Two weeks ago, people were enjoying the water slide at Wild Mountain Ski & Snowboard Area in Taylor's Falls, Minnesota.  Yesterday, they opened the ski and snowboard slopes.

You might think that Taylor's Falls is way up north in Minnesota.  Actually, it's less than an hour north of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Like a lot of ski areas in the Midwest, they rely more on cold temperatures and the ability to make snow than on what Mother Nature drops from the sky.

October 7th is the earliest Opening Day on record for the Wild Mountain Ski Area.  Like much of the country, Minnesota has experienced both unseasonably high and low temperatures this year.  When the mercury dips below freezing (32 degrees), it is cold enough to make snow.

Taylor's Falls is close enough to a large population that makes it worthwhile to fire up the snow guns and open the slopes.  Once word got out that the slopes were open, skiers and snowboarders found their way there.

Thinking about hopping on a plane and heading there?  www.wildmountain.com for the latest ski conditions.

The Twin Cities are about a day's drive from the Flint area if you can't afford plane fare.  Road trip, anyone?

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