With over 90 centimetres of snow over the first weekend of November, Apex Mountain is looking at one of the best starts to their season in years, and an early opening too.

The popular ski resort announced on Nov. 10 that they would be moving up their opening from Dec. 10 to Dec. 2 thanks to the incredible conditions on the slopes.

sa国际传媒淲e are months ahead of schedule as far as the base goes, and you know sometimes you donsa国际传媒檛 see a base like this at least until January,sa国际传媒� said Apex general manager James Shalman. sa国际传媒淲e are so far ahead of the game that we have to set ourselves up for just an absolutely amazing season.sa国际传媒�

The winter storm that blew in over the weekend left over 90 centimetres of snow to form the base for the ski slopes. The most important part was that the conditions were perfect for the snow that was falling.

If the weather had been too cold when it was falling, the snow could have been too sa国际传媒榮ugarysa国际传媒� where it doesnsa国际传媒檛 bond together properly. But the weather was just right and now the resort is looking to get busy and prepare for their early opening.

sa国际传媒淚 cansa国际传媒檛 say for certain, but wesa国际传媒檙e hoping that when we open the mountain up, wesa国际传媒檙e going to be able to open the entire mountain, which is very rare,sa国际传媒� said Shalman. sa国际传媒淣ormally we open in smaller areas, then the rest of the mountain as we get more snow.sa国际传媒�

Shalman added that this would be the first time they will open up early in at least six years.

It wonsa国际传媒檛 just be all of the slopes that open up on Dec. 2 either, all of the resortsa国际传媒檚 other activities such as the tubing, the ice loop and the hockey rink among others will also be open.

Until Dec. 2 though, the mountain is still officially closed, and thatsa国际传媒檚 not just business, itsa国际传媒檚 for public safety.

With the snow, there is plenty of equipment working on the mountain.

sa国际传媒漌e always have poachers, and thatsa国际传媒檚 a serious problem, because right now the machines arensa国际传媒檛 operating just at night,sa国际传媒� said Shalman.

On top of the tracked snow-packers, the resort has their snow-making machines out with their power lines and high-tension water lines, as well as some machines carrying their one-inch winch cables that can stretch hundreds of meters along the runs.

sa国际传媒淭hat means no snow-shoeing, no hiking, no skiing and especially no snowmobiling just because they go way faster,sa国际传媒� said Shalman. sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 plenty of beautiful terrain outside the ski area.sa国际传媒�

Shalman also noted that some of runs, such as the diamonds and double diamonds, still had avalanche hazards as well.

If someone is interested in getting out and enjoying the snow early, there is plenty of wilderness all around the resort that isnsa国际传媒檛 in the controlled area.

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