PALMERTON, Pa. — Excited skiers packed the slopes for the first time this year at Blue Mountain Resort in Carbon County.
"It's opening day, and it's beautiful! Snow is whatever, it doesn't matter we're just going to come and play," said Joe Aliano from West Chester.
People of all ages found a way to head out for opening day.
"We had a lot of people saying they took a sick day at work today or at school to be out here on the slopes, so definitely a lot of excitement. People were ready," said Ashley Seier, Blue Mountain's director of marketing.
Max Temple and Josiah Hampshire drove more than an hour and a half from Bucks County to strap into their snowboards.
"We've literally been waiting the entire summer to come here. This is just our best hobby ever," Hampshire said.
"What's better than this?" Temple asked. "Indoors is not better than this. They're not getting this out here, cold air, better hills."
And, of course, all that fresh powder brings the most experienced skiers out.
"The snow's actually pretty good. There's still not a lot of it, but it's still lots of fun," Aliano said.
This is Blue Mountain's biggest opening so far, with 12 trails open. All of the snow was made possible, thanks to Mother Nature herself and their brand-new snow machines.
"We really started full snowmaking production on Monday night, and we blew through yesterday, and it really paid off. Things are looking great out here," Seier said.
While the cold weather helped kick off the season early, Mother Nature didn't exactly cooperate for opening day.
"Even in the rain, we love it," Greg Kurdes from Coplay said.
But nothing stopped these skiers from getting a jump start on the slopes.
"We actually would've started last week if they were open," Aliano said. "The earlier, the better."
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Jack Frost also kicked off its season Friday with six trails open.