Juneau’s local ski area will fully open for the first time in a year this weekend and will remain open every day except Christmas Day through Jan. 4.
Eaglecrest typically opens every day during the Juneau School District Christmas Break, but poor snow conditions last year meant only the lower slopes were available for skiing.
“It will be the most open terrain since April 2014,” Eaglecrest general manager Matt Lillard wrote in a Monday blog post.
By email Monday, Eaglecrest spokesman Charlie Herrington wrote that the Ptarmigan, Hooter and Porcupine chairlifts will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting Dec. 19, and the Black Bear lift will open at 9:30 a.m.
Eaglecrest’s chairlifts will not be running on Thursday, though there is a possibility they could begin working on Friday.
“If we’re going to open Friday, we’ll get the word out!” Lillard wrote.
The snow bus, food services and snowsports school will be available beginning Saturday. The upper Nordic trails will be groomed for skate and classic cross-country skiing; trail fees or season passes are required.
Also on Saturday, Eaglecrest staff and volunteers will set up a terrain park at Marine Park for the inaugural Downtown Rail Jam starting at 4:30 p.m.
Anyone wishing to bring their skis or snowboards to Marine Park is invited, and music, lights, food, alcohol and Christmas shopping will be available for non-skiers.
