LUDLOW, Vermont — The highly anticipated moment has arrived. With the system charged, snowmaking guns poised and staff at the ready, the call to start making snow at Okemo Mountain Resort went out on November 2. Seasonably cool temperatures have allowed snowmaking efforts to commence in preparation for opening day of the 2006-2007 skiing and snowboarding season slated for Saturday, November 18.

“We’re taking advantage of temperatures as much as possible,” says Okemo Vice President of Mountain Operations Barry Tucker. “We currently have several feet of snow in front of the guns and we’re going to keep making snow whenever we can.”

Preliminary efforts are focusing on the upper mountain trails at Okemo but will expand toward the lower elevations as temperatures allow.

Okemo has made significant improvements to its snowmaking efforts this year. In addition to the installation of pipe and 50 HKD tower guns on the resort’s two newest trails, Big Bang and Eclipse, Okemo has more than doubled the water storage capacity for snowmaking. With the addition of Jackson Gore, Okemo’s demand for water increased substantially in recent years. What was previously a 70-million gallon snowmaking pond is now a massive, 70-foot deep reservoir that holds 155-million gallons of water. In a typical year Okemo pumps about 400 to 450 million gallons of water through its snowmaking system. Last year, with limited natural snowfall, Okemo converted more than half a billion gallons of water into packed-powder conditions.

A bonus for skiers and riders who choose Okemo for early-season runs is the resort’s OKEMOTIVATION offer of a coupon for a discounted return visit in January. When an adult purchases a lift ticket any day at the regular price through December 31, 2006, they will receive a coupon that allows them to ski or ride weekdays in January for just $39. Coupon redemption is valid Monday through Friday, beginning Tuesday, January 2 through Wednesday, January 31, 2006 (excluding Monday, January 15).

For more information please call 1-800-78-OKEMO (786-5366) or visit www.okemo.com.