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Nov. 20 is still the day

Aspen Times Staff Report

The Aspen Skiing Co. is optimistically sticking to its plan to open Aspen Mountain and Snowmass Nov. 20 despite sparse snow on the slopes right now.

“We’re anticipating opening on time at this point,” said Skico spokeswoman Rose Abello. “It’s going to snow.”

If it doesn’t, it was unclear Tuesday whether snowmaking would provide enough cover to open trails on the upper mountains. Abello said crews are making snow whenever temperatures drop low enough.



Whether enough snow can be made by the opening date, only 10 days away, remains to be seen. Mother Nature is forecast to give very little help over the next five days.

For public relations reasons, the Skico desperately wants to stick to the scheduled opening. The lack of early-season snow created publicity problems that the Skico never overcame last season.




Abello vowed the opening date would be adhered to – however limited the skiing.

The first day of skiing is coming even sooner than Nov. 20. The annual benefit day for the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club is Nov. 19 on Aspen Mountain.

Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk aren’t scheduled to open until December.