Let it snow! Alberta, B.C. ski resorts open, or opening soon

Skiers and snowboarders rejoice.

Ski resorts in Alberta and eastern B.C. are either already open or have an opening day scheduled right around the corner.

Sunshine Village

Sunshine Village is open, in fact it was the first resort in Canada to open this season.

The gondola into the resort runs 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily but stays open until 10:30 p.m. on Fridays. Most chair lifts are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and they close 30 minutes later starting March 19.

The resort is boasting a long list of new features this year, including new terrain park features and a winter sightseeing option for visitors who don't ski or snowboard.

Lake Louise

Despite a rocky start, cancelling the men's World Cup downhill races due to poor conditions earlier this month, the resort opened for the season Nov. 18.

Chair lifts operate 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, but the lodges and restaurants all have their own hours.

Canada Olympic Park

The ski and snowboard hill operated by WinSport opens Nov. 26, thrilling Calgarians who don't want to leave the city to get some of the white stuff.

The hill is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends for the full season.

On weekdays, until Dec. 16, the hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Between Dec. 19 and Dec. 30, it's back to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. but from Jan. 1 until the end of the season, it's 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Norquay

Norquay is next up, opening Dec. 2. The lifts and services each have their own hours.

Night skiing on Fridays-only starts Dec. 9 and expands on Jan. 7 to include Saturday evenings. Night tubing also starts Jan. 7, but don't wait too long because all the night fun ends Feb. 25.

Fernie

A B.C. gem, Fernie, has a start date of Dec. 2.

Lifts operate 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.

Nakiska

Calgary's closest mountain, Nakiska, also begins its season on Dec. 2 at 10:30 a.m., but there's a four-day preview weekend that starts Nov. 24.

Nakiska also has a tube park that operates 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the season.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

Across the B.C. border, Golden's Kicking Horse Mountain Resort throws open its doors on Dec. 9.

The lifts are generally open 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. with some exceptions, including the Jelly Bean Express which offers night skiing on Fridays and Saturdays until 8 p.m.

Some special holiday hours also apply.

Castle Mountain

Meanwhile, back in Alberta, Pincher Creek's Castle Mountain opens Dec. 16.