SNOWSHOE, West Virginia — It’s time to think snow. With the first natural flakes falling on Snowshoe Mountain on October 11th, the Southeast and mid-Atlantic’s largest resort has decided to kick-off November by firing up the region’s best snowmaking equipment.

Around 4am Friday, Snowshoe’s expert team fired up the snow guns for the first time this season. An inversion on mountain made temperatures cooler on the bottom of the mountain, where the snowmaking process began. Over 400 snow guns and 40 miles of pipe service Snowshoe’s 60 trails and 244 acres of skiable terrain-including 3 new slopes for 2007-2008. The early-season snowmaking will help build an ideal base for the winter, providing the perfect supplement to the 180″ of snowfall the resort receives from Mother Nature each year. The combination of superior snowmaking and amazing natural conditions make Snowshoe’s terrain the best available in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic.

With snow already being made, and forecasters predicting more natural snowfall in the coming days, the anticipation of Snowshoe’s Opening Day of November 21 is growing. Snowshoe will open just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, and with the most slopes in the region, the best terrain, and an amazing variety of restaurants, nightlife and adventure activities, there’s no better escape than Snowshoe-and only a drive away.

The early-season is a great time to visit Snowshoe, and great deals, including a free fourth night when you book three nights, are now available. Season passes are also now on-sale, and it’s the perfect time to buy for those looking to hit the slopes early and often this season. While you can’t wrap it up, a Snowshoe escape is also a great present, and amazing holiday season deals are available. The festive atmosphere found all year at Snowshoe will have kids of all ages reveling in the holiday spirit.

Snowshoe’s snowmaking capabilities are the most advanced and comprehensive in the region. The expert mountain operations team is able to produce 3,500 tons of fresh snow per hour at full capacity; that’s the equivalent of covering five football fields with a foot of snow in one hour. Forecasts show temperatures will drop below freezing again this evening and snowmaking will begin again as soon as possible and continue through Friday night, into Saturday morning, as long as weather conditions permit. Mountain operations anticipate beginning the snowmaking process on the upper portions of the mountain as early as Friday evening.

The expert team at Snowshoe has perfected the snowmaking process. Guests are treated to the best terrain in the region, as well as most days to enjoy it-an average of 130 days a year. While the white stuff may not be falling at your home, you can bet that if the temperature is below freezing, there is snow flying atop Snowshoe Mountain.