Skiers, riders enjoy one run on warm day 

Droves of skiers and boarders took to the slopes at Marmot Basin Saturday in balmy weather, on what was the hill’s earliest opening day to date.

Marmot was blown away by the 600 skiers who showed up, as only about between 300 and 400 were expected. The hill opened with just one lift and one run open, and offered half-priced lift passes to compensate.

This year’s opening beat the record for earliest set last year on Nov. 16 by one day. 

With a mix of sun and clouds and a high of about 0ºC at the hill, marketing communications spokesperson Erin Filliter said the day “felt like spring skiing.”

The hill’s total snowfall on opening day was 68 cm. Eight cm fell the last 24 hours before Marmot opened, and the settled snow pack at mid mountain was 40 cm. 

“The conditions were great, the groomers did an excellent job,” Filliter said. “And Tranquilizer is an intermediate run so it was interesting to see we had all levels of skiers out and everyone had a great time.”

By Tuesday, 84 cm total had accumulated. “We’re in good shape,” Filliter said. “It’s hard to predict when more runs will be opening, but we’re looking forward to a good season.”

Lift tickets will remain half price until more runs open. Marmot Basin’s lifts run daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.