MISSOULA — While we've seen a lot of rain this week, recent snow helped mountain crews get Snowbowl ready for its 71st season.

North of Missoula, skiers and snowboarders lined up early to get first chair of the year.

"I think I got up at like 6:45," snowboarder Ryan Landolfi said.

"It's so exciting to be here. I think it's always like the first day of anything is fun," Snowbowl spokeswoman Maddy Morris shared.

Check out opening day at Snowbowl: Missoula's Snowbowl opens for 71st ski season

Grizzly Lift and Snow Park chair are running from Dec. 12 through Dec. 14. The lifts start spinning at 10 a.m. each day.

"Every year, we have our engineers come out to inspect all the lifts. Forest Service comes out, does their inspections, so everything's ready. We just need that snow," Morris

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