The ski season is officially under way here in Maine. At Sunday River and Sugarloaf thus far at least.

And that brings great happiness to this skier. You too, I trust.

In an effort to assuage my guilt over a long weekend of holiday sloth that included much too much consumption of turkey and anything else food-related within arm's reach, and much too little physical activity of any kind (popping the tops of beer cans doesn't count I guess)...

... I made my way up to Sunday River yesterday to put the first notch in this year's season pass. And was very pleased with the results.

The Barker base lodge was open and with it the Super Quad and Locke Mountain Triple were operating.

A good size crowd was there enjoying the warm and sunny temps (upper 50s), both on the deck and on the slopes.

For top to bottom skiing we linked up either Upper Sunday Punch or Ecstasy to Monday Mourning or Cascades. All runs finished down the lower end of Monday Mourning.

Conditions were great considering the mild weather and rains we've had. And it was just plain good to be out.

Kudos to the snowmaking crew for doing a terrific job of getting a decent amount of skiable terrain opened quickly.

There's plenty of winter ahead of us and we can only hope that Mother Nature will cooperate and add her fair share of natural snow to the man-made stuff.

But given yesterday's offering at Sunday River, I'm pretty hopeful.

Did you get out on your boards this weekend? At Sunday River or Sugarloaf? How was it?

Sunday River's Barker Base was alive and well with skiers and snow yesterday.

It's going to take a bit more snow before we can start bombing down the bumps on Agony (beneath the Super Quad).

Sun and snow from the top of Monday Mourning.

Skiers cruising by on Upper Sunday Punch.

Hmmm... is that the Sunday River Brew Pub I see from here?