Black Mountain in Jackson, New Hampshire has been a ski area for a long, long time. Ninety one years to be exact. But on Saturday it did something it has never done before in all of those years:
Open by November 15.
Black Mountain opened for skiing on Saturday, the earliest it has opened in any of its 91 years.
After a long night of snowmaking the night before, they opened at 7:45 a.m., making Black Mountain the first ski area in New Hampshire to open this season.
Opening day was limited to Black Mountain’s season pass holders and Indy Pass holders.
Skiers and riders were able to load the Summit Double and ride to the summit, making turns back down to the mid-station on the Upper Maple Slalom trail. After the first run, skiers were able to load from the mid-station for additional laps.
The early-season open was for advanced skiers and riders, and was not groomed. Officials said rentals and ski school were not quite ready.
Last year, Black Mountain remained open until May, just long enough to ski up until the ski area’s 90th birthday bash.
