Mount Sima is gearing up for an early opening day following an unusually snowy November.

Skiers, snowboarders and the mountain's staff have the 68 centimeters – 2.7 times more than average – of snowfall last month to thank.

Jodie McCutcheon, outdoor operations manager and acting general manager, said the more than 60 cm of snow at the base of the hill and between 130-150 cm at the top as of this morning attributed to their plan to open Mt. Sima earlier than last season.

This year's season opening, this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, is three days earlier than last season's Dec. 7 opening, McCutcheon said.

"Next year it'll be the next weekend in November,” he joked.

"We've got better (snow) coverage than we had most of last year. We haven't made a lot of snow; we've been relying a lot on natural snow. The snow's been phenomenal.”

And so, all lifts will be up and running over the weekend, he added – and 100 per cent of the runs.

"We'll have all the facilities open, 100 per cent – lounge open, restaurant open,” he said, noting that the only feature that will stay closed will be the half-pipe.

Day passes start at $16 for children ages 6-12, $27 for youth ages 13-18 and $34 for adults. Half-day passes, from 10 a.m. until noon or 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., will start at $13 for children, $22 for youth and $27 for adults.

Rates for season passes are as follows: $495 for adults, $395 for youth and $240 children, with a family pass running $1,450.

Roughly three weeks ago McCutcheon used the Snowcat to track-back the steeper runs: Gold Rush, Coyote and Chilkoot, as well as having left the edges of the main runs.

Since, he's let the snow accumulate.

"All the snow we've had over the past two weeks is just sitting there for powder skiing. I haven't allowed patrol to go in there, I haven't allowed anybody to go in there, so there should be some decent skiing to be had,” he said.

So you're going to want to be up there at 10 a.m.?

"You're going to want to be in line at 9:30,” he laughed.

"I suspect it's going to be good. I suspect it's going to be really good. We haven't touched a lot of the steeper runs.”

Mt. Sima's staff transported rails and boxes to the terrain park while McCutcheon spoke to the Star.

Although, he pointed out, jumps will not be ready for opening weekend.

"But we'll have a couple different lines and about 10 to 15 rails and boxes set up,” he said.

All this depends, of course, on a continued dip in temperatures.

But McCutcheon isn't worried.

He said the forecast reads the temperature should be warmer than today and tomorrow.

"If it's minus 25 and no wind I would still open (the hill), yes,” he said. "If it's minus 32, that's starting to push it a little bit.

For the most updated weather conditions, call the snow phone at 667-7547, updated daily at 7 a.m., McCutcheon said.

"It should be a great weekend. As long as the weather cooperates, we should be off and running.”

December dates through the Christmas holidays include the following: Dec. 9-12 and Dec. 16-Jan. 2 – everyday but Christmas Day.

"This has been a great start to our season,” said Craig Hougen, president of the Great Northern Ski Society (GNSS). "We have pre-sold passes, have our website updated and with this amount of snow, will be able to have a fantastic kick-off for the season.”

For more information, visit www.mountsima.com.