The ski season at Sapphire Valley has been temporarily postponed until colder weather sets in across the plateau.
Warmer weather does not lead to good snow formation, and the weather ideally needs to be below freezing for this to occur.
The season was set to start on Saturday, Dec. 18, and ski area staff began firing up their HALO snow machines last month to cover the slopes in white blankets of snow.
“The ski area staff just cannot say when the ski area will open,” a statement on the ski resort’s website said. “The weather is just too warm. Snow making will resume as soon as colder weather returns.”
For snow making to be done successfully, ski mountain manager Chris Green said the weather needs to be in the 20s. That is why he and his crew fired up the snow machines for the first time at midnight, when temperatures are coldest.
Each week, the Ski Resort posts a “Ski Sapphire Snow and Activity Update” to their website to inform residents about whether staff members can anticipate reopening the slopes soon.
“Record high temperatures are one thing in August, but Dec. 25th – no thank you,” a statement on the Sapphire Ski Resort website said. “Mother Nature served up a 71-degree record high in near Asheville Christmas Day.”
Ski resort staff members anticipated making more snow on Jan. 2 because they said winter weather could reappear on New Year’s Day.
“We have heard nothing official from Ski Sapphire Valley management, however, the Ski Ops team may be able to open Friday at noon, Jan. 7,” the website said.
As of Jan. 2, the website had been updated to say the ski resort’s Frozen Falls Tube Park has a target opening date of Jan. 7. The ski area opening date is pending.
The Sapphire Valley Ski Area and Frozen Falls Tube Park is part of the 5,700-acre resort nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The average elevation is 3,400 feet, and the resort contains a 2,000-foot main run along with a quad-lift, a bunny run and five lanes for tubing. A moving carpet can transport people back to the top for multiple runs throughout the session.
Green said the ski resort was built about 70 years ago, and anyone who bought a home in Sapphire Valley got a free pair of skis and an annual pass with their purchase.
“Tubing does the big numbers over there because it requires no skill,” Green said. “All you have to do is sit down and have fun.”
Coming up in February 2022 is the 15th Annual Outhouse Races, an event to raise funds for local charity organizations. For more information on that event, call 828-743-2251. The race will take place at the ski area on Feb. 19.
For more information about the ski resort and rates, visit skisapphirevalley.com.
- By Michael O'Hearn/Crossroads Chronicle