Blue Mountain Resort began snow-making efforts Tuesday night for the 2020-2021 Ski Season.

However, this season will look different this year, according to Ashley Seier, marketing manager.

Seier said that visitors will notice create protocols to allow guests to safely enjoy the great outdoors this winter.

“We are limiting our outside capacity (skiing, snowboarding, snow tubers) to 75%,” Seier said. “Inside areas are 50% as the state currently mandates.”

The snow-making crew at Blue Mountain has been monitoring the current cold snap of weather closely. When the wet bulb chart is 28 degrees, the crew is able to make snow.

Snow-making began around 9 p.m., and continued through this afternoon. Snow was made in strategic locations around the mountain to allow for the best preservation.

The first trails to open are typically School Hill, Easy Out, Vista, Come Around, Midway and Lower Main Street. The snow-making system on Burma Road was upgraded and expanded this summer, likely allowing Burma Road be one of the first trails open as well this year.

Blue Mountain Resort is home to one of the largest snow-making systems in the country, allowing its crews to work most efficiently with the warmer East Coast weather.

Snow-making consists of three main components: water, air and electricity. Blue Mountain is able to pump out 14,000 gallons of water per minute onto the slopes and convert it to snow. It takes roughly 80 hours of snow-making to open the mountain for the season.

There is currently no set opening day, but crews will continue taking advantage of snow-making opportunities moving forward.

For more information, visit www.skibluemt.com/safety-precautions.