More Resorts Opening This Weekend

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07 November 2014

Push to The Latest: No

SAM Magazine—Denver, Nov. 7, 2014—Three Colorado resorts headline this weekend's openings, along with resorts in California, Nevada, and Michigan, as the winter season slowly gets underway. The pace could well pick up soon, though: With an extended cold snap forecast next week for much of the nation east of the Rockies, more resorts are expected to open within the next week.

Warm weather had forced Colorado's Keystone and Copper Mountain to postpone their openings, which had been set for Halloween, to today. Both are sporting 18-inch bases.

The U.S. Alpine Ski Team had a preview of Copper's opening, as it has been training at the area this week. Throughout opening weekend, both American Eagle and Excelerator chairlifts and the Easy Rider surface lift will serve Main Vein, Rhapsody, Ptarmigan and Easy Rider trails for top-to-bottom skiing and riding. Woodward Copper's Eagle Jib Park, located off of the top of the American Eagle chairlift, is also open.

Keystone debuted daily operations with 50 acres of skiing and riding, including top-to-bottom intermediate terrain on the Spring Dipper and River Run trails. Several hundred early risers were in line prior to the River Run Gondola opening at 9 a.m. All were treated to complimentary doughnuts, hot chocolate, coffee and breakfast bars. Additionally, the first 200 skiers and riders received an assortment of goodies. Free family-friendly activities such as a bungee-trampoline, climbing wall and bounce house will be available throughout the weekend. Night operations will begin on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Wolf Creek Ski Area in southern Colorado will kick off its 75th season on Saturday, with “very limited” conditions. The area has received 14 inches of snow for the year to date, and has a six-inch base on natural-snow trails. The Nova lift will be open with both natural and man-made snow on two runs. Wolf Creek will open weekends only until further notice.

At Tahoe, Boreal Mountain Resort was the first resort in California to open for the 2014-15 season. It kicked off its 50th anniversary today at 9 a.m. with skiing and riding on one run and with six terrain park features, all accessed by the Castle Peak Quad. The area began snowmaking operations over the Halloween weekend, and has received 10 inches of natural snow. Conditions permitting, Boreal Mountain Resort will continue to expand terrain coverage.

Mt. Rose, Nev., also opened today, with very limited terrain and a selection of terrain park boxes and rails, accessed by the Flying Jenny conveyor lift on the Main Lodge side of the resort. The area has received up to five inches of snow, and snowmaking has been underway. The area will be open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In the Midwest, Ski Brule, Mich., is opening today through Sunday, with two lifts and trails and a 24-inch base.

Breckenridge Ski Resort was also scheduled to open Friday, but it is postponing opening day because unseasonably warm weather is hindering snowmaking operations. A new opening day has not been announced.