The Palmer snowfield above timberline lodge on Mt hood in Oregon has re-opened this weekend to start its (usually) 10+ month ski season, through to August 2015.
Does this mark the first ski area in North America to open? Kind of. Timberline certainly claims it is, but it's likely one of the areas now snowmaking in Colorado or New England will claim to be first in a week or two's time, having gone from grassy slopes to snow-covered, rather than in Timberline's case a glacier-like permanent year round snow field.
How good conditions are is difficult to know, Google's weather feed says it's up to 29C at The lodge below the slopes this week and sunny and the centre's own snow report says there's 0 inches of snowcover, but presume that needs up dating as they also say,
"Palmer Snowfield is open for Fall Skiing and Riding. Only the upper snowfield will be open - all riders will be required to download on all lifts - be prepared to carry all equipment. Early season conditions exist."
Several more glacier ski areas In the Alps were due to open this weekend but Engelberg in Switzerland, which was one of them, has decided to delay until next weekend or possibly the one after. It's been snowing there today though.
However the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier in Austria is open with a 1m snow depth and all eight Austrian glacier ski areas are now reported to be open – more than the rest of the northern hemisphere's open ski areas combined.