Oh cool! This is my first season riding some of the resorts in NC and they’re surprisingly good mountains. I think most people underestimate them because NC is so far south, but they forget the elevation in the Blue Ridge Mountains 🏔️
Ive been to both Sugar and Beech for over 10 years. Beech is light years better than Sugar in almost every single aspect. The runs are wider and have better snow. The facilities are nicer and are upgraded more frequently. Most of the 4-pack lifts are high speed. The ones at Sugar haven’t been updated in ages. There’s no giant eyesore at the top of the mountain, instead they have an awesome summit bar (should’ve mentioned it). After I went to Beech once, I’ve never wanted to go back to Sugar. I would only even consider going if Beech was closed or somehow packed and Sugar wasn’t, but even that is super unlikely. If Beech is crowded, Sugar is usually a nightmare.
Great to hear your feedback! I’ve been to both as well but I think the competition between which one is truly better isn’t as cut and dry as that. But you definitely made some great points for Beech
Hard to beat midweek skiing in NC, usually no one on the mountain and $40ish for lift tickets at most spots. You can rip it pretty good for half a day while everyone else is at work.
Yes! I don’t think a lot of people realize that about North Carolina ski resorts. It’s one of the reasons I’m making an effort to get out to visit a lot of places in NC this season, that and I’d love to visit all the resorts on the East Coast one day 😅
Just found your channel and been really enjoying it! I’m just west of Charlotte so I frequent Beech and Sugar a lot. And looking to end the season in VT - your review of Jay Peak was incredibly helpful!
So glad to hear it! Along with a lot of places here in the Southeast & Mid Atlantic, I’m also planning a good amount of trips to VT this season. Hope you have the best time at Jay!!
The most unique thing about Beech is that it used to have the "Land of Oz" theme park on the backside of the mountain. Although it is now only open one weekend a year, it's still THE most unique thing about it. Property on and near Beech has been much more reasonably priced than other NC ski resorts. We would regularly drive past Sugar just to get to Beech pretty much EVERY time when I was younger (in the 80's)
Beech has a mountain top bar and their own Brewery on the mountain! Thats pretty unique if you ask me. Also, there are plenty of "Glade" runs in the woods if you know where to look. Beech is more of a resort feel whereas Sugar has more terrain.
Beech is great in the early or late season. In the busy season it’s ridiculously bad. Unorganized and chaos. Late December-January I’m going to Sugar or App. Beech is a no go unless I’m doing a night session
I tried skiing here (and at Sugar) once, thinking it’s a lot closer to where I live and so travel would be a lot easier than Colorado (so I could add an extra ski trip that season). Perfectly suitable but it lacks the one thing that a large, western resort has and that is the best part of skiing - areas that are too far and scary for beginners. Every run, regardless of rating, is crowded with beginners who don’t really understand or don’t yet know how to ride without being hazards to other riders. Everyone was a beginner at some point, but there are no back bowls or areas that beginners won’t visit so you spend the day dodging out of control riders and getting mowed down. Obvious upside is that you don’t have hour-long lift lines at choke points like you do out west - a new and really quite significant issue lately at Vail, Breck, etc.
Yes, I can see how it lacks that super advanced terrain like out West, but on the East Coast there’s not much terrain like that at all.. so I can’t fault Beech for not having it. Best way to avoid crowds of beginners is to go riding during the week 👍
@ I look at it as a good place to go if you don’t have the time to make a big trip out west and particularly if you are still learning and are really wasting your money at somewhere like Vail where 90% of the terrain is not going to be fun (or safe) for someone who could progress in one or two visits to a smaller resort to skiing most if not all of the terrain. There are some really solid places on the eastern side, up in Vermont and the surrounding mountains, that will challenge the best skiers from the western states, though. There is a good reason why so many World Cup skiers come from Vermont! Great videos, by the way. No doubt they are a great resource for families trying to figure out a way to try skiing and who can’t swing the rather eye popping cost of a trip out west. I have a place in Vail and the management company charges $5k per night during the season. Even a more modest place is going to run $1,500 minimum per night. Lift tickets are HUNDREDS per day and most visitors aren’t going to have season passes (really worth the money if you are skiing for five days or more). On-mountain dining is like paying for a Michelin star restaurant for … somewhat acceptable food. All this after paying for flights, renting a car at inflated prices and spending two days getting there and back. No small lift.
Exactly with all those costs plus the need for more travel time either out West or to the Northeast makes it too difficult for most people.. but for the area, or a short trip it’s a great place
How was it I’m planning a trip there in 3 weeks
It was really nice 👍 the way they’re constantly blowing snow I’m sure more runs will be opening soon, but there was still a good amount open for us
@ great to hear. I’ve been there for opening day 2 years ago it was a great time
Oh cool! This is my first season riding some of the resorts in NC and they’re surprisingly good mountains. I think most people underestimate them because NC is so far south, but they forget the elevation in the Blue Ridge Mountains 🏔️
@ yea people do, when I went for my first time I was impressed
If you’re planning a trip there, try to go to Sugar, Beech, & App since they’re all pretty close to each other
Ive been to both Sugar and Beech for over 10 years. Beech is light years better than Sugar in almost every single aspect. The runs are wider and have better snow. The facilities are nicer and are upgraded more frequently. Most of the 4-pack lifts are high speed. The ones at Sugar haven’t been updated in ages. There’s no giant eyesore at the top of the mountain, instead they have an awesome summit bar (should’ve mentioned it).
