Ski resorts in Franklin County are singing Mother Nature’s praises this week after storms the past two weekends frosted trails with feet of fluffy powder.

It may be the best start to the season in years, some say.

Two of the county’s four ski areas, Titcomb Mountain in Farmington and Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley, have opened.

Saddleback Mountain in Sandy River Plantation is expected to open for the season Friday while Spruce Mountain in Jay will open the following Friday, Dec. 26.

Two weekends ago, Sugarloaf reported that 48 inches fell during a nor’easter. The same storm covered Saddleback with 52 inches. Rain late last week compressed some of that, but another foot or so fell Sunday and Monday.

Ski resort managers say they are sitting pretty going into the season.

“We’re feeling good,” said Megan Roberts, Titcomb’s general manager on Monday. “People are very excited. Things are looking great. All this snow really gives the mountain that wintry, Christmas feel and puts us right into the thick of winter.”

Titcomb, which has 15 trails, celebrated its opening Saturday with an early morning pancake breakfast and a dedication of its new handle tow lift.

The lift, purchased with $15,000 in private donations, can carry more than 300 skiers and riders an hour up a beginner trail and joins a fleet of two T-bars. Also new this year at the Farmington mountain is an expanded terrain park.

The deadline to purchase season passes for Titcomb at discounted rates is 5 p.m. Dec. 17.

At Sugarloaf, which had 103 trails open on Monday, skiers were cutting fresh tracks.

The early season storms are “huge” for Sugarloaf, said spokesman Bill Swain via e-mail.

Swain said he expects to be busy in the days leading up to the holidays.

Spruce Mountain, with 11 trails, is accessed by three rope tows that offer day and night skiing. It’s owned by the towns of Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls, and will be the last of the ski areas in the county to open.

Rick Couture, a member of the Spruce Mountain Ski Club’s board, said skiers face no major changes. In the offseason, volunteers trimmed brush, mowed trails and installed new ropes on tows.

Things are tough when it comes to the success of a small town hill, he said.

“This year, as usual, it will be a trying year to make it. Hopefully we’ll survive. It gets harder and harder each year,” he said.

The ski area’s prosperity depends on local support.

The mountain with the biggest off-season make-over is Saddleback. The ski area was purchased by Bill and Irene Berry and their seven children for more than $8 million in September from longtime owner Donald Breen.

The family bought two new grooming machines, established two new glades, installed new chairlift pads on the lifts, lowered ticket prices and cleaned up trails.

Lift ticket prices have dropped from $49 for adults on weekends and holidays last year to $35 this season.

“Saddleback is opening for the season with enthusiasm that hasn’t been felt in years,” said spokeswoman Jessica MacDonald in a press release.

“With all the snow that has accumulated in the recent weeks and with a forecast of more to come, one has to believe, what a great omen to the new future of the mountain,” she said. “It seems as though things are finally looking up for the sleeping giant.”

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