"We want to get folks out on the snow just as soon as we can, so we intend to take full advantage of our high elevation," said Chris Ellms, director of ski operations for Mount Washington Resort. Bretton Woods has a base elevation of 1,600 feet and sits in a high bowl across from the Presidential Range of the White Mountains. This location, combined with the first snowmaking weather of the season, means Ellms has his crews hard at work laying down cover. Alexa Bernotavicz, assistant director of ski area operations, says the mountain's HKD tower guns are firing on Rosebrook Meadow at the Learning Center, on Bretton's Woods, and the top of Bigger Ben. Whether that will pay off in runs down the mountain by Saturday depends on weather, but this is certain: After a long summer and fall, opening day is on the way.