LUDLOW, Vermont — Okemo Mountain Resort is slated to open for the start of its fifty-second skiing and snowboarding season on Friday, November 16 ??“ one day ahead of its targeted opening day. With snowmaking teams working diligently at every possible opportunity, the mountain is ready to welcome skiers and snowboarders with intermediate and advanced terrain on up to a dozen trails. Okemo anticipates having five lifts running on opening day: F-10 Carpet, Sachem Quad, Glades Peak Quad, Northstar Express Quad and Green Ridge Triple. Lift tickets will be $45 for adults, $38 for young adults and seniors, and $29 for juniors and super seniors. Special early-season lift ticket rates, determined daily by availability of terrain, will be offered through the weekend. Lifts will begin running at 9 a.m. on opening day.

“Okemo’s top-ranked snowmaking team has been working around the clock as temperatures permit,” says Okemo VP and General Manager Bruce Schmidt. “It’s amazing how quickly they are able to lay down the snow for our expert groomers to turn it into corduroy. We are fortunate to have them out on the mountain making the “Okemo Difference.”

On Okemo’s first day of the season, all accessible terrain will be located on the upper part of the mountain. Guests will ride the Sachem lift to access terrain and they will download on the Northstar Express to return to the base area. No top-to-bottom skiing is expected for opening day, but snowmaking operations will continue at every opportunity to add trails and to provide top-to-bottom skiing and riding as soon a possible.

Base 68, The Sitting Bull Lounge and Summit Lodge will be welcoming skiers and riders. The Okemo Express Rental/Repair Shop, Penguin Playground Day Care Center, Okemo Snowsports Shop and Mountain Services Office will also be open.

Coinciding with opening day, Okemo Mountain Resort’s Annual Ski and Snowboard Sale, located in the Clocktower base lodge, offers a huge variety of equipment and accessories with some of the best deals in ski country. The three-day sale of new and previously owned ski and snowboard equipment, clothing and accessories kicks off Friday, November 16 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 18. A portion of every sale benefits students attending Okemo Mountain School and helps provide scholarships for athletes with financial needs. Last year’s sale raised more than $18,000. For more information contact Mariel Meringolo at 802-228-1512, or visit okemo.com.

Skiers and riders can check up-to-date lift ticket rates, weather and surface conditions by visiting okemo.com or by calling Okemo’s 24-hour snowphone at (802) 228-5222. For more information, please call (802) 228-1600.