Area skiers got an early jump on the season Friday with a combination of groomed and ungroomed trails at Hanock's Jiminy Peak, which took full advantage of the Thanksgiving week storm.
The mountain was running four of its nine lifts and offering six miles of terrain on what is the traditional opening weekend of New England downhilll skiing -- when there is snow.
There is plenty of snow for downhill and cross country skiers this weekend, and there will be even more places to get out and hit the trails starting Saturday.
Mount Snow in Dover, Vt., opened for its 60th season on Nov. 21. By "Black Friday," the white stuff was 18-24 inches deep, and the resort had five lifts -- including its ultra-fast, ultra-comfortable Bluebird Express -- serving 12 of 80 trails and nine miles of terrain.
Back in Massachusetts, Berkshire East in Charlemont opened on Saturday, and you could ski all day Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for afternoon rates, 50 percent break from the regular adult ticket for a full day of skiing.
The region's smaller hills -- South Egremont's Catamount, Great Barrington's Butternut and Pittsfield's Bousquet -- all plan to open soon. Butternut and Catamount have announced opening days for next weekend of Friday and Saturday, respectively.
For Nordic skiers, Woodford, Vt.,'s Prospect Mountain had 10 kilometers open this weekend with a base depth of 2 to 5 inches. Call 802-442-2575 for information.
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