Lake Louise, Sunshine, And Marmot Fire up Lifts Nov. 9

It's snow time in the Canadian Rockies. A steady accumulation of snow along with prime snowmaking temperatures has Alberta’s ski season perched on the verge of busting wide open. Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, and Marmot Basin are aiming to open this week for skiing and snowboarding.

The three resorts have targeted Friday, Nov. 9 as opening day for the 2012-13 season. Late October snow coupled with cool nighttime temperatures and a consistent buildup of snow has set the resorts up for a strong opening day. Friday launches daily operations at each of the three ski areas.

For Lake Louise, this Friday’s opening is a crucial step in working up to the World Cup races. The men’s speed events start Nov. 24. On the beginner end, newcomer skiers and snowboarders get to experience an an easier time on the slopes with two new carpets for uphill transport.

Sunshine Village plans to lead into opening day with its Ski Before We Open Sweepstakes. Twenty skiers or snowboarders who were selected via Facebook, Twitter, and season passholders will get to preview the slopes on Nov. 8 before runs open to the public Nov. 9.

Marmot Basin opens this winter on the tail of a record-breaking season of snowfall last year. With Jasper National Park blanketed already and support from snowmaking, the outlook for Marmot’s early season looks bodes well.

As of a week out, all three ski areas had accumulated about 75 centimeters of snowfall, which compacted down to around a 45-centimeter base. What’s in the forecast before opening day? Cold temperatures for firing up the snow guns and snow flurries from the sky. For skiers and snowboarders, that’s like getting candy in a Christmas stocking rather than coal.

To see the snow reports for Marmot Basin, Lake Louise, and Sunshine Village on opening day, go here. Mt. Norquay and Nakiska are also open, but currently only on weekends.

Check shots below of the webcams from each of the mountains to see the snow for yourself.