After getting nearly two feet of fresh snow in the last 48 hours, we are ready to roll! We’ll be opening the entire mountain, all five chairlifts, on Friday, December 18th. You can read the official proclamation here.

For those who visit this blog often, I’m sure you want a little more info, so, here’s the inside scoop:

Our team is very busy doing last-minute preparations, shoveling LOTS of snow and working hard to get as many runs groomed as possible. While we will have the whole mountain OPEN, we do expect early season conditions.

Here are Six Simple Tips to enjoy Early Season Conditions

1. There may be a little more brush or slope irregularities on some of the groomed runs, so take it easy until you’ve seen the terrain you’re about to ski.

2. Not every run is able to be groomed just yet, so you’ll want to check the grooming report on the reader boards and the trails maps at the bottom of the lifts to be sure you know where you’re going.

3. Families and less-experienced skiers and riders may want to stick to the Bear Chair and Lakeview Lifts, there will be a nice variety of groomed runs there.

4. Off-trail, there’s some nice fluff at this point, but there are rocks and stumps not too far below the surface, especially toward to top of the mountain where things get more wind-blown. That means off-trail skiers and riders are urged to use caution…or wait until there’s a bit more snow to hit your favorite lines. Remember, we had a LOT more snow between those trees when you were here last spring than we do now.

5. It’s a good idea to wear your older skis or snowboard. It breaks my heart to see people ding up their shiny, new gear on opening day. Remember, the rock always wins.

6. And finally, the slopes aren’t the only thing in ‘early season’ condition. Unless you spent the summer rippin’ up the peaks in South America, your body is likely in ‘early season condition’ as well. Take it easy on your first few days. There’s plenty of winter ahead and we want you be healthy enough to enjoy it along with the rest of us.

See you Friday! – April