CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine - The snow guns have been going since early in the week as a handful of resorts open up across northern New England this weekend.
Sunday River opened the slopes to skiers Saturday, with its cousin Sugarloaf's first chair heading uphill Sunday. In New Hampshire, Wildcat had a Saturday opening scheduled.
Sunday River spokeswoman Darcy Lambert says the Newry, Maine resort is opening two weeks earlier than last year with hopes high for strong business this year. It helps, she says, that last season was pretty snowy. "And what we've seen from that is this great momentum leading into this year. This year we're already well ahead of season pass sales; our lodging bookings are ahead of last year."
Maine's third largest ski mountain is quiet though; Saddleback's new owners-in-waiting, the Australia-based Majella group, posted on Facebook this week that a deal was in its final stages, but also said it "posed numerous challenges to our investors."
In Vermont, Killington beat the pack, opening up midweek.
Later this month, Killington, for the second season in a row, will host World Cup women's slalom and giant slalom races.