CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine — With temperatures dropping into the low twenties today, Sugarloaf began snowmaking operations in preparation for the 2008/09 season. The familiar sound of snowguns echoed through Carrabassett Valley this morning, as snowmakers began to blanket the Tote Road trail in snow.

Forecasts are calling for cold temperatures throughout the week, and snowmaking operations are expected to continue around the clock as Sugarloaf gets ready to open for the season on Friday, November 21. The resort plans to open with skiing and riding on Tote Road, with lift service on the SuperQuad chairlift.

“We got everything online and running this morning, and forecasts are looking favorable for a good window of snowmaking before Friday,” said Rich Wilkinson, Vice President of Operations at Sugarloaf. “If all goes well we should have some excellent conditions here for our opening day.”

Sugarloaf invested heavily in upgrades to its snowmaking equipment during the offseason in order to enhance its snowmaking capacity early in the season. The resort replaced all existing water pumps with six new pump and added 50 new low energy HKD guns and 25 new Boyne Low-E Fan guns, which specialize in making snow at warmer temperatures. All told, the improvements to the snowmaking system will increase the resort’s capacity by an estimated 20 percent.

The snowmaking upgrades were part of more than $5 million in offseason enhancements at Sugarloaf, including an all new terrain park landscape, a newly redesigned Beach area at the Base Lodge, new lift buildings, newly painted lift towers, all new signage throughout the mountain, and another addition to Bullwinkles, Sugarloaf’s on-mountain restaurant.

Sugarloaf will host the 23rd Annual Tin Mountain Round Up on Nov. 22-23, when guests can ski or ride for just $25 when they donate three or more cans of food to help local food banks.

For more information on Sugarloaf visit www.sugarloaf.com or call 1-800-THE-LOAF.