Snowmass and Aspen Mountain will open early for the season, this Saturday, November 23. The two mountains will open with more than 800 acres of terrain served by nine lifts. More than six feet of snow has fallen since October 1 on top of Snowmass and the mountain will be open from the Big Burn to the bottom of Fanny Hill. Aspen Mountain also has top-to-bottom skiing and riding.

“We are thrilled to be opening for the season with such amazing conditions,” said Jeff Hanle, director of public relations, Aspen Skiing Company. “The preview weekend at Aspen last weekend was a homerun and the skiing and riding will be just as good this weekend. Hard work by our crews and abundant natural snowfall has given us the opportunity to offer a huge chunk of terrain.”

Snowmass will open with more than 540 acres including the Big Burn and Sam’s Knob areas, plus the entire mid-mountain area on the west side of the mountain. In addition, the Elk Camp Meadow’s learning area will be open. All of this terrain will be serviced by the Village Express, Sam’s Knob, Big Burn and Meadows lifts as well as the Skycab and Elk Camp Gondolas.  Elk Camp and the Sam’s Knob coffee shop will be open for dining. Up 4Pizza will be open as a warming hut and for restrooms only.

Aspen Mountain will have top-to-bottom skiing with more than 260 acres of terrain open. The Silver Queen Gondola, Ajax Express and Gentleman’s Ridge chairs will be open as will the Sundeck and Ajax Tavern for food and drink. Parking on weekends is free in Aspen through November.

All season passes are valid as they would be in the scheduled season. Daily lift tickets are $89 for adults, $80 for youth (13-17) and seniors (65-69), and $62 for children (7-12). As always, children six and under ski for free. The Village Express and Sam’s Knob lifts open at 8:30 a.m., all other lifts run at 9 a.m. The Ski and Snowboard School will be open for business as will childcare at the Treehouse. D&E and Four Mountain Sports will also be open. Parking is free at the Base Village parking garage through November 27.

Thanksgiving weekend will be packed with events including the Thanksjibbing rail jam at Snowmass Base Village on Friday, Nov. 29 and the first Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert of the season featuring Elephant Revival on Saturday, Nov. 30 at the base of Aspen Mountain.