Cataloochee

“I visited Cataloochee on a Monday and had a fairly decent experience. I encountered some confusion with the staff about whether I could use my own boots with my lift ticket and rental, which was disappointing as I intended to test my boots before an upcoming trip. I had previously confirmed this over the phone. When setting up my bindings, they didn't fully secure my boot, resulting in an early release during my initial descents. The rental skis seemed to lack recent waxing, causing ice to stick to the base and making it difficult to glide smoothly unless the snow was perfectly groomed. The snow machines were operating throughout the day, causing poor visibility and requiring repeated goggle cleaning. It was tough towards the end of the day to distinguish the trail, causing some congestion. However, it is worth noting that the resort was conveniently located near Atlanta. The lift operators were amiable, and the food and beer were enjoyable. Despite the conditions, I appreciated being able to ski for the day. I will likely return, but given a choice, I would prefer to travel a bit further to Sugar Mountain.”

“My experience at Cataloochee was not what I expected. The place was incredibly crowded, with people scattered everywhere, making it difficult to navigate. The end of the slope was particularly bothersome as people often blocked the way, creating a potential safety hazard. It would be beneficial if there were specific areas for non-skiers that were strictly enforced. Despite purchasing tickets online in advance, I encountered long waits - I spent approximately 2.5 hours in various lines before I could access the ski lift. The lines for equipment and the ski lift were considerably long and the staff did not seem to assist promptly. Based on this, I would recommend renting equipment from a local shop in town to save time. Although the clock for your time only starts once you're on the lift, the lengthy lift lines significantly ate into my skiing time. Given this experience, I won't be returning to Cataloochee and would advise others to consider alternative skiing locations.”

“I must express my dissatisfaction with my recent experience at Cataloochee. I was rather let down to find that the trail at the mountain's peak was closed and there were no blowers operating there. Conversely, the remaining trails had an overabundance of blowers which led to less than ideal white out conditions. Furthermore, I observed a lack of supervision at the lifts, resulting in individuals unfairly skipping the queue.”

“My experience at Cataloochee was outstanding. The organization was commendable, contributing to an enjoyable day spent with my family. We were pleased with the food quality and appreciated the availability of stores for accessory shopping. The convenience of being able to rent complete skiing equipment was another positive aspect. I would definitely recommend this place.”