A cold snap moving through the area this week has allowed ski resorts to step up their snow-making operations, in turn getting winter sports fans excited about the coming season.

That was not the case two weeks ago, on Christmas Eve, when temperatures were in the 70s, making snow-making impossible."We have been blowing snow every day since New Year's Day," said Melissa Yingling, marketing director for Blue Mountain Resort. "We'll continue to blow as much as possible to continue to open the mountain."Blue Mountain is planning on opening to skiers on Thursday. On the other side of Carbon County, Jack Frost Big Boulder has been open since Dec. 26.Despite the less than ideal weather over the holidays, local ski areas are confident that they will have a successful year in 2016.The late start to this year's ski season feels like it's even later because it comes on the heels of two unusually early winters in 2014 and 2015, Yingling said. In 2015, the mountain had its earliest opening ever in November."That was unusual," Yingling said. "The late opening - it's not that it never happened before, it's just unfortunate that it came the year after our earliest opening ever."Blue Mountain will have their opening day Thursday after opening for just a few days before the holidays. This week's cold temperatures have been perfect for snow-making, allowing the mountain to open eight trails for its opening day.Barring any more warm spells this season, ski areas say they should be able to have a successful, full season - welcome news for skiers and the local residents who rely on the mountain for seasonal employment.The opening comes just in time for Blue Mountain to participate in an attempt at the world's largest lesson. Ski areas around the world will be participating in the Guinness world record attempt on Friday.Blue Mountain is offering a special rate for first time skiers to participate in the lesson.The first 100 skiers to register will receive a lift ticket, rentals, and a spot in the lesson, all for just $10.Big Boulder has been open since Dec. 26, with its sister mountain, Jack Frost, opening shortly after. The mountain workers pride themselves on being able to open before any other mountain in Pennsylvania.General manager Mark Daubert said several factors allow JFBB to open so early.He said the resort is located in a river valley, making it colder than other ski areas. The decision to hold off opening until after Christmas helped as well."All the resorts have such incredible snow-making plants that we can react to small windows of opportunity - and get a lot down in a short of time more than we used to," he said.Blue Mountain and JFBB plan to continue making snow as long as weather permits. Temperatures are expected to warm up over the weekend before a more normal winter pattern."A couple weeks ago, it wasn't even as promising as it is now. We're glad that the new year brought colder temps, and we're allowed to kick off our season sooner than later," Yingling said.