DCSki provides this complete breakdown of season opening details for Mid-Atlantic resorts. We believe this information is accurate as of Thursday evening, December 6, 2007. However, early-season details can change at the last moment, and we advise you to contact specific resorts before making a visit to verify conditions and operating status. In the early season, operating hours can vary, and some resorts may open for the weekend but then shut down midweek.

Cold weather and recent snowfall have resulted in some of the best opening conditions in recent years. But bear in mind that most ski areas initially open a few trails, expanding the trail count into December as conditions allow. Thin cover may exist on some terrain. Snow tubing will be offered on opening day at some, but certainly not all, resorts. Also note that many resorts offer early season discounts.

Maryland

Wisp Resort: Wisp received 12 inches of fresh snow over the past several days, and also ran the snowguns non-stop. Since December 1, 2007, Wisp has turned 41 million gallons of water into snow.

Wisp also relied on a new trick for snowmaking, incorporating the mountaintop man-made whitewater course owned by Adventure Sports Center International into its snowmaking process. Water was pumped from Deep Creek Lake into a reservoir, and then pumped into the 1/4-mile long man-made river before being distributed throughout the mountain. While in the man-made river, the water further cools. This allows Wisp to make snow at higher air temperatures.

Wisp currently has nine trails open, but is making snow on an additional 16 trails, so expect additional trails to come on-line as early as this weekend. Wisp will celebrate its 52nd anniversary this weekend. On Sunday, December 9 and Monday, December 10, 2007, Wisp will sell $7 one-day lift tickets or $14 2-day lift tickets, along with half price ski and snowboard rentals and group lessons. A Saturday-Sunday-Monday extended day lift ticket, beginning December 8, will sell for $46 for adults and $39 for juniors. The anniversary celebration will include music and giveaways. For more information on the event or to learn about discounted lodging packages, call Wisp at 301-387-4911.

Blue skies returned to Wisp on Thursday, December 6, after a winter storm dumped 12 inches of fresh snow on the Maryland resort. Photo provided by Wisp Resort.

North Carolina

Beech Mountain: Beech Mountain will begin its ski season on Friday morning, December 7, 2007. Beech plans to open Upper and Lower Shawneehaw down through Freestyle and the Playyard with lifts number 3, 4, 5 and the J-Bar operating. Beech plans to be open through the weekend, but has not decided whether it will remain open midweek next week.

Sugar Mountain: Sugar Mountain was one of the first ski areas in the nation to open, back on November 7. The opening was temporary, but the North Carolina ski area is back in operation with seven slopes currently open, and three lifts in operation. Temperatures at the ski area Thursday night were in the teens, with snowmaking in operation.

Pennsylvania

Alpine Mountain: Switching to Pennsylvania, Alpine Mountain began making snow on November 30, but does not plan to open for the season until December 14.

Bear Creek: Bear Creek will open for the season on Friday, December 7 at 4 p.m. Bear Creek began making snow on November 30 and had made snow for 60 hours as of Thursday morning. For opening day, Bear Creek plans to have all trails open except the snow tubing area, Upper Extreme, and possibly Upper Grizzly.

Big Boulder / Jack Frost: Jack Frost will open on Saturday, December 8. Nearby Big Boulder is currently open with 11 trails and 6 lifts, and hopes to add a couple more trails by the weekend.

Blue Knob: Blue Knob currently plans to open for the season on December 14, 2007. Snowmaking is in progress.

Blue Mountain: Blue Mountain will open for the sesaon on Friday, December 7 at 8:30 a.m. 10 trails will be open, including Lazy Mile, all of Main Street, Barneys Bumps, Midway, and Come-A-Round Park. Blue Mountain expects to open new trails daily. The current base depth is 30-48 inches.

Camelback: Camelback will open on Saturday, December 8, with up to 18 trails open, including the Terrain Park and Halfpipe.

Ski Denton: Ski Denton will be open on December 8 and 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ski Denton plans to have the Snowflake, Liberty Bell, Katy-O and Frostbite trails open.

Elk Mountain: Elk Mountain will open on Friday, December 7 at 8:30 a.m. The initial trail offering will include Susquehanna, Tioga, East Slope, West Slope, Beginner’s Slope, and possibly upper Tunkhannock. Three lifts will be in operation.

