After announcing Thursday that it would not open this weekend, officials at White Pass ski area have changed their mind. Or the snow changed it for them.

A short time ago it was announced White Pass will open on Sunday. The area has received more than 10 inches of snow in the last 24 hours.

While details are still being worked out, the plan is to run only the original area only with Quad, Triple, Platter and Carpet lifts. Lift tickets will be discounted, but a price has not yet been decided.

The Nordic Center also will open Sunday.

Here is an update on all things snow-sports releated, well almost all things:

Crystal Mountain: The lifts are running, at least the gondola and Green Valley left. The area opened at 9 this morning. The ski area has received 19-21 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours. Area officials announced Chinook Express, Discovery and Forest Queen lifts will open Saturday. This will allow access to beginner and more intermediate runs.

Paradise: The popular winter fun spot at Mount Rainier National Park has received 19 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours. Weather station data indicates there …

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Thanks to 11 inches of new snow, Crystal Mountain made it official this morning. The ski area will open at 9 a.m. Friday.

The Mount Rainier Gondola and Green Valley chairlift will operate 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Lift tickets will be $35 on Friday.

Skiing will be allowed only in the Green Valley area.

Additional terrain will open as the snowpack builds. Ski area officials hope to open Discovery, Chinook Express and Forest Queen Express chairlifts Saturday.

Mount Baker also will open Friday. The area will open both base areas and operate at least six chairlifts.

The Summit at Snoqualmie …

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UPDATED: 12:02 P.M.

The snow is falling in the mountains!

A check of webcams shows fresh snow on the ground at Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park. Crystal Mountain webcams are harder to read, but consider their Facebook post from a short time ago:

“It officially just started DUMPING!!! If this keeps up all day like it’s supposed to, we’ll be in really good shape for opening on Friday.”

Here is a post from White Pass:”Just started snowing and it’s COMING DOWN!!!”

You have to love their enthusiasm.

The folks at Crystal Mountain announced yesterday they plan to …

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UPDATED: 2:20 P.M.

Crystal Mountain officials are counting on a mid-week storm to bring enough snow to allow a limited opening Friday. The ski area announced its plans this afternoon based on the winter storm forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Wednesday and Thursday in the Cascades. The forecast for the Snoqualmie Pass area calls for almost 2 feet of snow those days, with more snow through the weekend.

Currently there is just over a foot of snow in Green Valley.

“It’s a bold move to announce the …

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Ski Magazine’s top 30 resorts issue came out earlier this month. The story listed the top 30 ski resorts in North America and the top 10 ski areas in 20 categories.

Below I’ve listed how all of Washington’s ski areas fared.

What’s that you say? “Hey, you didn’t list anybody.” That’s because nobody in Washington made the list.

To be fair to SKI Magazine, these lists are determined by their readers not their writers and editors.  But each year all I seem to learn from this issue is that SKI readers don’t ski the Northwest …

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UPDATED AT 2:43 P.M.: Crystal Mountain ski area has announced it will open on Friday, serving skiers and snowboarders with four chair lifts. Tickets will be just $20 for opening day.

After getting 16-18 inches of snow in the last 24 hours, the ski area this afternoon is reporting 16 inches of snow at the base and 35 inches at the summit. The Discovery and Quicksilver chairlifts will open at 9 a.m. and Chinook Express and Forest Queen around 11 a.m., said Tiana Enger, spokeswoman for the area.

Mount Baker is scheduled to open a day later, starting …

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If you don’t have plans for Veterans Day, considering digging out your snow ride gear.

The 2009-2010 ski and snowboard season in the South Sound will officially open on Wednesday when Crystal Mountain begins operations, albeit on a limited basis.

The ski area announced this morning it will open the lower mountain by running the Discovery, Chinook Express, Quicksilver and Forest Queen lifts. The ski area will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ski school, rental shop, plus food and beverages areas will be open as well.

There are two feet of snow on the ground now, …

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