MOUNTAIN GETS THE BRAGGING RIGHTS OF BEING FIRST OPEN. DRUMROLL, PLEASE. MOUNT ROSE SKI TAHOE CLAIMS THE HONORS OF FIRST OPEN IN THE TAHOE AREA WITH A CHAIRLIFT AND A MAGIC CARPET OPENING THIS MORNING. THE MOUNTAIN CREDITS ITS HIGH ALTITUDE AND NORTH FACING RUNS AS AN ADVANTAGE TO GET THINGS GOING BEFORE THANKSGIVING. MOUNT ROSE RECEIVED SEVERAL INCHES OF NATURAL SNOW DURING RECENT STORMS. THAT WAS HARDLY ENOUGH TO GET THE SEASON GOING, BUT WITH THAT, IN CAME THE COLD TEMPERATURES, ALLOWING THEIR MOUNTAIN OPERATIONS TEAM AND SNOW MAKERS TO GO TO WORK AROUND THE CLOCK MAKING SNOW. CREWS HAVE BEEN OUT THERE AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. I’VE BEEN WATCHING THEM ON THE WEBCAM, ADJUSTING THE SNOW GUNS THAT BLAST A FINE MIST OF WATER INTO THE FREEZING AIR WHERE IT IS THEN TRANSFORMED INTO SNOW. WITH MORE THAN 50 SNOWMAKING GUNS, INCLUDING SOME NEW PORTABLE SNOW MAKERS ADDED TO THE SYSTEM THIS YEAR. THE RESORT IS ABLE TO PUMP ENOUGH WATER UP THE MOUNTAIN TO COVER 1000 VERTICAL FEET OF TERRAIN, WITH A 12 TO 18 INCH BASE. THE REPORT THE RESORT WILL OPERATE ITS LAKE VIEW CHAIRLIFT, WHERE RIDERS ARE GREETED WITH STUNNING VISTAS OF LAKE TAHOE. SPOKESMAN MIKE PIERCE SAYS THE RESORT’S LOCATION, HIGH UP ON SLIDE MOUNTAIN, IS DEFINITELY A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE WHEN IT COMES TO BEING FIRST WITH THE NORTH FACING SLOPES THAT WE HAVE AND THE HIGH BASE ELEVATION, WHICH USUALLY LEADS TO BEING COLDER UP HERE, WE JUST HAVE GOOD WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY THAT LET US GET THAT GOING. YEAH, DEFINITELY GETTING YOUR FIRST TURNS IN BEFORE THANKSGIVING IS ALWAYS A YOU KNOW, IT’S DIFFERENT. IT’S FUN. IT’S YOUR FIRST TASTE OF WINTER. AND THE VIBE HERE ALWAYS ON THE FIRST DAY IS PRETTY ENERGETIC. IT’S A IT’S A FUN PLACE TO BE. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, DEIRDRE. YES, THAT WAS YESTERDAY. I COULDN’T BELIEVE THAT. I KNOW THEY’VE BEEN THEY’VE BEEN MAKING THE SNOW AND NOW THEY’RE GROOMING IT ALL OUT. NOW, THE START OF THE SEASON MARKS MOUNT ROSE 60TH YEAR AS THE LOCAL MOUNTAIN TO THE RENO AREA. I MISSED A LOT OF CLASSES BECAUSE OF THAT. THE HISTORY OF SKIING IN THAT AREA ACTUALLY DATES BACK TO THE EARLY 1900S, WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SKI HILL AT GALENA CREEK JUST DOWN THE MOUNTAIN FROM TODAY’S CURRENT MOUNT ROSE SKI TAHOE. NOW, MOUNT ROSE IS LOCATED ON THE NEVADA SIDE OF TAHOE, AND WHILE THEY ARE THE FIRST TO OPEN OF ALL OF THE TAHOE AND CALIFORNIA RESORTS, THEY ARE NOT THE FIRST TO OPEN IN NEVADA. ANY GUESS WHICH ONE IT IS? NO, IT’S AN HOUR FROM THE LAS VEGAS STRIP. OH, REALLY? LEE CANYON? YEAH, I’VE BEEN UP THERE. I’VE BEEN SLEDDING UP THERE, NEVER SKIING THERE. BUT WHEN WE GO DOWN TO VISIT FAMILY IN LAS VEGAS. YEAH, IT’S LITERALLY AN HOUR FROM THE STRIP. SO IF YOU’RE EVER IN VEGAS, PACK YOUR SKIS IN THE WINTER. NO IDEA. HERE’S A LIVE LOOK AT MOUNT ROSE RIGHT NOW FROM THEIR BASE LODGE. YOU CAN SEE THE FINAL