Story Published: Nov 29, 2009 at 6:57 PM PST
It was a picture perfect weekend at White Pass. The ski resort opened for the season in the middle of November, six weeks earlier than last year.
"This is one of the earliest starts I can remember since I was in high school and you can tell by looking at me that was a long time ago," says Dan Hittle, skier.
This year's early start is a nice surprise for skiers and snowboarders. Over the last 20 years, the resort has only had a Thanksgiving weekend 30% of the time.
"It's good to be open of course snow is what sells, fresh snow sells even better," says Kathleen Goyette, White Pass Ski Resort.
The snow was welcomed by 7,000 people who bought tickets this holiday weekend, that's 7,000 more people than last season.
"It's been really nice we've never been up here this early before, so this is our fourth time up here," says Julie Valdez, skier.
The parking lot at White Pass has been full all weekend long. It's a complete 180 from last year's Thanksgiving weekend when there wasn't enough snow to open.
The snow was causing all kinds of problems. First there wasn't enough and they had to delay the opening of the resort to the middle of December. Then they had to close it because they were snowed in but lack of powder isn't a problem so far this season.
"It gives a lot of people who wouldn't be thinking about skiing up on the hill," says Goyette.
The holiday weekend is giving skiers and snowboarders the first glimpse of a long winter season. Call it an early Christmas present from Mother Nature.
