Snow guns up and down the east coast are gradually being put into service as colder temperatures signal the arrival of the 1999-2000 ski season. Several eastern resorts, from New York state through Vermont, have already begun their season, while Mid-Atlantic resorts are preparing to burst out of the starting gate.

On Tuesday, November 9, New York’s Hunter Mountain began its season by opening five trails, including Hellgate, 7th Avenue, Kennedy, 5th Avenue, and Battery. Milder temperatures put a hold on snowmaking, but the resort reports that colder temperatures have returned.

“It looks like we’ll get in three good nights of snowmaking operations, which will allow us to open four additional trails by Wednesday”, said David Slutzky, Hunter’s Mountain Manager. Hunter is the only resort in New York currently open. The resort will hold an instructor’s training course this weekend.

Closer to home, West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort has resumed snowmaking after a brief mild spell. Snowshoe plans to open this Friday, November 19, with top-to-bottom skiing.

In Pennsylvania, Camelback brought its snowguns out of retirement and fired them up this evening. 40 miles of piping connect 1,400 snow guns at the Poconos resort.

“We have one of the largest snowmaking systems in the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Sam Newman, President and CEO of Camelback, “and we are anxious to put it to use as we prepare to open the ski season and to open our snowtubing park.”

Camelback is planning to open its snowtubing park on November 26, 1999. Ski slopes should begin opening in early December if snowmaking conditions remain favorable.