ON THE MOVE

EST 1970

Located on top of Lookout Mountain, Cloudmont is unique as the only ski resort in Alabama and the southeastern-most ski resort in the country.

O U T S I D E AL

ALL YEAR LONG

There are plenty of other activities and attractions to keep visitors flocking to Cloudmont's quiet mountain atmosphere year-round. Shady Grove Dude Ranch is on the same property as Cloudmont. A favorite pastime here is a guided trail ride on horseback that provides stunning views of Veil Falls and DeSoto Falls, but hiking among a profusion of mountain laurels in the spring or blazing autumn colors in the fall, as well as fishing and swimming in Little River in the summer, are also popular diversions.

BY JENNIFER STEWART KORNEGAY

Looking for a cool getaway? Treat your family to a day of active outdoor fun in a winter wonderland that’s closer than you think.

The glare of sun off the snow is brilliant, almost blinding. The cold air washing across your cheeks and whooshing past your ears is exhilarating. The delicate “swishing” sound as you carve out perfect turns is almost musical. You’re snow skiing. And, better yet, you’re doing it in Alabama. No long drive or airplane ride required. Just a short, easy jaunt up to Mentone, and you’ll be gliding (or slipping and sliding, depending on your level of skiing expertise) down the slopes at Cloudmont Ski Resort

Located on top of Lookout Mountain, Cloudmont is unique as the only ski resort in Alabama and the southeasternmost ski resort in the country. It’s also family owned and operated and is a perfect place for beginners looking to try something new or seasoned skiers hoping to hone their skills.

In the winter of 1970, Cloudmont opened its ski slopes for the first time. Today, approximately 6,000 to 7,000 skiers a year enjoy going up the mountain via two “pony lifts,” zipping down the fast, wide run, and then doing it all over again. Like many ski resorts all over the world (even those in places that regularly receive plenty of natural snow) Cloudmont uses a snow machine to pile powder on its slopes. And man-made snow is the exact same stuff that falls out of the sky; the machines use a different method than Mother Nature to create the snow, but the end result is the same.

On its 800 acres of pristine mountain land, Cloudmont has two, 1,000-foot-long slopes that connect to each other with an elevation of 1,800 feet and a vertical drop of 150 feet. There’s a ski shop that rents all the equipment necessary for a fun-filled skiing experience and offers ski instruction and lessons. There are also chalets and cabins on the property for overnight guests.

If you’re interested in swooshing down the slopes at Cloudmont this year, make sure you call or visit the website before you go. The snow machines let Cloudmont cheat the weather a little, but the resort still has to wait for the temperature to drop to at least 28 degrees and for the ground to freeze before the machines will crank out snow.

Because of this, the “season” can vary greatly each year depending on the temperature, and every winter is different. But once the conditions are right, and the machines produce a good, deep base, Cloudmont can keep that snow nice and skiable all the way into spring.

SKIS UP

Cloudmont Ski Resort & Shady Grove Dude Ranch in Mentone, Alabama www.cloudmont.com

Start the new year off right.

Use these easy solutions for everyday organizing that will simplify your life.

get it get it together together

A few steps to clear the clutter this year.

With every new year come new beginnings. You too can start fresh with a clean, organized home. It will make your life less stressful, save you money and boost your energy and confidence. Didn’t know a good “gettingorganized” effort could do all that? Read on.

Clutter Chaos

Too much stuff everywhere and just thrown anywhere can drain you physically and emotionally. If you have to dig through a mountain to find things, you’re wasting valuable time, and you’re going to stay frustrated and tired. If you lose an important document or misplace something you need to complete a task, you’re going to be stressed out. And does this sound familiar? You need a citrus zester but can’t find your citrus zester, so you buy a new citrus zester. Two weeks later, you find the citrus zester you bought three years ago. Getting rid of clutter is the first step in getting truly organized.

Step 1

Take out the trash.

