A ski area in Alaska that has a reputation for being one of the snowiest on the planet has decided to schedule its opening date to three weeks later than usual next season.
Alyeska ski area says it will aim to open on December 15th rather than target the traditional US Thanksgiving holiday Weekend three weeks earlier in late November as many large North American resorts do.
Alyeska's Marketing Director Eric Fullerton told local media that the decision was about business viability early in the season and not losing money by opening when the ski areas might not be able to offer top to bottom skiing.
He said that despite investing "millions" on snowmaking over recent years local weather conditions often meant there was either now on the lower mountain or snow on the upper mountain in late November and early December, depending on whether there was a weather inversion or not, but that not being able to offer top to bottom skiing could mean it cost the resort to be open.
Mr Fullerton said that if Autumn 2017 turns out to be a snowy one, they would try to open before the December 15th date.
Alyeska typically receives over 650 inches (more than 16.5 metres) of snow at the top of its slopes through the season, and about a third of that down at its base.