Pebble Creek expected to open sooner than predicted

While ski resorts open across eastern Idaho, there is one still struggling to get enough snow.

But, although Pebble Creek isn’t open quite yet, ski patrol says it expects the lifts to open sooner than the typical, mid-December prediction.

“We have a lot of anxious people ready to recreate, ski, and snowboard,” Pebble Creek Ski Patrol director Stefan Berkel said. “I just caution – we are still closed up here and so there are still many hazards, rocks, etc., just under the surface of the snow.”

Berkel said if the mountain sees a couple more snowstorms as it did over the weekend, the slopes could open as soon as December 5, which is early for Pebble Creek.

Berkel said the earliest he has seen the lifts open since he has been working at the facility was back in the 2010-’11 ski season which opened on December 2, but doubts it will open that early on this year.

But in the spirit of the fickle, unpredictable Idaho weather, the best anyone can do is hope for the best – in this case, the best is experiencing a few more snowstorms to come in and dump some fresh powder on the mountain.

“The National Weather Service put out a colder, but dryer forecast, but I typically go by the day-to-day forecast and wait to see what happens,” Berkel laughed.

Which, is what the only the most experienced Idaho skiers are saying as well.

Berkel added, this past weekend’s snowstorm brought six-inches of snow, adding one foot of snow at the base of the lodge, and added