NEWRY — Sunday River Ski Resort announced Thursday that it intends to open for the season at 10 a.m. Friday.
The resort expects to open the T2 trail, accessible via the Locke Mountain triple lift in Barker Basin, according to a news release.
All plans depend on weather and snow conditions.
Sunday River fired up 124 snow guns Wednesday on Locke Mountain and had 2 to 3 inches of natural snowfall overnight. This quick turnaround of trail coverage can be attributed to recent upgrades to the resort’s snow-making system, including the replacement of nearly 2 miles of pipe from the Sunday River to the snow-making pump house in Barker Basin, and a new 600-horsepower pump, according to the statement.
These improvements boost snow-making capacity by 15 percent for this winter, and set a foundation for future upgrades to double Sunday River’s previous capacity.
“As always, we’re dedicated to getting our trails open as fast as possible for our pass-holders and loyal guests,” Resort President and General Manager Dana Bullen said in a statement.
The resort also opened Oct. 19 for the 2015-16 season, which was the second-earliest date for skiing and riding in the resort’s history.
Sunday River typically opens on or around Halloween. If it opens as expected Friday, it will also be open Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting.
The early-season lift schedule will mostly operate on weekends only until mid-November after opening day.
Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry intends to open on today, tying its record for the earliest opening day. The resort typically opens on or around Halloween, and will have a limited lift schedule until mid-November. (Sunday River photo)
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