Hidden Valley: Hidden Valley will have a “soft opening” this weekend, offering skiing and boarding on the Rambler, Rivera, and Bobcat trails from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 8-9. Slopes will then re-open with a grand opening celebration on December 15.

Liberty Mountain: Liberty will launch its season on Saturday, December 8 at 8 a.m. Frontside trails will include Dipsy, Nova, Sneaky Pete, the First Class Area, and the West Side Terrain Park, with some rails and boxes. Liberty also plans to open Heavenly on the Backside of the mountain. Liberty will offer midweek ticket pricing for the opening weekend.

Mystic Mountain: Located at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, the Mystic Ski Area will open 100% of its 10 ski and snowboard terrain on Saturday, December 8. Snow tubing will not yet be open.

Ski Roundtop: Ski Roundtop will open at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 7, 2007. Snowmaking is underway on eight trails and a selection should be open for opening day.

Ski Sawmill: Ski Sawmill will be open on December 8 and 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For opening weekend, Ski Sawmill will offer a 50% discount on lift tickets.

Seven Springs: Seven Springs already has 12 slopes open, and will also open its snow tubing area on Saturday. Seven Springs will be open on Friday and Saturday, December 7-8, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Shawnee Mountain: Opening day for Shawnee Mountain is Friday, December 7. Shawnee plans to have 7 trails open and will be running three or four lifts.

Sno Mountain: Sno Mountain (formerly Montage Mountain) currently plans to begin its season on Saturday, December 8. Snowmaking is underway on about 16 trails.

Spring Mountain: Spring Mountain will open on Sunday, December 9 from 3-5 p.m., but only for season passholders. The resort will be holding its instructor training clinic over the weekend, and decided to also provide “first tracks” for season passholders on Sunday afternoon. Spring Mountain will announce its general opening date at a later time.

Tussey Mountain: Tussey Mountain will be open on Saturday and Sunday, December 8-9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Two slopes and two chairlifts will be in operation.

Whitetail: Whitetail Resort will open on Saturday, December 8 at 8:30 a.m. Whitetail plans to have 7 out of 19 trails open, including Northern Lights, Almost Home, Velvet, Launching Pad, Snowpark, and Upper and Lower Angel Drop. Snow tubing will also open on Saturday. For opening weekend, Whitetail will offer midweek rates on lift tickets.

Virginia

Bryce Resort: Bryce will begin its season on Saturday, December 8. Five trails will be open, including Little Nip, Bunny Hill, Redeye, Revenuer’s Run, and Bootlegger. Three lifts will also be in operation. Bryce will offer discounted early season lift ticket pricing from December 8-21.

Massanutten: Massanutten Resort will open on Saturday, December 8, with both skiing and snow tubing.

Wintergreen Resort: Wintergreen plans to open on Saturday, December 8 with the Upper and Lower Dobie slopes open. From opening day through December 13, Wintergreen plans to be open for day session only.

West Virginia

Canaan Valley Resort: Thanks to recent snowfall, Canaan Valley Resort plans to open its cross-country and snowshoeing trails on Saturday, December 8, but will not open its downhill slopes until December 22.

Snowshoe Mountain Resort: Snowshoe has been going strong since just before Thanksgiving, and received 17 inches of fresh snow this week, delighting guests on Thursday with powder conditions. Seven trails and three lifts were open on Thursday, and the trail count will continue rising each day. Snowshoe plans to open its Silver Creek area on December 15. Snowshoe has not announced an opening date for its Western Territory yet, home of Cupp Run and Shay’s Revenge.

Timberline Resort: Timberline will open on Saturday, December 8. Timberline will be open for the weekend, but will be closed from December 10-13 to continue snowmaking operations. Timberline then plans to re-open on Friday, December 14.

Winterplace Resort: Winterplace will be opening on December 8 at 8 a.m.

Whitegrass Touring Center: The recent snowstorm dumped plenty of snow on the Whitegrass Touring Center. 50 kilometers of cross-country and snowshoeing trails are open, with a base of around a foot of snow. Whitegrass reports that conditions should be ideal on Friday and Saturday morning, but the powder may become packed as temperatures warm mid-day Saturday.