Here it is!

[DoubleBitter]

"First snow of the season!"
https://www.facebook.com/sugarloaf/posts/pfbid02gSyiGKptDThRmrowDJWrjGDJjzAqGQAwpxtSzLbU85drgYtThyu5FezowTMRVP7ql

[gondicar]

"First snow of the season!"
https://www.facebook.com/sugarloaf/posts/pfbid02gSyiGKptDThRmrowDJWrjGDJjzAqGQAwpxtSzLbU85drgYtThyu5FezowTMRVP7ql

Satellite view

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... tid=K8Wfd2

[shot ski]

Not surprised to see killington open for turns this weekend. Gotta be one of the earliest on record

[Glade Monkey]

Not surprised to see killington open for turns this weekend. Gotta be one of the earliest on record

Not even close!
Lots of October openings… even SR has been open by Halloween a few times.

https://www.killington.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here/operating-schedule/historical-open-close

[Andrew B.]

Not surprised to see killington open for turns this weekend. Gotta be one of the earliest on record

Not even close!
Lots of October openings… even SR has been open by Halloween a few times.

https://www.killington.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here/operating-schedule/historical-open-close

About 10-12 years ago we skied T2 the Thursday after Columbus Day. I want to say 10/12-15th???

[Glade Monkey]

Not surprised to see killington open for turns this weekend. Gotta be one of the earliest on record

Not even close!
Lots of October openings… even SR has been open by Halloween a few times.

https://www.killington.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here/operating-schedule/historical-open-close

About 10-12 years ago we skied T2 the Thursday after Columbus Day. I want to say 10/12-15th???

Bunch of October opening dates here including the 14th 09/10 season
https://www.newenglandskihistory.com/Maine/sundayriver.php

[shot ski]

Ah , that makes a lot of sense. Some of those early 90s dates are impressive with the older snowmaking tech. I guess it's been a late start last 5 years but now that you mention it I do remember some SR halloween skiing recently.

[gondicar]

Ah , that makes a lot of sense. Some of those early 90s dates are impressive with the older snowmaking tech. I guess it's been a late start last 5 years but now that you mention it I do remember some SR halloween skiing recently.

It was much more of a race to open first back in the 90s, for two reasons:
1. Less consolidation meant more intense competition among the resorts, particularly between SL and SR. Are you familiar with the early/mid 90s “ski wars”? Let me tell you it was a real thing.
2. The resorts relied a lot more on PR to get the word out before there was any social media or other digital channels to allow direct real time communication with customers. Being first meant you got the biggest PR bang.

[SpillwayEast]

Long term forecast looks 'warmish' thru to thanksgiving............its opening on the 17th in jeopardy?

[darkwizard]

Long term forecast looks 'warmish' thru to thanksgiving............its opening on the 17th in jeopardy?

I'd say let em rip tomorrow through Monday or so.

[cccski]

A few years ago, Killington opened in mid-October up high on the North Ridge chair with Rime and Reason to ski. I had only skied in October once before in my life at Brighton, Utah in 1982. So, I drove 3 hours to ride up the gondola, hike down a series of metal steps to reach the top of the North Ridge chair. There, I was confronted with too many skiers skiing 400 vertical feet of sort of snow on two trails. Well, I had heard of the reputation of Killington skiers resembling anal orifices. I can only say, that reputation was well deserved. There was a long line for the chair and I was in the singles line. The chair was a triple in those days. I moved into position with two old fat asses who tried to block me from the chair so they could ride alone despite the crowd. To avoid getting beaned by the chair, I had to throw myself in a fat ass lap, then shove him over for the ride. I was then forced to hip check him to get off the chair. Later I rode the chair with a guy from NYC in a full face helmet describing driving up the Taconic Parkway at 120 mph and how he likes to ski really, really fast. Yikes! Was I glad to get out of there. A month later, I was at my beloved Sugarloaf enjoying pleasant, enthusiastic conversations on the Superquad with nice human beings instead of whatever species it is that inhabits the "Beast of the East". Little did I know that described the creatures that ski there.

[k2trav]

Long term forecast looks 'warmish' thru to thanksgiving............its opening on the 17th in jeopardy?

I'd say let em rip tomorrow through Monday or so.

There not ready yet, still working on putting things back together, the 17th is iffy but can be done, 9 days to go

[SpillwayEast]

Long term forecast looks 'warmish' thru to thanksgiving............its opening on the 17th in jeopardy?

I'd say let em rip tomorrow through Monday or so.

There not ready yet, still working on putting things back together, the 17th is iffy but can be done, 9 days to go

Has the debris been cleaned out at the pump station on the Carrabassett.......that is usually a last minute task.

[cccski]

Hey, K2Trav, do you know the snowmaking plan for this early season given the new pump house, HKD guns and Klik hydrants off the summit?

