RUMFORD — Freezing fog, two trails, one lift and a snow base of between 10 and 18 inches greeted fewer than 100 skiers and snowboarders Saturday when Black Mountain Ski Resort opened for the season.

Although snow was falling by 4 p.m. as temperatures dropped from 25 to 22 degrees, a warm-up and freezing rain were predicted to add insult to injury for mountain manager Jim Carter.

“It’s been a struggle with the weather,” Carter said Saturday. “Three weeks ago, we had 50 degrees in Rumford, so we’re behind on our snow-making due to the weather. We haven’t had any natural snow since before the 12th, I think. It’s been so long, I can’t recall.”

As people of all ages skied and snowboarded down intermediate-level Upper and Lower Androscoggin trails, Carter said work was under way on the novice area, which could open by Monday or Tuesday this week. Due to the conditions and lack of snow, lift tickets will be $20 per individual all week.

“In the last couple of weeks, temperatures have been down, but we need 26- to 27-degree weather and low humidity to make snow,” Carter said.

On Saturday, heavy frost covered trees lining the slopes, creating a picturesque scene for photographers but not so good for skiers and boarders wearing goggles.

“The skiing was not bad, but there’s like a freezing fog up there, so you can’t see much,” Matt Lavoie of Otisfield said as he shouldered his skis and called it a day.

“I grew up here in Mexico, so every chance I have I come up here, but now I’m going to point it towards a bar and call it a good day,” Lavoie said.

As Lavoie and a friend headed to the lodge, a group of teens donned skis and made their way to the lift in pairs. There were no lines.

Carter said the opening-day turnout was typical. However, with better weather, more people would have turned out, he said.

“It’s supposed to be in the 40s tomorrow, but there’s a cold front coming in the middle of the week,” he said. “We’re open now, and terrain will increase as snow-making or Mother Nature does their magic.”

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A skier heads down the Little Androscoggin Trail on opening day at Black Mountain Ski Resort in Rumford on Saturday. Trees in the background — like these pine needles — glistened with snow and ice crystals from freezing fog that lifted partway up the mountain by late morning.

Trees were coated with heavy frost from freezing fog, obscuring the summit of Black Mountain Ski Resort in Rumford on Saturday. The mountain opened for the season, attracting fewer than 100 skiers and snowboarders. A lack of natural snow and snow-making temperatures combined to give the ski hill a slow start on the season, but its Nordic trails have been busy with area ski teams practicing for the past two weeks, mountain manager Jim Carter said Saturday.