Updated: 2:20 p.m. MDT Friday, Oct. 29, 2010
Originally published 9:00 a.m. MDT Friday, Oct. 29, 2010

Taylors Falls, MN – Always a contender for first to open in the Midwest, Minnesota’s Wild Mountain ski area opened today for skiing and snowboarding, once again the first resort in the region to do so. But nearby Trollhaugen in Dresser, Wisc., followed Wild Mountain’s lead only an hour later.nWild Mountain opened at noon today with one run Expressway, an intermediate run and one chairlift running.

“We are still making snow so we do not know how deep or how wide the run will be,” Wild Mountain’s Amy Frischmon acknowledged this morning, “but it will be white and fun! What else can you ask for in October?”

Wild Mountain plans to remain open until 9 p.m. tonight, and tentative hours for Saturday and Sunday are from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Next week’s midweek operation has yet to be determined. Lift ticket rates for today will be priced at $15.

Today marked Wild Mountain’s 35th year as the first ski area in the Midwest to open, beating nearby Trollhaugen by only one hour. Trollhaugen opened its Nissebakken run at noon, and lifts will run today until 8 p.m. Lift ticket prices at Trollhaugen are also $15 today, the same price as rental equipment. Ski area officials caution travelers to check with the resort for Saturday hours.