Well, that escalated quickly. So goes an Instagram post from Alyeska, which just got hit with a sizable October storm that blanketed its slopes.

It was the first snowfall of the season for the Alaskan ski resort, and it delivered far more than the dustings that sometimes ring in the first steps of winter. See below.

As of Friday morning, the snow was still sticking around, at least at upper elevations. The Glacier Bowl webcam showed widespread coverage that was, depending on how brave you are (or beautifully unbothered by the structural integrity of your skis), perhaps enough to slide down. 

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The snow came as a cold front passed through Alaska, bringing Anchorage’s first dusting of snow of the season. Alaska’s News Source reported that the chill is expected to begin abating through next week with milder temperatures set to arrive. Still, Anchorage could see a mix of rain and snow on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

While several mountains across the western lower 48 have also gotten a taste of winter, a pause in the unsettled weather is coming, according to meteorologist Chris Tomer. He isn’t expecting any snow out West through October 10, aside from at ski resorts in British Columbia and Alberta.

“High pressure has us locked down with warm, dry air,” he said in a morning video update. 

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That could prove challenging as the season’s frontrunners begin thinking about snowmaking. While Alyeska doesn’t plan to open until about two months from now, on November 29, other resorts will attempt to get the party started in October, namely Arapahoe Basin, Loveland, Keystone, and Wolf Creek, Colorado. 

Mother Nature may have the final say, though, but best believe that those resorts and others will put their best foot forward. They want the ski season to start as badly as we do.  

Related: Review: 2027 Blizzard Canvas 118 Skis