As many of us think of turkey and stuffing in preparation for the holiday weekend, local ski areas are thinking snowmaking and crowds.
"Our feeling here is this is going to be one of our bigger Thanksgiving weekends," said Eric Brandt, communications director at Squaw Valley USA, who added that reservations are greater than in previous years.
Squaw has 10 lifts open and all of its facilities.
Because of early snow and cool temperatures, local resorts are hoping crowds will bundle up and hit the slopes.
"There's something for almost everybody," said Brandt about the recent storms covering most of the beginner and intermediate trails.
According to the National Weather Service, two weak storms are expected to blow through the mountains before this weekend dropping a couple of inches of snow at the higher elevations.
Brandt assures leary skiers that the coverage is good and because of the coverage there are few rocks or bare spots.
- Shannon Darling
Resort Openings
Alpine Meadows, Open, Snow phone: (800) 441-4423
Boreal, Open, Snow phone: (530) 436-3666
Diamond Peak, Opens Dec. 14, Snow phone: (775) 832-1177
Donner Ski Ranch, Open, Snow phone: (530) 426-3635
Heavenly, Open, Snow phone: (775) 586-7000
Homewood Mountain Resort, Opens Dec. 13, Snow phone: (530) 525-2992
Kirkwood, Open, Snow phone: (209) 258-6000
Mt. Rose, Open, Snow phone: (775) 849-0704
Northstar- at- Tahoe, Open, Snow phone: (530) 562-1010
Sierra-at-Tahoe, Open, Snow phone: (530) 659-7453
Soda Springs, Open, Snow phone: (530) 426-1010
Squaw Valley USA, Open, Snow phone: (530) 583-6985
Sugar Bowl, Open, Snow phone: (530) 426-9000
Tahoe Donner, Opening set on weather conditions, Snow phone: (530) 587-9445