If you don’t have plans for Veterans Day, considering digging out your snow ride gear.

The 2009-2010 ski and snowboard season in the South Sound will officially open on Wednesday when Crystal Mountain begins operations, albeit on a limited basis.

The ski area announced this morning it will open the lower mountain by running the Discovery, Chinook Express, Quicksilver and Forest Queen lifts.

The ski area will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ski school, rental shop, plus food and beverages areas will be open as well.

There are two feet of snow on the ground now, and the area is expected to receive another six to eight inches today, said Tiana Enger, the area’s director of sales and marketing.

Enger said they hope to open the upper reaches of the mountain on Thursday via the Rainier Express lift.

Lift tickets will be reduced to $30 for adults, $25 for youths and seniors. Kids 10 and younger can ski for free and will be able to do so all season long, Enger said.

"This is definitely a blessing to be able to open this early," Enger said.

"Being able to open on the holiday is another bonus."

Last year, the ski area did not open until Dec. 16.

Meanwhile, with 4o to 46 inches on the ground, Mount Baker has announced it will open Thursday. The area will be in normal midweek operation from the White Salmon base area, running from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Chairs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 will be in operation.

The area will be charging midweek rates, $39.50 for an adult ticket. Area managers said they hope to be in full operation by the weekend with all lifts running and both base areas open.

White Pass is expecting to make a decision Wednesday is that area will open on Friday. The area currently has 24 inches at the base.

The staff at Stevens Pass is monitoring conditions there, with 28 inches of snow at the base.

There has been no announcement from the Summit at Snoqualmie.