What's open?

Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Loveland, Winter Park and Wolf Creek are open for the season.

Aspen Mountain: Opens Nov. 26

Crested Butte: Opens Nov. 25

Snowmass: Opens Nov. 26

Steamboat: Opens Nov. 25

Telluride: Opens Nov. 26

Vail: Opens Friday

Eldora Mountain Resort took advantage of the cold front that moved in last weekend and has been making snow every night this week to get ready for opening day.

On Friday, Boulder County's only ski resort will open at 9 a.m. with a 24-inch base of packed powder and machine-made snow.

The ski area plans to have four lifts and four trails open from morning until 4 p.m. Hornblower and International trails, which combine for a full run down Challenge Mountain, will be open, and the EZ lift will service the Bunnyfair trail. The Sun Kid surface lift will be running, too, for the smallest skiers.

Though it's been too warm during the day to blow snow, crews have been working hard at night, said resort spokesman Rob Linde. And the snow is looking (and skiing -- Linde's been on the runs on Challenge Mountain) good for this time of the year.

"We're in better shape than we were last year and the year before," Linde said. "And we're anticipating more snow possibly Sunday to Monday, and cold temperatures for making snow next week."

The Nordic trails are very close to being ready, Linde said, but they're waiting for more snow. Eldora officials hope to open the Nordic area soon.

"We anticipate that that will happen for the Thanksgiving holiday, but we'll have to watch this next storm closely and see what happens," he said.

The weekend snow left some season pass holders eager to ski and ride close to home. Tim Coates, a University of Colorado

Erik Olander watches man-made snow fall on his arm to check the moisture content while making snow at Eldora Ski Resort in Nederland on Tuesday night. Eldora plans to open Friday with a 24-inch base of packed powder and machine-made snow. ( MARK LEFFINGWELL )
junior who snowboards, said he's going to Eldora for opening day with friends.

"I'm just stoked for that first run down the mountain," he said.

"Usually, it's hard to go to an area on opening day," Coates said, but Eldora -- just 21 miles west of Boulder -- is convenient for him, and he doesn't have classes on Fridays.

Early season full-day tickets at Eldora are $49 for adults, $23 for ages 6 to 15, $35 for seniors aged 65 to 74, and $8 for kids 5 and under and seniors 75 and older.

For more information, visit eldora.com or call 303-440-8700.