SAM Magazine-Keystone, Colo., Nov. 5, 2009-After a late-October storm dropped snow across much of the central and northern Rockies, augmenting snowmaking operations, more resorts are opening for the season. And, with another storm approaching the West Coast this weekend, more areas are likely to open in the next week.

In California, Mountain High and Boreal are both open. Mountain High began turning the lifts top to bottom on Oct. 29. Boreal, which had opened and closed, reopened on Oct. 30. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, Nev., opened on Halloween weekend and will operate for this coming weekend (Nov. 6-7) as well, running the lights and offering extended hours, until 7:00 p.m.

In the Rockies, Wolf Creek opened for Halloween. Thanks to late-October storms, the area has a mid-mountain natural snow base of 20 inches. Keystone Resort opened Nov. 4, a week earlier than planned, with top to bottom skiing served by the River Run Gondola. For terrain park fans, the resort has one jump and more than 20 features from its A51 Terrain Park.

Copper Mountain will be the next to open in Colorado, on Nov. 6, also with top-to-bottom terrain. It's marking the occasion with a Lift Off celebration, including a concert, ski and snowboard films, equipment demos, après specials, and giveaways.

The recent cold temperatures and early season snowfall have Solitude opening a week ahead of schedule, on Nov. 6 also.

Mt. Norquay became the first area in western Canada to open, on Oct. 31, and is operating weekends. It offered some park features from the get-go and plans to open more terrain for the coming weekend. Lake Louise is scheduled to become the second to open, starting regular operations on Nov. 6. Nakiska plans to operate weekends starting Nov. 7, while Sunshine Village expects to open for the season on Nov. 11.

More resorts could be opening soon as well. Mt. Hood Meadows reports that a storm system forecast to drop two feet or more on the resort through the weekend has crews prepping for an early opening. Can other West Coast areas be far behind?