HELENA – Officials with Great Divide Ski Area say eager skiers can hit the slopes this weekend — the area’s earliest-ever opening date.
Kevin Taylor says the ski area’s snow making machines were put to work during a recent cold snap, and enough snow was created to build a mini terrain park. The ski area will be open to skiers for free this weekend, and Taylor says it will remain open on weekends as long as the snow sticks around.
Great Divide’s previous earliest opening date was on Halloween in 1998.
The first ski resort in the nation to open this year was Loveland Ski Area in Colorado, which started its lifts Oct. 9 with an 18-inch base of manmade and natural snow. It was Loveland’s earliest opening in 40 years.