A skier tackles a downhill slope at Killington Resort.

Let's say you're the kind of person who's already counting the days until you can dust off your snowboard or skis and hit the slopes. You could fly to Chile or New Zealand for some late-spring snow in the Southern Hemisphere, but with a little effort, it should be possible to satisfy your winter sports cravings much closer to home. The key is to have your equipment tuned and ready to go so you can head for the hills as soon as the lifts start running.

When to Go

Die-hard downhillers can usually find snowy slopes somewhere in America by the end of October, with more resorts opening in time for Thanksgiving. Bear in mind that fall snow may not be ideal, and in many cases, only a limited number of intermediate to advanced runs will be open.

Some Ski Areas to Watch

• Killington Resort: Cold New England weather and one of the most prolific snowmaking systems in the country make this Vermont resort one of the first U.S. ski areas to open every year. In a typical season, some runs are operational by mid- to late October, with extensive terrain open by mid-November. Information: 800-621-6867, www.killington.com.

• Loveland Ski Area: This Colorado resort off Interstate 70 west of Denver is another early opener, with abundant natural snowfall and 160 acres of snowmaking coverage allowing some slopes to open by mid-October most years. Information: 800-736-3SKI, www.skiloveland.com.

• Copper Mountain: With snowmaking operations typically getting under way by late September or early October at this Colorado resort, significant acreage is likely to be ready for the official opening day on Nov. 3, 2006. Information: 866-841-2481, www.coppercolorado.com.

• Boreal Ski Resort: This Lake Tahoe-area resort is scheduled to open Oct. 31, probably too early for significant natural snowfall in Northern California, but if temperatures stay low the resort is equipped to open numerous runs on artificial snow. Information: 530-426-3666, www.borealski.com.

• Mammoth Mountain Ski Area: High altitude and 477 acres of snowmaking should allow this central California resort to be open as scheduled on Nov. 9, 2006. Information: 800-626-6684, www.mammoth-mtn.com.

Insider Tip

Many ski areas schedule opening day in advance, but don't take these dates too literally. Actual openings can be sooner or later depending on conditions, so keep an eye on the weather reports and use the Web to keep tabs on resorts that are likely to open early.

Information

Go to www.snocountry.com for comprehensive reports on snow conditions at winter resorts worldwide.

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Photo credit: Killington Resort