Metro area's first ski area opened Tuesday

The Wild Mountain ski area near Taylors Falls is reinforcing its reputation when it comes to being the first to get those rope tows rolling.

Operators made snow and were open for business Tuesday afternoon, making the ski area the first in the Midwest to crank up this season, according to Wild Mountain officials.

Last year, Wild Mountain opened a remarkably early Oct. 7, its earliest Day 1 on record.

The latest into the calendar before the area was able to open was Nov. 20 in 2001.

Wild Mountain says that in order to make snow, temperatures below freezing for multiple hours are needed, as well as low humidity.