Appalachian Trail has new shelter

FRANKLIN, N.C. » Appalachian Trail hikers have a new place to rest in North Caro­lina.

The U.S. Forest Service says the Long Branch Shelter in the Standing Indian Basin in the Nantahala National Forest has opened. The shelter is at the head of the Long Branch Drainage along the trail, slightly more than two miles north of Forest Service Road 83. It’s about 17 miles from the city of Franklin.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy paid for the materials. The Nantahala Hiking Club provided labor, and local contractor Goshen Timber Frames provided the timbers and helped with assembling the frame. Employees of the Nantahala Ranger District provided heavy machinery and logistical support.

The trail is a marked hiking trail of about 2,200 miles that stretches from Georgia to Maine.

Arizona slopes open to new snow

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. » A northern Arizona ski resort that got nearly 3 feet of snow from recent storms opened last week. Skiers and snowboarders can hit the slopes at the Arizona Snowbowl. Another ski area, Sunrise Park Resort near Greer, had planned to open a day earlier.

Officials at the Snowbowl say they’ll supplement the natural snow between storms by using newly installed snow-making equipment.