While a number of Vermont skiers and riders earned their turns last weekend hiking up and sliding down natural snow on various mountains (including, we hear, top-to-bottom runs at Killington), the honors for first lift-serviced skiing and riding here in the northeast go to (Ta Da!) Sunday River. They opened at 3:30 on Friday October 22, 2010, turning the Locke Mountain Triple to access terrain on T2 down to mid-station. They plan on staying open at least through the weekend, and they’ll be making snow as long as temperatures allow.

Sunday River tested their snowmaking system almost two weeks ago, so all they needed was a little cold weather. They started making snow as the temperature dropped on Thursday. With 74 guns firing, they were able to open by 3:30 on Friday.  Sunday River is claiming to be the first lift-serviced skiing and riding in the nation this season; we aren’t certain of that claim, but we aren’t denying it, either.  Last year, they opened on October 14.  Wonder what took them so long this year?

Sunday River turned on all 74 snowguns at 9 Thursday night,  and kept them blazing throughout this morning and afternoon. By sunrise, a handful of  dedicated skiers and riders were waiting patiently at the base of the Locke Mountain triple chairlift, and stayed there until the resort officially announced it would open at 3:30 in the afternoon.  Now, that’s hardcore!

For this weekend, lift tickets are $25 and can be purchased out of the Barker Base Lodge adjacent to the Locke Mountain triple chairlift. The Locke Mountain triple chairlift will open at 8 a.m. this weekend with last chair at 3:30 p.m.