When it Snows in Dixie

#ThemeSong today: https://youtu.be/KGOUT1mGNSY

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It's snowing - really snowing - in North Carolina!

My son's 18th birthday is this week, so my husband booked an Air B&B and lift tickets at Wolf Ridge Resort, the closest place to ski near Asheville, where my son is in college.

The warm weather at Christmas had us thinking we'd be hiking rather than skiing. We just hoped we wouldn't end up skiing in slush, because the resort won’t refund lift tickets if it can make enough snow to keep at least one slope open.

Then winter storm Izzy approached; and, instead of worrying that the weather would be too warm, we worried that we wouldn't be able to get to the slopes at all.

We rented a 4WD Toyota Highlander instead of driving our Prius, left a day earlier than planned to avoid driving in the bad weather, and decided to stay in Asheville that night. We checked into our (outside-entry) hotel room before it started snowing, with a plan to wake up early the next morning and, having allowed time for the roads to be plowed, drive the 34 miles to the slopes.

Though I often gibe my husband Mike for over worrying, I appreciated his characteristic preparedness when, just a half hour after I woke this morning, I witnessed the following scene from the window in our hotel room (the photos below were taken at this window).

Mike was helping a couple guys pull their big truck, whose wheels had spun into an icy depression, into the parking spot immediately outside our hotel room.

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After 20 minutes or so, I went outside to tell Mike they should be pushing the truck back down the hill rather than into the parking spot; but before I could say anything they started doing just that. I saw them push the truck down to a place with better traction and, figuring they’d find a new parking spot on flat ground with fresh snow, went back into our hotel room.

I had just closed the door behind me when, through the window, I saw the truck barreling up the hill again, right toward me! It nearly slid into the car parked beside the empty spot it was trying to get into, but thankfully it stopped. I opened the hotel room door and yelled to the driver and his friend, who were now outside the car again, that they should give up on parking there, reverse back down the hill, and find a safer parking spot. Then I apologized if I was too forthright and told them to tell their mothers I said, “You’re welcome.” 🌚

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They reassessed the situation and finally backed down the hill a second time. Then they knocked on our door to thank Mike. They were very nice boys. Twenty years young and from - you guessed it - Florida. At the risk of overdoing it, I told ‘em “what I would tell my son” about being careful versus having fun when driving in the snow. (I later found out their truck doesn’t even have four-wheel drive 😯.)

After they left, I relayed the scenario to my 18YO son via text; and he responded, “Haha that would be me except I wouldn’t have a truck.”

In addition to being funny, this should be a lesson to all of us. PLEASE remember that you are not alone on the snowy roads. There are plenty of people out there who are less experienced and more likely to take chances. Drive carefully, defensively, or not at all, particularly if you are south of the Mason-Dixon line ♥️.

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Addendum:

Best SE American ski weather EVER 🤗🙏🏽🌈! https://www.skisoutheast.com/izzy-certainly-delivered-with-more-snow-falling-today/.

WolfRidgeResort (nearest skiing to Asheville) got 9 inches of snow! And that was just the first 24 hours (it snowed ~ 36). Thank you, Izzy!! (SO glad we rented a 4-wheel-drive vehicle.) All slopes and both lifts were open, which is apparently not standard. It’s no Colorado, but it’s beautiful and the shorter runs contain a good stretch for beginner/intermediate skiers to rediscover their snow legs. I highly recommend this place when temps are below freezing, esp Sun evenings and during the week. LOTS of snow boarders + affordable classes. And lots of kids of all ages, toddlers through teens. Do NOT make online reservations - you have to wait in line with everyone else when you get there anyway. Be prepared for WBC (the World Before COVID), though there are signs stating that masks and social distancing are required. Just wear high-quality masks and practice social distancing when you go in the lodge (which should be rarely); you’ll be outside most of the day . ♥️