Smaller, non-corporate resorts generally can’t afford the luxury of early season snowmaking, as it tends to vanish with the warm days that pop up in late November and early December. This season may look just a little bit different, as many smaller areas were unusually busy last season, and some of them just might be a little tired of the big boys hogging the headlines. Word this afternoon from Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls, MN is that they’ve got the guns ready, just waiting for the temps; they’re talking early November…earlier today we heard from Bolton Valley VT — that’s their publicity photo above — talking Friday November 26th as opening day. Let’s hope they get the temps to pull it off. If you’d like to learn more about Bolton Valley, as mentioned yesterday they’re featured in that In Pursuit of Soul short film, well worth watching. If you’re reading this column, you want to watch that film. Click here to do it, it’s free. Bolton’s history is unique, including a period when it was supposedly known as “Bolt’n Valley” because somebody wouldn’t pay for the rights to something or other. But that’s all happily in the rearview mirror, the DesLauriers family is solidly back at the helm and it’s just a fantastic place to ski. As a friend of mine once said, “it’s worth your transmission to get there.” in other news, FIS World Cup competition kicks off this weekend in Soelden, we’ll be back with a preview tomorrow.