Loveland, which has historically been in the running, lost its edge after A-Basin and Keystone pumped a ton of money into their snowmaking operations. Of the over 1,000 Reddit users who cast their vote on this unofficial forum, the majority think A-Basin will open first, while Wolf Creek is currently in second, and Keystone in third. Meanwhile, as shred-hungry skiers wait for the announcement, their skis waxed and waiting by the door, some are turning to Reddit to speculate over who will open first and reminisce over ski battles of years past. Wild Mountain opened at noon central time with one trail served by a rope tow, and Andes Tower Hills followed at 1 p.m., but will be closed for skiing today (so does it really even count?).

It’s worth noting that two tiny hills in Minnesota both opened yesterday (Oct. The major contenders in recent history are Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Keystone Resort, and Wolf Creek Ski Area, three ski spots with either the elevation and snowmaking capacity-or the location and luck-needed to open ahead of the other 30-some ski areas in Colorado. This time of year, a ski battle takes place in Colorado, with resorts jostling for the kudos (and the press) that comes with opening first. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!

Wolf creek ski closing date