Lost Valley Ski Area owner Scott Shanaman shuts down the snowmaking operation Friday at the Auburn ski area. “We sure could use some of that free stuff from mother nature,” Shanaman says. “With the cost of diesel and electricity doubling in the past few years, it costs a lot of money to make snow.“ Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Lost Valley snowmaker Finn Thistle slides down a mound of snow Friday morning that the team made over the past few days in preparation of Saturday’s opening day at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

A fan gun blows snow Friday at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn. By the end of the weekend, the warm temperatures will melt all the natural snow, but the artificial snow should stay. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

A snow groomer is seen between lift chairs Friday morning at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn. General Manager John Herrick says, “Saturday will be one of the earliest opening days for us in a long time.”  Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

A snow groomer moves piles of artificial snow on the Big Buck trail Friday morning at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn. “Saturday will be one of the earliest opening days for us in a long time,” says General Manager John Herrick. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Lost Valley snowmaker Finn Thistle stands on top of a mountain of snow Friday morning that the team made over the past few days in preparation of Saturday’s opening day at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Reese Shanaman heads out to disconnect water and air lines to snowmaking equipment Friday morning as temperatures begin to rise at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn. Skiers and snowboarders should be treated to a banner day on Saturday, but Sunday’s warmup will most likely melt all the natural snow. Snowmakers efforts to build up the base will be key to staying open in the coming weeks. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Snow groomers move piles of artificial snow Friday morning at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Lost Valley snowmaker Cody Gosselin walks up a trail to shut down snowmaking equipment Friday morning at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn. “We have $25 lift tickets all weekend, but there will be mostly expert and intermediate terrain open,” says Travis Dow, a member of the marketing department. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

The pump house where water and air is pumped up the mountain to feed the snow-making process. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Pipes for snowmaking line the outside wall of a storage garage Friday morning at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Owner Scott Shanaman, left, talks to his crew on the radio Friday as he and snowmaker Finn Thistle warm up at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn. After several days of making snow, they were preparing to head out to close down the system as temperatures began to rise. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Lost Valley snowmaker Cody Gosselin walks up a trail to shut down snowmaking Friday morning at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn. “We have $25 lift tickets all weekend, but there will be mostly expert and intermediate terrain open,” says Travis Dow of the Lost Valley marketing department. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Lost Valley Ski Area snowmaker Finn Thistle carries a snow gun to the side of a trail Friday morning at the Auburn ski area. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Lost Valley owner Scott Shanaman looks up at a snow gun Friday after shutting them down as temperatures began to rise at the Auburn ski area. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Camden Jordan moves a piece of the chairlift landing area Friday morning before a snow groomer pushes artificial snow around the area. Jordan and other members of the lift crew were preparing the lifts for Saturday’s opening day at the Auburn ski area. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal