Washington ski season begins with Mt. Baker ski area opening

MOUNT BAKER, Wash. (AP) — Washington state's ski season begins Thursday with Mt. Baker Ski Area's planned opening.

Many ski areas in Washington usually don't open until Thanksgiving or later. But recent storms have brought fresh powder to the region.

Mt. Baker says it has a good base to start the season and would be running several chair lifts.

Crystal Mountain said on its website that it's tentatively planning to open its gondola and another chair on Friday.

Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort says on its website it hopes to open on Saturday but would need more snow for the lower mountain to be ready. If it doesn't get more snow, the resort is hoping to open the day after Thanksgiving.