USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships comes to Beech!

June 1, 2011

Press Release

provided by Talia Freeman, Beech Mountain Resort

Beech Mountain Resort has been named host for the

2011 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships, Sept. 22-25.

The popular North Carolina High Country resort has also been awarded the 2012 championship, and is the first resort in the South to host the event.

“Beech Mountain Resort realizes the increased popularity in cycling, and the demand for a facility with lift access, “ says Ryan Costin, general manager of Beech Mountain Resort, “ We are pleased to host Gravity Nationals, while also producing a facility for all Mountain Bike Enthusiast.“

The resort will begin construction of the facility in preparation for the championships, which will bring mountain bikers from around the country to the area. Brevard native Christopher Herndon, 2007 Dual Slalom National Champion, and a Southeast leader in course design, will oversee construction. “We feel confident that Christopher Herndon will design a unique facility ensuring that Beech Mountain Resort will produce an innovative product,” says Costin.

Beech Mountain Resort will offer a world-class venue for competitors in a spectator-friendly atmosphere, filled with plenty of family-friendly activities.

Beech Mountain Resort is excited to share this event with the Western North Carolina community, and will soon provide local cyclists with a mountain bike destination in their backyard.  “There is a lot of untapped terrain on Beech Mountain, ultimately providing a unique facility for Gravity Nationals,” said Shaw Brown of Boone Bike and Touring. “We are thrilled Beech is producing a legitimate Mountain Bike facility in the
southeast.”

Michael Thomas, a Boone resident and 2008 and 2009 collegiate downhill champion, said: “This will be the first time that the National Championships have ever been held in the South, and it’s a big step forward in the progression of downhill racing here. We have great mountains to ride in, but actual downhill specific trails to ride on have been very limited until now.”


To find out more about USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity Nationals, please visit skibeech.com.

Get Ready Beech Mountain....The Sharks Are Coming!!

If you saw the Porche 928 parade last year, you'll want to make sure you see it this year. 

We are expecting over 100 cars on June 4th and they are a spectacular site.  Click the link below to view the flyer:

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=80650023

Adventure Park Opens 8 Miles of Emerald Outback Trails

May 2, 2011
Article by Craig Distl

Photo contributed by Kristian Jackson

Avid mountain bikers and hikers now have a superb new venue in Western North Carolina.

The Beech Mountain Adventure Trail Park officially opened its Emerald Outback section May 1. The eight-plus miles of Emerald Outback trails range in elevation from 4,700-5,400 feet, giving the park the distinction of being among the highest such venues on the East Coast.

There’s a nice combination of single track, double track and gravel road trails traversing the mountaintop, all accessible from a trail head in the town of Beech Mountain.

The Emerald Outback is the first phase of the Beech Mountain Adventure Trail Park, which will grow to three phases encompassing 25 miles of trails. It was designed by mountain bikers, hikers and trail runners to meet the recreational demands of serious outdoor enthusiasts.

Credit for building the park goes to Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation Department. Fitness and wellness coordinator Daniel Scagnelli conceived the idea in 2009, and spearheaded an impressive trail-building effort of mostly volunteer labor.

Workers used hand tools and hand-held power tools. Heavy machinery was not involved. The process reclaimed a few abandoned trails and blended them into a cohesive network of trails showcasing unique topography atop Beech Mountain.

“We actually routed one trail over a former ski slope. It’s fairly flat with moderate elevation change,” Scagnelli said. “Then we have the typical rocky, rooty East Coast mountain biking single track.

“There are also untouched woods with small waterfalls and creeks rushing by, plus phenomenal mountain vistas and overlooks throughout. Whether you’re in the Oz Forest or out on Overlook Loop, you have 100-mile views around. The terrain is rolling and changes well. There’s not a whole lot of climbing and you’re always surrounded by something beautiful.”

Signage and the official trail head were installed this spring for the Adventure Trail Park, which is free and open to the public seven days a week.

“People want outdoor experiences on Beech Mountain,” said Scagnelli, “and the Emerald Outback has the potential to be the trademark trail system for this town.”

For trail park information, call (828) 387-3003, or visit: http://www.beechrecreation.org/.

April Snow Brings May.......Snowmen?

April 1, 2011

Yesterday it began to snow....again.  It has continued all day today, bringing us to an approximate total for our season so far to 133".  This is no April's Fool joke!

We are puppy sitting for friends for a week and Harlie really loves the snow.  I've yet to meet a child (2 and up...my granddaughter used to cry if you took her out in it at 2 yrs. of age) or dog that doesn't.  I agree...it is beautiful and fun to play in....but I'm ready for spring!

According to Ray's Weather, the following are official totals through March 28th:

Date       Snowfall (inches)

October 5 trace
November 4-6 5.8"
December 1-2 2.2"
December 4-5 8.0"
December 5-7 11.2"
December 12-15 13.7"
December 19 0.1"
December 21 0.1"
December 23 0.1"
December 25-27 17.0"
January 5-6 2.0"
January 6-8 25.5"
January 10 5.0"
January 11-13 12.3"
January 17 0.3"
January 20-21 3.0"
January 24 1.0"
January 26 6.0"
January 28 0.75"
February 7-8 3.0"
February 9-10 1.5"
March 6 4.0"
March 10-11 5.0"
March 15 0.5"
March 25 0.5"
March 28 0.6"

Total: 131.25"



For Sale, Looking to Buy, Donating or Lost and Found? Post it here...

March 26, 2011

THIS IS THE PLACE TO POST YOUR BEECH MOUNTAIN ITEMS FOR SALE, LOOK FOR SOMETHING, REPORT LOST AND FOUNDS OR OFFER FREE ITEMS TO THOSE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING.  THE EXCEPTION IS THAT NO REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES ARE ALLOWED ON THIS POST. 

JUST CLICK ON THE LINK UNDERNEATH THE PICTURE AT THE TOP, AND POST A COMMENT, REMEMBERING TO ADD YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.