With more than 100 inches of snow already fallen at Stevens Pass this season, resort managers have announced there is enough snow to open the entire mountain including Mill Valley on Saturday. After 44 inches of snowfall in the last five days, Stevens has a 50-inch base.

With a winter storm advisory in affect and up to 30 more inches of snow predicted before Saturday, Mill Valley and the rest of the resort could be at typical mid-winter snowpack levels by the weekend.

Stevens also plans to open all food and beverage, rental and retail amenities along with all 1,125 …

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UPDATE, Nov. 21, 9:50 a.m. Crystal Mountain has opened, as seen by the eager skiers in the photo above.

UPDATE, Nov. 20, 12:37 p.m.: More ski areas have announced opening days.  49 Degrees North, north Of Spokane, will open Friday at 9 a.m. and Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood is currently operating. Timberline remains open year round.

UPDATE: Stevens Pass has just announced it will open Tuesday from noon to 4 p.m. It will open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Crystal Mountain ski area plans to launch the 2012-13 ski season with a partial opening at …

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The SkiFever and Snowboard Show starts Friday at the Washington State Convention Center. The event is a good place to get deals on gear, get info on local and destination resorts and see what’s new in the ski industry.

Here are the specifics:

WHERE:  Washington State Convention Center, 800 Convention Place, Seattle, WA

WHEN: Friday 1-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

ADMISSION:  Adults $12, kids 6-12 $3, Kids 6 and younger free with paid adult. $2 discount coupons at available at SkiFever.org. Two-for-1 lift ticket coupon book with paid admission

Yesterday we reported White Pass and Stevens Pass had their first traces of snow for the season. Add Crystal Mountain to the list.

The skiing and snowboarding season is still likely more at least a month away, but this morning resorts started reporting their first dustings of snow.  Stevens Pass and White Pass are both reporting snow this morning.  Some other ski areas around the Northwest reported snow last week.

It might just be time to start tuning skis.

Here’s a picture from White Pass:

There was a dusting of snow at Mount Rainier National Park as well this morning. The parking lot and walkways at Paradise had a light layer of snow, according to webcam images.

Stevens Pass, which is celebrating is 75th anniversary, announced its 2012-13 season pass fall sale gets under way Saturday. Season passes will be available to purchase online with current pricing valid through Oct. 31.

An Everyday Pass for pepople ages 16-69, which grants unlimited access through the 2012-13 winter season, will be $479 plus tax, a 67 percent savings if purchased by Oct. 31.

A Weekday Pass for ages 7-69, valid Mondays-Fridays as well as seven days a week from opening day through Dec. 16 and March 1 through the scheduled closing, will be $259 plus tax, a 93 percent …

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Former Stevens Pass Ski Area general manager John Gifford was announced this morning as the new president of the Pacific Northwest Ski Area Association.  Gifford takes office Aug. 15 replacing Scott Kaden.

Here is the announcement from the PNSAA:

The Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association (PNSAA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of John Gifford as its new president.  Gifford will assume his duties on August 15.

“I am very pleased to announce John Gifford’s return to the PNSAA, where he served as a PNSAA board member for the past eight years,” said Dave Rathbun, chairman of

…

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The Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center has rated the risk of avalanche as “high” today in much of the Cascades, but Tuesday the risk with climb to “extreme” in some areas including Snoqualmie, Stevens  and White passes and Mount Rainier.

An Avalanche killed three skiers at Stevens Pass on Sunday and one on Snoqualmie Pass. The NWAC rated avalanche risk as “high” on Sunday.

Avalanche forecasts do not pertain to ski areas, whose slopes are controlled by their ski patrol units.