<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“trackbiker”>Beech Mt. NC. Worse than anything I’ve seen in the N.E. Second is Blue Knob,PA. </blockquote>
I’ve been lucky enough that my three times up to Bolton didn’t involve challenging road conditions, although it was snowing on 2 of those 3 days. Agree with riverc0il and others that the road is steep. That rocky, narrow one-way drive into Goodell Hollow (Mt. Greylock Ski Club) can be a bear. I’ve driven it for winter backpacking.
If you’re a Northeasterner and haven’t driven mountain roads in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, you’ll find them an entirely different adventure from what you’re used to. At least that was my experience when I moved to the Asheville NC area having grown up in the Berkshires and hiked the mts of the NEast. I couldn’t believe where roads went … “What would ever possess someone to build a road into this rugged place, and then expect to live here?” (Well, the winters are shorter.) Trackbiker mentioned Beech Mountain NC, which I haven’t skied but which blew my mind when I drove up to it one crisp November day. Ciscokid, Blue Knob might violate your “one way in” requirement b/c there are multiple ways to get there. But until a few years ago, they were all equally bad. Drivers were often advised not to come w/o chains or 4WD. There is now a fairly good route in (and up) from Claysburg PA, and it’s been pretty well cleared when I’ve tried it (which I do annually).
That brings up the matter of maintenance. Try Wintergreen VA from the west (Shenandoah Valley) sometime. The steep grades – up, down, then up again – are plentiful, severe and long. The overall climb is from around 800 feet to over 3000 feet, and you lose a good chunk of that when you cross the Blue Ridge Parkway’s ridge. However, Wintergreen goes all-out to keep access roads open, knowing that access to the resort is essential and being willing to back up that knowledge with investments in vehicles and personnel. In contrast, no matter which way you take to try to reach Roundtop PA, your route involves back roads that don’t receive a great deal of early attention in snowy weather. (The overall elevation change, though is minimal.) I’d much rather tackle Wintergreen than Roundtop in slick conditions. On the other hand, with discretion being the better part of valor, my route to each can take me past good barbecue where I can wait for better driving conditions. :)]
Woody
