Kirkwood opens with 30" of fresh snow

It was opening day of the 2018-19 ski season for Kirkwood Mountain Resort on Saturday and the six inches of snow they received overnight helped them start with a base. The resort has had 30" of new snow since Wednesday.

Lifts started spinning at 9:00 a.m. with eager skiers and riders lined up at the base, awaiting first tracks. Passholders were treated to free breakfast sandwiches before hitting the slopes and all guests had a chance to win some snack, ski and ride gear giveaways.

They opened with the following lifts and terrain: Snowkirk Chair with access to beginner terrain on Snowkirk and Hay Flat, from top to bottom. Solitude Chair includes access to intermediate terrain on Outlaw (formerly Racecourse), from top to bottom; off-piste intermediate terrain is available on Lower Zachary, Lower Monte Wolfe, Mokelumne; and advanced terrain on Lower Olympic.

There to welcome incoming guests Saturday was Kirkwood’s new Vice President and General Manager Tom Fortune. Tom joined Vail Resorts in 2010 and most recently served as Sr. Director of Mountain Operations at Kirkwood and has spent 40 years in the ski industry.

“I am extremely excited about my new and expanded role at Kirkwood, it’s such an amazing mountain with an incredible team of people,” said Fortune. “Kirkwood truly is a special place to hold this position.”