Oregon Public Broadcasting

Ski season is getting off to an early start here in the Northwest.  Wednesday, Crystal Mountain and Mt. Hood Meadows opened with limited operations.  

The Northwest is supposedly in for a warmer and drier El Niño winter.  But Crystal Mountain group sales coordinator Justus Hyatt says there's contradictory evidence for the scary El Niño prediction.

Justus Hyatt: "The Farmer's Almanac called for a good winter and some of the old wives tales about coats on horses coming earlier than usual showed up  and then it started snowing.  But I guess we'll find out in January and February because that's usually when the biggest impact is."

Elsewhere, Mount Baker ski area has more than five feet of snow at its base lodge and plans to open Thursday.  

Lookout Pass ski area on the Idaho-Montana border plans to open Friday.  Other resorts in the region are mulling whether to open Friday as well if it keeps snowing in "them hills."