Mission Ridge Ski Area wins the plum this year for being the first ski area open in the state. Where mother nature hasn't quite cooperated for westside ski areas, (Mt. Baker usually winning that title for first open.) A little, no make that a lot, of man made equipment has won the day for Mission Ridge. They can make their own snow, with frigid temperatures, water and electrical power. They can cover all their runs.
Mission Ridge has 14 snow making machines, most going right now 24/7.
La Nina, the meterological condition along the equator that brings cooler and wetter winters to the Cascades has failed to have any real effect so far. But climatologists deal in averages, not date specific conditions.
That still holds out the possibility that all the state's ski areas will soon receive a long dumping of natural snow. But Mission Ridge may remain that much father ahead even when the real stuff shows up in abundance.
There's a lot of pent up demand to hit the slopes.
How anxious are you to ski or board?

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