Killington, VT – Many ski areas from Vermont to West Virginia saw their first snowfall on Friday as both snow and pre-season activities continue at ski resorts across North America.nSnowfall levels were reported as low as 1,500 feet of elevation in parts of Vermont, with snow mixing with rain as low as 700 feet in some areas. Totals as high as 10 to 15″ were predicted atop Jay Peak, and while resort officials were initially skeptical of such forecasts, “I might be eating crow for mocking the magnitude of this storm,” the resort’s marketing director, Steve Wright, said on Friday.
As of 2:30 p.m. EDT, five inches of snow had fallen at Killington’s K-1 Lodge, elevation 2,500 feet, with heavy snowfall continuing and additional snowfall forecasted through Saturday morning.
“This was perfect timing for this October storm,” said Tom Horrocks, Killington’s communications and public relations manager. “Today is our season pass and early-season K55 ticket deadline and the phones have been ringing off the hook since Mother Nature reminded skiers and riders that winter in here.”
“Our edges are sharp and our patience has been rewarded. We’re off to have Stratton’s first snowball fight of the season,” added a Stratton Mountain spokesperson.
It wasn’t the first snow of the season at West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain. This was actually its third. But Friday’s storm was a surprise as forecasters had expected the storm to deliver only rain there. Mountaintop temperatures began the day around 37 degrees, but as a light mist started to fall around 8 a.m., temperatures dropped below the freezing mark. After an hour of light snowfall, large, heavy flakes began falling at about 10 a.m. But 11 a.m. a thick coating blanketed the resort.
Enjoy our Friday photo gallery from resorts around the U.S. and Canada for your weekend dose of pre-season stoke.