After I went to Beech once, I’ve never wanted to go back to Sugar. I would only even consider going if Beech was closed or somehow packed and Sugar wasn’t, but even that is super unlikely. If Beech is crowded, Sugar is usually a nightmare.
Great to hear your feedback! I’ve been to both as well but I think the competition between which one is truly better isn’t as cut and dry as that. But you definitely made some great points for Beech
Hard to beat midweek skiing in NC, usually no one on the mountain and $40ish for lift tickets at most spots. You can rip it pretty good for half a day while everyone else is at work.
Yes! I don’t think a lot of people realize that about North Carolina ski resorts. It’s one of the reasons I’m making an effort to get out to visit a lot of places in NC this season, that and I’d love to visit all the resorts on the East Coast one day 😅
Just found your channel and been really enjoying it! I’m just west of Charlotte so I frequent Beech and Sugar a lot. And looking to end the season in VT - your review of Jay Peak was incredibly helpful!
So glad to hear it! Along with a lot of places here in the Southeast & Mid Atlantic, I’m also planning a good amount of trips to VT this season. Hope you have the best time at Jay!!
The most unique thing about Beech is that it used to have the "Land of Oz" theme park on the backside of the mountain. Although it is now only open one weekend a year, it's still THE most unique thing about it. Property on and near Beech has been much more reasonably priced than other NC ski resorts. We would regularly drive past Sugar just to get to Beech pretty much EVERY time when I was younger (in the 80's)
Ok cool I was unaware of the “Land of Oz” feature. There’s definitely a good argument to have regarding a Sugar & Beech comparison
Beech has a mountain top bar and their own Brewery on the mountain! Thats pretty unique if you ask me. Also, there are plenty of "Glade" runs in the woods if you know where to look.
Beech is more of a resort feel whereas Sugar has more terrain.
True, that is pretty unique! I guess I missed the makeshift glade trails your talking about, but I’ll have to keep an eye out next time..
@@AdventureLife365 Great review nonetheless! I enjoy your reviews!
Thanks so much!
Beech is great in the early or late season. In the busy season it’s ridiculously bad. Unorganized and chaos. Late December-January I’m going to Sugar or App. Beech is a no go unless I’m doing a night session
Oh interesting point. You mean the crowds get crazy during those months?
My fam had to turn and go to app 2 days ago because there wasnt a single open parking spot
That’s crazy!! The holidays can be a busy time.. but at least y’all were close enough to get to App or Beech pretty quickly
The slopes here are just no fun at all on the weekends.. 😢 I save all my sick days from work to go during the week 😅
Honestly that’s the best way to do it!!🤣 everywhere can get ridiculously busy on the weekends and over winter holidays..
I tried skiing here (and at Sugar) once, thinking it’s a lot closer to where I live and so travel would be a lot easier than Colorado (so I could add an extra ski trip that season). Perfectly suitable but it lacks the one thing that a large, western resort has and that is the best part of skiing - areas that are too far and scary for beginners. Every run, regardless of rating, is crowded with beginners who don’t really understand or don’t yet know how to ride without being hazards to other riders. Everyone was a beginner at some point, but there are no back bowls or areas that beginners won’t visit so you spend the day dodging out of control riders and getting mowed down. Obvious upside is that you don’t have hour-long lift lines at choke points like you do out west - a new and really quite significant issue lately at Vail, Breck, etc.
Yes, I can see how it lacks that super advanced terrain like out West, but on the East Coast there’s not much terrain like that at all.. so I can’t fault Beech for not having it. Best way to avoid crowds of beginners is to go riding during the week 👍
@ I look at it as a good place to go if you don’t have the time to make a big trip out west and particularly if you are still learning and are really wasting your money at somewhere like Vail where 90% of the terrain is not going to be fun (or safe) for someone who could progress in one or two visits to a smaller resort to skiing most if not all of the terrain. There are some really solid places on the eastern side, up in Vermont and the surrounding mountains, that will challenge the best skiers from the western states, though. There is a good reason why so many World Cup skiers come from Vermont! Great videos, by the way. No doubt they are a great resource for families trying to figure out a way to try skiing and who can’t swing the rather eye popping cost of a trip out west. I have a place in Vail and the management company charges $5k per night during the season. Even a more modest place is going to run $1,500 minimum per night. Lift tickets are HUNDREDS per day and most visitors aren’t going to have season passes (really worth the money if you are skiing for five days or more). On-mountain dining is like paying for a Michelin star restaurant for … somewhat acceptable food. All this after paying for flights, renting a car at inflated prices and spending two days getting there and back. No small lift.
Exactly with all those costs plus the need for more travel time either out West or to the Northeast makes it too difficult for most people.. but for the area, or a short trip it’s a great place
Great job on this review!
Thank you! It was great meeting you today, and I’m glad you enjoyed this video!