Winter Hiking & Snowshoeing: Fun Activities on Beech Mtn

So, you’re tired of skiing and the muscles are sore. Time to stay in the hotel room? No way! Instead, stretch those tight muscles with a brisk winter hike.

Winter hiking is a great way to loosen up, see wildlife, and enjoy long-range views. Beech Mountain offers more than 30 miles of hiking trails, all maintained by the town. To locate the right hike, pick up a detailed trail map at either the Visitor Center or Fred's General Mercantile.

And when natural snow is too deep for hiking, stop by the Buckeye Recreation Center to trade in your hiking boots for snowshoes. The rec center has a new shoeshow rental program, and will also be hosting guided snowshoe hikes Jan. 14 and Feb. 11.

For snowshoe info, call the Rec Center at (828) 387-3003 or visit www.beechrecreation.org

New Snow Guns, New Terrain and New Name - Beech Mountain Resort

Skiers and snowboarders will experience several new things this winter on Beech Mountain, starting with the name of their destination. Beech Mountain Resort is now the official title of the mountain's snow sports resort, replacing Ski Beech. The change reflects an ongoing campaign to create top-notch conditions for both skiers and snowboarders, along with the revitalization of the Alpine village at the base of the slopes.

Visitors will also enjoy increased snowmaking capacity with the addition of 10 SMI Super PoleCat snow guns. The resort now has 23 of the ultra high-tech guns. Another aspect that will impress skiers and boarders is the opening of new terrain. The removal of an outdated chairlift created new space on two advanced runs.

"It essentially opens up Robbin's Run and Southern Star," says resort general manager Ryan Costin. "It really creates a nice flow for Southern Star. In years past, it took such a hard right turn that you couldn't get the full experience of it. I think we'll see that run become a customer favorite very quickly."

At the base of the slopes, the Alpine village is bustling again. Two new shops have filled the final vacancies. The new additions are Roots Rideshop and Beech Village Gifts. Roots is a freestyle-based ski/snowboard shop featuring demo skis and snowboards, plus a full line of ski boots, snowboard boots and other freestyle accessories. Beech Village Gifts offers a place to warm up with a cup a java and buy items bearing the new name: Beech Mountain Resort.

For complete info on winter 2011-2012, visit: www.beechmountainresort.com.