It's the kind of publicity snowsports resorts savor -- free, around-the-clock videotape of snow descending on their slopes, lifts, parking lots and roads.

And it wasn't just a few inches of snow that made the local and national newscasts last month. Some resorts brought out their yardsticks to measure the amounts they received. The Aspen Skiing Co. e-mailed a photo of a smiling employee standing in thigh-deep snow.

Although most of that snow has melted, it enabled some resorts at the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains to open earlier than ever. In fact Colorado Ski Country USA, a trade association, said some of its 22 member resorts may open earlier than usual.

Here's a look at a quartet of Western resorts.

Squaw Valley is celebrating two milestone anniversaries this season. It's been 60 years since it opened and 50 years since it hosted the Winter Olympic Games. The resort will commemorate its hosting of the Olympics with a variety of events from Jan. 8 to 17.

It spent more than $5 million in improvements during the summer. They include the new High Camp triple chairlift, the opening of The Arc at Gold Coast, a mid-mountain restaurant, and the renovation of a second Gold Coast restaurant -- 39 degrees North Latitude that is scheduled to be completed in December. The latter is in the top terminal of the 28 passenger gondola building.

Squaw Valley, 43 miles southwest of Reno, Nev., is huge -- six mountains, more than 4,000 skiable acres, 16 bowls and three terrain parks. Its more than 170 slopes and trails are served by 33 lifts, including a cable car, gondola, four high-speed six passenger chairlifts (aka "six packs") and three high-speed quad chairlifts.

For details, go to www.squaw.com or call 1-800-545-4350 or 530-583-6985.

After investing more than $130 million since 2003 on its four mountains -- Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass -- the Aspen Skiing Co. spent almost $8 million more this year. During that six-year span, it has built 11 new lifts, including two gondolas; the new Snowmass base village, the Treehouse Kids Adventure Center, three new restaurants and opened more terrain. It also completed the first phase of an $18 million room renovation at the Little Nell Hotel, Aspen's only five-star, five-diamond hotel.

Lift tickets now contain a chip that provides guests with easier, hands-free access to the lifts. No more fumbling with zippers, snaps and neck gators to dig out a lift ticket. Children 6 and younger stay and ski/snowboard for free in March.

The Sheer Bliss high-speed quad was installed at Snowmass to serve up to 700 acres of some of the best terrain in the Big Burn area. It climbs 2,212 vertical feet in 9 minutes. When it's time for a longer break, head to Sam's Smokehouse, a new barbecue-style restaurant at the top of the Village Express six-passenger chairlift. It also provides breakfast and lunch.

For more information, go to www.aspensnowmass.com or call 1-800-525-6200 or 1-970-925-1220.

A ski area perched on the Continental Divide might be expected to open early. But Oct. 7?

That's when Loveland became the first ski area in North American to open for the 2009-2010 season. It was its earliest opening in 40 years.

Of course, it did start making snow on Sept. 21-- the last day of summer.

"We took advantage of the cold temperatures and got an early start making snow this year," said Eric Johnstone, manager of snowmaking and trail maintenance.

Loveland is an hour west of Denver via Interstate 70. The annual snowfall, based on a 31-year average, is 400 inches. It makes snow on 160 of its 1,365 skiable acres. It has three quad chairlifts, two triples, three doubles, one surface lift and one Magic Carpet. The vertical drop is 2,410 feet. Its slopes and trails, the longest of which is two miles, are rated 13 percent beginner, 41 percent intermediate and 46 percent advanced. The base elevation is 10,600 feet.

For more information, go to www.skiloveland.com or call 1-303-571-5580.

Wolf Creek Ski Area, about 80 miles east of Durango in the San Juan/Rio Grande National Forest, celebrated the start of its 70th season by opening on Halloween with a 24-inch mid-mountain base, including 8 inches of powder.

It receives an average of 465 inches of snow a year.

Wolf Creek is a high alpine resort -- 10,300 feet at the base and 11,900 feet at the summit. It advises guests to drink plenty of water and carry extra clothing and goggles because "weather conditions can change rapidly." And those conditions usually bring snow.

The resort has 1,600 acres of scenic skiable terrain served by a high-speed quad chairlift, a standard quad, two triple chairs, one double chair and one high-speed Poma lift. The vertical drop is 1,604 feet.

For details, go to www.wolfcreekski.com or call 1-970-264-5639.

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