Scaly Mountain, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Scaly Mountain is a small unincorporated community along North Carolina highway 106, southwest of Highlands, North Carolina
and northeast of Dillard, Georgia
(about halfway between the two), and nearest to Sky Valley, Georgia
just to the south-southwest. It is in far south-southeast Macon County, North Carolina
, in far southwestern Highlands township
, close to the Georgia and North Carolina state line.
Scaly Mountain itself (formerly "Ski Scaly") is more like a large hill
than a mountain
, and was used for skiing
until early 2004, when it reopened in December as a weekend
snow tubing venue only. Nearby Sky Valley Resort also ceased being the only ski area in Georgia around the same time, due in large part to repeatedly warm winters since the mid-1990s, unlike the 1970s and 1980s in and after which they were founded. Both areas were opened due to their proximity to and accessibility
from metro Atlanta
, whose upscale north and northeastern suburb
s lie roughly just 100 miles (160.9 km) or 150 kilometers to the southwest, and have since crept ever-closer.
Scaly has three trail
s, one double-chair ski lift
, and two ski tow
s spread across just 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) or 5 hectares. The vertical rise is just 223 feet (68 m), from an elevation
of 3802 feet (1,158.8 m) at the base to 4026 feet (1,227.1 m) at the top. Average annual snowfall is 38.2 inches (97 cm), but the entire usable area is covered by snowmaking
. It is open from the day after Christmas
(December 26) on weekends only, while weather conditions permit, usually into February.
Highlands, North Carolina
Highlands is an incorporated town in Macon County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located on a plateau in the southern Appalachian Mountains, within the Nantahala National Forest, it lies mostly in southeastern Macon County and slightly in southwestern Jackson County, in the Highlands and...
and northeast of Dillard, Georgia
Dillard, Georgia
Dillard is a city in Rabun County, Georgia, United States. census, the city population was 198.-Geography:Dillard is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, Dillard has a total area of , all of it land...
(about halfway between the two), and nearest to Sky Valley, Georgia
Sky Valley, Georgia
Sky Valley is a town in Rabun County, Georgia, United States and is nestled in a scenic mountain valley on the northwest slopes of Rabun Bald, Georgia's second-highest peak. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 250....
just to the south-southwest. It is in far south-southeast Macon County, North Carolina
Macon County, North Carolina
- Geographic features :Of the in Macon County, are federal lands that lie within the Nantahala National Forest and are administered by the United States Forest Service. Of the of USFS land, lie in the Highlands Ranger District and the remaining lie in the Wayah Ranger District...
, in far southwestern Highlands township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
, close to the Georgia and North Carolina state line.
Scaly Mountain itself (formerly "Ski Scaly") is more like a large hill
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
than a mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
, and was used for skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
until early 2004, when it reopened in December as a weekend
Workweek
The workweek and weekend are those complementary parts of the week devoted to labour and rest respectively. The legal working week , or workweek , is the part of the seven-day week devoted to labor. In most Western countries it is Monday to Friday. The weekend comprises the two traditionally...
snow tubing venue only. Nearby Sky Valley Resort also ceased being the only ski area in Georgia around the same time, due in large part to repeatedly warm winters since the mid-1990s, unlike the 1970s and 1980s in and after which they were founded. Both areas were opened due to their proximity to and accessibility
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
from metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta
The Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
, whose upscale north and northeastern suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s lie roughly just 100 miles (160.9 km) or 150 kilometers to the southwest, and have since crept ever-closer.
Scaly has three trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s, one double-chair ski lift
Ski lift
The term ski lift generally refers to any transport device that carries skiers up a hill. A ski lift may fall into one of the following three main classes:-Lift systems and networks:...
, and two ski tow
Ski tow
thumb|right|A rope tow or ski tow.A ski tow, also called rope tow or handle tow, is a mechanised system for pulling skiers and snowboarders uphill....
s spread across just 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) or 5 hectares. The vertical rise is just 223 feet (68 m), from an elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 3802 feet (1,158.8 m) at the base to 4026 feet (1,227.1 m) at the top. Average annual snowfall is 38.2 inches (97 cm), but the entire usable area is covered by snowmaking
Snowmaking
Snowmaking is the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a "snow gun" or "snow cannon", on ski slopes. Snowmaking is mainly used at ski resorts to supplement natural snow. This allows ski resorts to improve the reliability of their snow cover and to extend their ski...
. It is open from the day after Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
(December 26) on weekends only, while weather conditions permit, usually into February.