Ski Slopes Open Early

Loon Mountain, Cannon Mountain, Sugarloaft Mountain, and Bretton Woods have officially opened for the season.

Loon has begun its season two weeks early and has 14 out of its 61  trails open. This is the first time in its 40 years of business that Loon Mountain has started the season early. 

Mike Caruso, a junior; and his friends went to Loon for the day on Nov. 19. "My roommate and I went to Loon with our buddy on Tuesday, it was our second day out. Loon was open last weekend but closed for the week to blow snow everywhere. Our first day there, there were about 5 trails open and 2 lifts. It wasn't too bad because it was nice and warm. Today [Tuesday] though there were only like 5 trails open and just one lift because it was windy and the snow was shitty because of all the ice. It was chunky," said Caruso.  

"This was before noon though, the sun came out at like 11:30, and I'm sure it softened up. There's like no one at the mountain besides season pass holders so there's not a million people there. The gondala is dope as always and has been open since the first day," said Caruso. He said he wasn't sure about the other mountains but can't wait to check them out.

There is more winter fun than just skiing and snowboarding at the recently opened mountains. "I'm not big on skiing, but love to go tubing, I'm a tubing enthusiasts.I haven't gotten the chance to get out yet this season, but I'm really excited that the mountains are already open. I'm anticipating the tubing season," said Dominique Perrin, a junior.

"Bretten Woods is my favorite, so I'm pumped that it's open early. I'm definitely going there first," said Samantha Napoli, a junior. 

The recent drop in temperatures  the last couple weeks allowed the mountains to start making snow and open early. 

There have been a total of 1,3,00 tower and snow-making guns at work over the past weeks to prepare the trails to be opened early. 

Currently, Cranmore Mountain is using snow guns to prep the trails for its Nov. 29 opening.  

"We are currently working on blowing the trails, and preparing to open up on Nov. 23," said a PSU student who works at Waterville Valley.  

There is excitement over the local mountains being opened ahead of schedule. PSU is known for its large population of skiers and snowboarders who are all excited about the news. 

"I'm stoked, going to go as soon as possible," said Perrin.