I'm sure they will do Tote as usual from the top of the Superquad. Any idea if they will try to work up high with Upper Tote, Tote Extension, or Timberline?

If they get the infrastructure done, it looks like a decent snowmaking window from Friday night through Monday night and, even, Tuesday night.

[EXILED]

Heard from one source that they were going to start on TL and Chillway...of course that source may have been into the brandy at 7:15AM...

[k2trav]

Hey, K2Trav, do you know the snowmaking plan for this early season given the new pump house, HKD guns and Klik hydrants off the summit?

I'm sure they will do Tote as usual from the top of the Superquad. Any idea if they will try to work up high with Upper Tote, Tote Extension, or Timberline?

If they get the infrastructure done, it looks like a decent snowmaking window from Friday night through Monday night and, even, Tuesday night.

Heard they were going from the summit, All of Tote Road is 100 guns, they claim they can run 260 so we'll see what they do. This is probably the best stretch of cold early season we've ever had, its a shame noone planned for that

[cccski]

Thanks so much! I knew if anyone would know K2trav would.

I am 70 yo and getting so excited for this season, I can't stand it.

This is my 61st year on skis and I am as excited as when I was 9; Fischer wood skis with Cubco bindings skiing at Skiland in East Bern, NY. Rope tows run by a truck rear wheel with the tire removed and a detachable J bar with a left hand turn! You actually skied back to the J bar through a beautiful apple orchard. Great cheeseburgers.

Got some snow this AM at my house and went for a long walk in the woods. My new puppy had never seen snow before and watching her utter amazement mirrored my own.

[ja_loaf]

Has anyone seen any guns working yet?

[k2trav]

Not yet, but listening to the radio 1142 and snowmakers are talking so could be soon

[b632]

Thanks so much! I knew if anyone would know K2trav would.

I am 70 yo and getting so excited for this season, I can't stand it.

This is my 61st year on skis and I am as excited as when I was 9; Fischer wood skis with Cubco bindings skiing at Skiland in East Bern, NY. Rope tows run by a truck rear wheel with the tire removed and a detachable J bar with a left hand turn! You actually skied back to the J bar through a beautiful apple orchard. Great cheeseburgers.

Got some snow this AM at my house and went for a long walk in the woods. My new puppy had never seen snow before and watching her utter amazement mirrored my own.

Yeah!! That is the spirit!! You old bastard…still loving it! I’m only just behind you in trips around the sun and I to am so psyched for the season.. my 10 yr old grandson keeps it interesting … he bashes the bumps MUCH better than I can.

[SKIER iZ PrO]

Guns are going on Tote!!

[darkwizard]

Guns are going on Tote!!

Yeeha

[cccski]

Looking at the Beach webcam this fine morning, you can see guns going on Tote, Candyside and Kings.

To quote Austin Powers, "Yeeah, Baby!"

[myell]

Such a beautiful sight!!! Sure looks like a lot of guns running at the same time too. Heard from refresher that they improved the setup on boardwalk this year - not sure how, but should allow them to open it earlier.

[myell]

Mountain report says upper and lower timberline are going too. Wowwwww! Now that’s impressive. Well done mountain ops. Best snowmaking I’ve ever seen at the loaf.

[cccski]

According to the Mountain Report, they are running 235 guns. According to K2Trav, they can run 260 max. Just think, all of Timberline, Tote Road top to bottom, Bridle Chain, Kings Landing and Candyside all at once. Is it just me, or is this a first due to the low E guns and new pump house?

The Mountain Report also says if you see a snowmaker, thank a snowmaker. For years now especially in the early season, when I see the snowmakers tramping along, I randomly ski up to them and give them a $20 tip. I sequester $100 in fresh $20 bills in my wallet for just this purpose. I will tell you, they are surprised and appreciative when I do it.

So, consider tipping a snowmaker. They sure deserve it.

[DoubleBitter]

Webcam looks like they're blowing on Boardwalk too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K77ahIkmPGw

[blkdiamondskier]

Webcam looks like they're blowing on Boardwalk too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K77ahIkmPGw

I think that is just the snowmaking cloud from Candyside coming over. It can be hard to differentiate all the trails in the middle from that webcam.

[Pow on the Mao]

Mountain report says upper and lower timberline are going too. Wowwwww! Now that’s impressive. Well done mountain ops. Best snowmaking I’ve ever seen at the loaf.

i think post covid they opened TL real early on to spread people.. this was the 'only ride with people in your car' year. but i think they've kept that approach since? i love it. sunny mellow laps early season with a view. vs. a sugarloaf sunset at 1:30pm on kings. can't wait for the days of bucksaw to TL early season combo.

[WrathOfAramark]

Super quad is turning now (3 PM on Nov 15). Maybe sneaky soft start tomorrow one day early?