Colorado Ski Area Makes Snow for First Time This Season

The beginning of October is an exciting time for skiers. Leaves are changing, temperatures are dropping, and snowmaking machines are springing back to life.

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Colorado, an annual favorite to be the first ski area open on the continent, turned their snowmaking machines on for the first time in the early morning hours of October 8, 2024. See below.

Arapahoe Basin is no stranger to opening in mid-October thanks to its robust snowmaking capabilities, and while this Fall has been a bit warmer than what was hoped for, the ski area is, "ready to jump whenever the right condition window presents itself." The ski area provided the following statement about this morning's first snowmaking test:

"Guns got fired up late last night and into the morning. While temperatures have still been high here in Summit County this fall, our snowmaking team is precise and ready to jump whenever the right condition window presents itself. Snowmaking is all about layering — this first layer is all about keeping the ground cool and wet for more snow to stick. Hopefully, more to come soon and keep hoping for colder temps."

According to Arapahoe Basin's weekly forecast supported by OpenSnow, high temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-50s with lows in the mid-30s for the next week. Not optimal for snowmaking, but as A-Basin's statement mentioned, they'll be ready when Mother Nature allows.

Arapahoe Basin opened on October 29th last season, and is eyeing a similar opening date (but hopefully sooner) for this season. A-Basin is one of only a handful of ski areas across the country that does not set a projected opening or closing date. Instead, the ski area typically opens and closes when Mother Nature allows.

Due to its high elevation, Arapahoe Basin typically has one of the longest ski seasons in the world with lifts spinning from October to June.

The first man-made flakes in Colorado are beyond exciting for skiers who have endured a long summer, but did you know that a small ski area in Wisconsin beat Arapahoe Basin to the snowmaking punch? Trollhaugen , a cult classic ski area in the park riding scene, fired up their snowmaking systems for the first time on October 4, 2024.

Ski Ward , a small hill just outside of Boston, has also begun snowmaking this week thanks to their Latitude 90 all-weather snowmaking machine. The ski area was technically the first to open last season, can they do it again?

The first snowmaking tests across North America are an important part to the beginning of the ski season. Fairly soon we'll see ski areas logging their first substantial snowfalls, opening days will inch closer, and the buzz will continue to grow.

The Winter '24/'25 season is nearly here, friends, and we can't wait to share the excitement with you. Stay tuned in here at POWDER for all of the ski news, stories, gear reviews, and entertainment you're looking for. We've got you covered.

Related: Snow Is Piling Up at an Unlikely Massachusetts Ski Area

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