Guess what? The mountains aren't open yet, but as far as Colorado ski areas are concerned, the snow season has begun.
That's right, Copper Mountain, Arapahoe Basin and Loveland Ski Area all began making snow this week (Sept. 24), and skiers should be riding the lifts in less than a month ... that's to say nothing of the nut bags who will be taking their rock boards up to Vail Pass for "fresh tracks" once the coverage becomes a little more than a dusting.
Vail is set to open for the 2007-08 season on Nov. 16 and Beaver Creek on Nov. 23, but anyone (save the aforementioned crazies who will beat us all to the first day) interested in strapping on their skis or boards before that can hit Copper on opening day - Nov. 2. Copper, as is its tradition, will bring in dozens of ski teams and clubs from around the world for race training on Oct. 20.
The Basin and Loveland could likely open to the public even before that. The two ski areas have begun the coveted annual quest to be the first North American ski area to open for the season. Representatives say the fateful day will fall between mid to late October ... whenever the snow base has reached 18 inches.
That - for those of us who are mathematically challenged - means we could be tearing up the slopes in about three weeks. We can't say that we're not excited. At the same time ... what happened to the summer?
Video
As the new season rapidly approaches, we take a look back at the beginning of last ski season. Plum was on hand for Arapaho Basin's opening day last year: October 13, 2006, the first mountain opening in North America and the earliest opening on record in Colorado.
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