Fall has officially turned to winter, and after getting their first snow of the season on Saturday, Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation area is just about ready to start welcoming guests to their mountain.

With the first strong snowfall of the season, Bill Jennings, the marketing director for Lookout said that it is a matter of time before skis and snowboards populate the mountain.

"Once the snow makes its appearance, it means that it really isn't too long before we're going to be open. Once it snows, especially up here, it snows a lot," he said. "We take such meticulous care of our front side that we don't need a whole lot of snow to open."

Jennings said the crew at Lookout spends a lot of their time grooming the trails to make sure they can have the mountain serviceable once the weather turns.

He said Lookout traditionally opens first among all of the local resorts, because it's in a "real sweet spot for snow."

Because of our microclimate, we average 100 more inches a season than our closest competitors. Our average annual snowfall is 400 inches, but last year we had about 550," Jennings said. "The standard line is that la Nina has returned, and with that the region can count on cooler temperatures and more precipitation than normal - and we already get cooler temperatures and more precipitation than normal anyway, so the general forecast even better than usual."

Schweitzer Mountain Resort has seen an inch of snow so far this winter.

"Our skiing and riding season is just around the corner," according to its website. "We've already seen our first dusting at higher elevations and our snowmakers will be firing up the guns soon to augment Mother Nature."

Silver Mountain Resort will have its "Pray for Snow Party" on Nov. 18.

"Join us as we pay homage to Ullr, the snow god, and watch the premiere of 'Tailgate Alaska,'" according to its website.

There will be food and drink specials.