It was all treats and no tricks yesterday when Sunday River became the first ski mountain in the East to spin its lifts. Make that one lift, the Locke Mountain triple.

Treat! A bag of M&Ms was included with each ticket sold at Sunday River yesterday.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

A hundred or so fellow schussing enthusiasts joined the Ski Bum for a day of cycling the T2 trail, loading at the midstation and down-loading from there to the base area.

Participants were encouraged to wear Halloween garb, and quite a few did. Among the costumed characters: a telemarking tiger and 'boarding Bozo.

The telemarking tiger and friend on Sunday River's Locke Mountain triple yesterday.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

The telemarking tiger poses for the Ski Bum's camera at the top of T2 yesterday at Sunday River.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

A 'boarding Bozo the Clown negotiates T2 at Sunday River yesterday.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Prison break! Must be a politician or celebrity!
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

The young ladies in costume showed up after lunch, unfortunately after I'd left my camera back in the lodge. My favorites were a 'boarding ballerina and a happy hamburger.

Two news notes worth mentioning:

First, the base-landing area around the Barker Mountain Lodge and the Barker Mountain Quad lift is being completely reworked. There was a big washout back in July. And rather than simply restore the prior state of affairs, the whole area is being improved.

The entire landing area around the Barker Mountain Quad is being reconstructed and improved, a response to the floods that swept through this area in July.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Second, Halloween was a one-day special opening. The official season-opening is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 9.

And finally, let's take note that Sunday River used yesterday's opening to make a statement that it has returned to a policy of aggressively pushing an early opening -- a point which carries an implicit, but strong, statement about its snowmaking capabilities and policies.

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