I attached a press release below from Wildcat ski area, New Hampshire. Although lifts weren't operating yet I heard the parking lot was packed on 10/26/05 with eager beavers seeking to earn first turns. I hope this is a good omen for the rest of winter.

Wed., Oct. 26, 2005 Contact: Irene Donnell
Four Feet of Early Snow at Wildcat Mountain Greeted by Happy Skiers
Pinkham Notch, NH - Tuesday's storm delivered copious amounts of snow to Wildcat Mountain, located right next to Mt. Washington which has received record-breaking snowfall this month. With sixteen inches at the base of the mountain, the snow mounted as skiers climbed with skins on their skis to reap the reward of first tracks on at least three feet of new snow in the higher elevations. Added to more than a foot of snow received over the previous weekend, Wildcat's trails are now covered under at least four feet of snow since Sunday.
In places near the summit, mountain employees and skiers reported eight to ten-foot snow drifts. "Conditions are about as good as they get," notes expert backcountry skier Jeremiah Beach, who also heads up Wildcat's Rental, Tuning & Repair Shop. Though Wildcat Mountain had been scheduled to open on Friday, November 25th, the day after Thanksgiving, when asked about the possibility of an early opening, Tom Caughey, Wildcat's General Manager, gave the thumbs up to opening for the coming weekend, "if at all possible." Notes Caughey, "We're certainly going to try! Our power and telephone service should be restored with the next day, and the weather forecast looks just about perfect for the weekend. Wildcat really is all about the skiing --- and that's what we have right now. It's just about a month earlier than expected, and that poses certain challenges. So an early opening will be limited, depending on safety and staffing considerations. But folks are having an absolute blast out there, so we want to keep them coming --- and continue to pack the snow base. We're looking forward to a great season!" The best place to find out what is happening at Wildcat is the Snow Report page at www.skiwildcat.com.
Wildcat Mountain is a year-round, family-owned business, located on 100% National Forest land in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest in Pinkham Notch, NH. Wildcat Mountain was rated #1 for Scenery in the East, and Top Ten for Snow, Terrain, Challenge and Value (SKI Magazine, Oct. 2005).

Wildcat is Opening this weekend, about a MONTH ahead of schedule!

Got to give 'em props for having the agility to jump on an extraordinary situation.

Pinkham Notch, NH - With four feet of natural snow received since Sunday, Wildcat Mountain has moved it's opening date, and is planning to open tomorrow, Friday, October 28th, 2005. That is almost a full month earlier than originally planned. Wildcat will open with one lift and 6 trails, including the Middle and Lower Lynx trails on Friday, with more opening during Friday and during the weekend. The Tomcat Triple, which provides skiers a 1,500 ft. vertical will be the only lift operating, as state inspections have yet to be performed on Wildcat's other three lifts, including the Wildcat Express quad --- New England's most powerful quad lift, whisking skiers to 4,062 ft. in just six minutes.

"The terrain is really for more advanced skiers," notes Alexa Bernotavicz, Director of Wildcat Ski Patrol and Lift Services. "We're going to open as much as we can with what we have available for staff and resources, so folks can get out there and have fun in all this great early snow!"

The lift will operate from 10am-3:30pm on Friday, and 9am-3:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The Lodge will open at 8am each day, and food and beverage will also be available on the main floor as well as upstairs in the Pub and après ski! For more information please visit the Snow Report page at www.skiwildcat.com or call 1-888-SKI WILD.

EAST COAST RULES!!!