The 2009/2010 season is off to an early start across the Northeast. Below average temperatures have permitted the start of early season snowmaking, and a weekend storm dusted much of the region with a few inches of natural snow.

Sunday River in Maine has taken the prize for being the first resort in New England to open for the fourth year running. “Cold temperatures and advanced snowmaking technologies including tower guns and fan guns helped us open,” said Dana Bullen, Sunday River’s General Manager in an interview with AlpineZone.com. “Opening ahead of the pack is a great treat to offer skiers and riders across New England and we’re proud to be able to stake this claim for a third year in a row.”

Not to be outdone, Sugarloaf (Sunday River’s neighbor to the North) picked up 7 inches of natural snow last weekend from a coastal storm that produced heavy snowfall in the higher elevations.

Advance snowmaking operations are also in full swing at several Vermont and New Hampshire resorts. Mount Snow, Okemo, and Killington (pictured below) are working around the clock to make the most of the cold temperatures while they last.

images provided by Killington Resort via Flickr under Creative Commons licensing.