Spurred on by the snows of Hurricane Sandy, Sugar Mountain Resort opened on Wednesday — its earliest first day in its 43-year history.

"I’ve been telling everyone, this is the start of the season," said Kim Jochl, Sugar Mountain Resort marketing director, on Wednesday, while looking at her mountain’s white slopes, which were covered in customers. "Today has gone very well — great crowds. We have two slopes open, a six- to 30-inch base, with snowmaking in progress. We hope it holds."

Avery County’s Charlie Burleson, a Sugar Mountain Resort employee, said, "Today has been busy. One of the busiest first days I have ever seen."