Lift cables stretch from use and have to be tightened up from time to time, Wachusett's Jeff Crowley said. The area thought the task had been taken care of over the summer, but a local splicer hired to do the work did not do it well. Wachusett brought in Knight Equipment Co. of Bowling Green, Mo., among the best cable companies in the country, to do the job right. Knight began work on the splice Dec. 10 and will complete it by Dec. 15 when, Crowley said, Minuteman Express will be carrying skiers once again. Wachusett's snowmakers have been laying down cover to ready Ralph's Run, Challenger, Hitchcock and Look Mom for the lift's opening. Meanwhile, early season pricing prevails, skiing is the best in five years at this time, and four lifts and 13 trails are open.