KEYSTONE, Colo. — Skiers and snowboarders, rejoice! The winter season is upon us.

Arapahoe Basin became the first Colorado resort to open for the season Sunday, welcoming hundreds of visitors under clear blue skies and temperatures in the mid-30s.

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A-Basin marketing director Leigh Hierholzer tells The Denver Post that Oct. 18 was set to be opening day, but cooperative weather helped snowmaking operations lay an 18-inch base on limited parts of the mountain. That's four days earlier than the resort's opening day last year.

A-Basin officials say they expect first-day attendance to hit 1,000 people.

Nearby Loveland Ski Resort has also been making snow and plans to announce its opening day soon.

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