Give everything in the house a long, hard look and decide if you really use it or really need it. Throw out or donate anything that you don’t.

Step 2

Memories, shemories.

You cannot keep every crayon scribbling that little Annie and Johnny have drawn throughout their childhood and trying to do so will result in some serious clutter. While we’re not suggesting you sacrifice all nostalgic feelings on the organizing alter, try to be realistic. Keep the photo albums (nicely organized and labeled, of course) and the truly special drawings or handmade clay mugs. In fact, if a child’s art is something you really want to keep, consider displaying it somewhere in your home instead of stuffing it in a drawer.

A big step in creating a simpler, cleaner, more streamlined living environment is getting rid of your unused items, and you need to think beyond your clothes closet. Take everything out of all closets and cabinets and give each item an honest assessment, asking:

do you need it at all?

do you use it often?

where should it be stored?

Step 3

A place for everything.

Every item you keep deserves a designated home. When everything has a place, you have the space to put it away when you’re done, and you’ll know exactly where it is when you need it again. Make sure all family members know the appropriate “home” for items so when they’re helping put things away, items are put in the correct spot.

Step 4

Kill clutter hotspots.

Certain areas of your house may be more prone to clutter build up than others. Take some time to figure out why that is and then address that reason specifically.

Step 5

Create a de-cluttering schedule.

Decide the needed frequency of your de-cluttering efforts and create a schedule that you’ll actually follow. It may be once a week for some areas in the house and once a year for others.

Organize it all.

Room-by-Room Tips

Kitchen

• Keep your fridge from becoming a black hole by supplementing its storage. Adding a few free-standing wire shelves can double its capacity and make it easier to get things in and out.

• Stop all the cabinet stacking! Place small tension rods vertically in a cabinet to create dividers for storing cutting boards, baking sheets and large plates upright.

• Put dry goods that come in bags or odd-shaped containers (flour, sugar, rice, beans) in rectangular or square clear containers to make more efficient use of your pantry space.

• Tidy up your junk drawer by reusing plastic lunch-meat containers, metal mint tins and even old shoe boxes. Just remember to label any containers or boxes you can’t easily see into or through. Laundry Room

• A pocket shoe organizer hung on the back of your laundry room door provides additional storage space for cleaning supplies.

Bedroom

• Don’t forget about all that space under your bed. Buy large plastic containers with tops to store seasonal clothing items when you’re not wearing them, freeing up space in your closet and dresser.

Garage

• Use basic pegboards and hooks to hang sports equipment, yard tools, etc.

• Drill holes in clear plastic cups and hang them on pegboard hooks to hold small items like nails, screws, etc.

get back in the closet

Chances are, your closets are some of the most cluttered, un-organized spaces in your home. Here are a few closet organization tips to take to heart.

Look at every item of clothing and decide if it is being worn, might be worn again, needs altering or is ready to go on to have a life with someone else. Trying on items that haven't been worn in a while is helpful.

Donate the things you’re not using to a local charity.

If it is full of holes or covered in stains, toss it in the trash.

Keep old t-shirts though. Cut them up and use them for cleaning rags. They are perfect for soaking up spills (replacing expensive and wasteful paper towels) and dusting items you don’t want to scratch.

pro tip:

Look for opportunities to utilize every inch of a space in a pretty way. Add hooks or shelves for accessories like jewelry, belts, scarves and handbags. Use matching, space-saving hangers.

do it for your health

Recent studies have shown that people who see their homes as cluttered and chaotic suffer higher rates of depression and fatigue. On the flipside, those who describe their homes as neat and organized had lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and felt more relaxed in their living spaces. When you feel more restored and rested in general, this can benefit every area of your life. It can help you:

sleep better.

Stick to other healthy lifestyle choices like eating better and exercising more.

Improve your relationships by giving you more time for others (and putting you in a better mood when you’re with them).

Bump up your productivity at work or in other projects thanks to the extra energy and sense of accomplishment a tidy home provides.