Updated: 9:40 a.m. MDT Saturday, Oct. 6, 2010
Originally Published: 7:48 a.m. MDT Saturday, Oct. 6, 2010

Maggie Valley, NC – Cold temperatures overnight allowed a pair of North Carolina ski resorts to launch their winter season Saturday morning. Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley was the first to flip the switch at 8:30 a.m., followed closely by Sugar Mountain Ski Resort near Banner Elk.nSnowmaking efforts at Cataloochee began Thursday afternoon. This morning, ski resort officials opened three trails and two lifts for day skiing only from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pricing for adults is $28 and juniors 12 and under $22, with afternoon rates available as well. Midweek Season Passes will be honored this weekend as well. Cataloochee will also operate on Sunday with the same hours, and operating hours for the upcoming week will be determined on Sunday.

Snowmaking also began at Sugar on Thursday. This morning, as temperatures hover in the low 20s, manmade snow covers the Upper and Lower Flying Mile slopes with the Summit Lift #1 in operation to the three-quarter station. Sugar Mountain’s debut was three weeks earlier than last season’s and just one day shy of the mountain’s earliest recorded opening on November 5th back in 1976.

Today’s lift ticket prices are $25 for a full-day session and $20 for a half-day session. No word is yet available whether Sugar Mountain plans to remain open full-time for skiing and snowboarding through the coming week.