As temperatures plunged to freezing Sunday night, Blue Mountain ski resort fired up its snow-making guns.

Starting at 1:30 a.m., the guns shot out 3,500 gallons of water a minute. The water freezes and falls as snow crystals.The guns don't put out the optimal amount until it gets colder," Dailey said. "We're making snow, the grass is white. But if it was colder we'd be making more."Blue Mountain is focusing on laying down snow on the opening loop, he said.That includes the Easy Out, Vista, Midway and Main Street trails.The snow making is done at night, when temperatures drop."We'll shut down 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. (today), then start again at about 8 tonight," Dailey said.Blue Mountain, in Palmerton, describes itself as the East Coast's leader in snow making capabilities, using the industry's most advanced snow gun equipment.Opening day may be Dec 11, weather permitting."It's extremely dependent on how it cold it gets and stays," Dailey said.Blue Mountain opened on Nov. 23 last year, its earliest opening in 38 years. That weekend drew more than 4,000 people.Blue Mountain boasts the highest vertical drop in the state - 1,082 feet.