Backcountry Ski in NC

It snowed again in the southeast. I drove to Cherohala Skyway and checked out the possibilities of backcountry ski there. I found a gated forest road after Mile Six post on the NC side. The crusty jeep road led to a bald at 5,000ft. The snow was even more crusty there, about half inch thick and I could walk on it without breaking through the crust. I made a few runs and practiced kick-turns both sides. I returned to my car at twilight.