"I've been here a couple of days solo just checking out the scene and situation," Dogggg said.

At 9 a.m. October 18 the Basin will become the first ski area in the county to start its ski season this year.

It's something A-Basin spokesperson Adrienne Isaac says is all thanks to snowmaking crews and hard working employees.

"Our snowmaking team is one of the best in Colorado - if not the U.S.," Isaac said. "These guys and gals are pretty tireless in terms of what they are doing snowmaking."

The ski area will open with one run stretching from mid-mountain to the base with no beginner runs open yet.

That's not a lot of terrain - or near the power Nate got at last season's opener.

"Last year at Wolf Creek [there was] three and a half feet of snow ," Dogggg said.

After the long hot, dry summer Nate like just wants to be on some snow.

After 17 years sitting in that first chair of the season he's ready to camp out again to be the first to play on it.

"[I'm] making sure I do get that first chair and keep it running again," Dogggg said.

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