Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe in California says it will open early for the 2017-18 ski season – this weekend.
Locals had noticed the resort had started snowmaking creating a ribbon of white on the autumnal landscape a few weeks ago but it was not clear that there were any opening plans, until an announcement yesterday.
Mt. Rose say it will be open mornings only for three days, Friday to Sunday, 8am to noon with one easy ski trail accessed by the resort's Wizard chairlift. Lift tickets will be priced at $20 those 16 and older and $10 for children 15 and under.
"At 8,260', Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe has the highest base area elevation at Lake Tahoe, so cold early season overnight temperatures have allowed our snowmaking team to work their magic over the last week," said Mike Pierce, director of marketing for Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe.
The ski area says it plans to re-open on coming weekends as conditions permit.
So far in the USA Arapahoe Basin and Loveland ski areas in Colorado have opened earlier this month for the 17-18 season and the Timberline year-round snowfield on Mt Hood has also re-opened at times.
Silverton in Colorado and Mt Bachelor in Oregon also opened briefly after an early autumn snowfall.