Today Arapahoe Basin, base elevation of 10,780 feet on the Colorado Continental Divide, took the annual ski industry sweepstakes becoming the first ski area to open for the 2014-15 season. A ribbon of man-made snow, augmented by a foot of natural snow snaked down one intermediate run allowing A-Basin to open to a few die hard skiers.

In recent years the season opening sweepstakes race has come down to A-Basin or Loveland Basin with an occasional push from Killington. With the high base elevation of A-Basin and Loveland Basin (base of 10,800 feet), they routinely compete to be the first to open with a combination of natural and man-made snow. The high elevation allows them the make snow most nights starting in late September.

There will be a full slate of Colorado ski area openings in the next few weeks with Breckenridge slated for November 7th. Copper Mountain and Keystone will crank the lifts on Halloween (Oct. 31) with Vail following Nov. 21st and Aspen and Snowmass set for Nov. 27, American Thanksgiving Day.

In our region there’s Mt. Norquay on October 31, Lake Louise on November 7th, Sunshine November 14th,

Of course Fernie Alpine Resort has still not announced a prospective opening day. The big day will likely be in late November or early December, snow and employee dependent.