open for tubing and beginners slope only. Conditions as of Jan. 28: snow depth 20-46 inches.
Lifts: One double, one tow rope.
Lift tickets: $10-$27.
Children's programs: Yes.
Getting there: On N.C. 64, three miles east of Cashiers.
Info: 828-743-3441 or 828-743-1164.
On the Internet: http://skinorthcarolina.com/skiSapphire.htm

Scaly Mountain Ski Area
Where: Scaly Mountain, N.C.
Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, plus Monday holidays.
Terrain Note: Scaly Mountain has cut back to a tubing-only facility, no
downhill skiing.
Children's programs: No.
Getting there: On N.C. 106 between Highlands, N.C., and Dillard, Ga.
> Info: 828-526-3737 or 1-800-929-7669.
On the Internet: http://www.skinorthcarolina.com/skiScaly.htm

Ski Beech
Where: Beech Mountain, N.C.
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.
Terrain: 14 trails --- three beginner, seven intermediate, four advanced.
Lifts: One quad, six doubles, two surface.
Lift tickets: $14-$45.
Children's programs: Yes.
Getting there: On N.C. 184, 17 miles outside Boone.
Info: 828-387-2011 or 1-800-438-2093.
On the Internet: http://www.skibeech.com

Sky Valley Ski Resort
Where: Sky Valley, Ga.
Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. daily and holidays except for Sunday, when resort
closes at 4 p.m.
Terrain: Five trails --- two beginner, one intermediate, two advanced.
Lifts: One double, one surface.
Lift tickets: $12-$32.
Children's programs: Yes.
Getting there: On U.S. 441, four miles from Dillard.
Info: 706-746-5302.

Sugar Mountain
Where: Banner Elk, N.C.
Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.
Terrain: 24 trails --- 11 beginner, 10 intermediate, 3 advanced, one tubing.
Lifts: One triple, four doubles, four surface.
Lift tickets: $12-$47.
Children's programs: Yes.
Getting there: On N.C. 184, one mile off N.C. 105, two miles east of Banner
Elk.
Info: 828-898-4521 or 1-800-784-2768.
On the Internet: http://www.skisugar.com

Wolf Laurel Resort
Where: Mars Hill, N.C.
Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Trails: 15 trails --- three beginner, 10 intermediate, two advanced.
Lifts: One quad, one double, one surface.
Lift tickets: $11-$32
Children's programs: Yes.
Getting there: On U.S. 23, 27 miles north of Asheville.
Info: 828-689-4111 or 1-800-817-4111.
On the Internet: http://skiwolflaurel.com

This story was published on 20 May 2002.