Big Rock Ski Carnival is Thursday

    MARS HILL — Thanks to a concerted effort to make snow, and forecasted natural snowfall to boot, Bigrock Ski Area in Mars Hill is now one of just a handful of ski facilities across North America ready to offer groomed cross country ski trails for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
    The 2nd Annual Bigrock Thanksgiving Ski Carnival kicks off on Thursday, with a looped ski trail approximately 1 kilometer in length, right at the base of the ski area’s Alpine trails.
Contributed photograph
ON THE TRAILS AGAIN — Thanks to a concerted effort to make snow, and forecasted natural snowfall to boot, Bigrock Ski Area in Mars Hill is ready to offer groomed cross country ski trails for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
    “I’ve spoken with many of the folks that skied here last Thanksgiving,” said Bigrock Marketing Manager Mark Shea, “and they were pretty impressed with the snow conditions that we were able to offer. Several of them mentioned that it wasn’t that much different than skiing in mid-February.”
    With a planned base depth of 12-24 inches, and a forecast that is calling for 6-8 inches of natural snow on Wednesday evening, Shea is confident that the conditions will feel like mid-winter.
    “Making snow, and providing a high-quality skiing surface and skiing experience, are areas in which the pride in our work really shows” said Shea. “With a solid base, we can withstand whatever weather comes our way this week. And if the conditions become more favorable later in the week, we hope to be able to make more even snow and expand the amount of terrain available.”
    Trail passes are required each day, at a cost of $15 per person. In a gesture of appreciation toward skiers, Bigrock will allow individuals to ski for free on Thanksgiving Day.