With the very generous donation of hours of ski slope grooming by the Nordic Ski Club’s Lookout Mountain trail crew, the Homer Rope Tow has now opened for the season as of Jan. 15.

With light snow for years now seemingly the new normal, this generosity allowed the annual opening for skiers and snowboarders to occur right on schedule, at a time when the unconsolidated snowpack’s depth would traditionally have meant a delay of weeks, if not longer, for local winter sports enthusiasts.

The Rope Tow, located off Ohlson Mountain Road at about Mile 3.5, will now be open every Sunday from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. (and from noon to 5 p.m. after the shift to Daylight Saving Time on March 12).

The club maintains a heated lodge at the base of the ski hill, about a 400-yard walk in from the road.

Daily passes are $10 for adults and $5 for students 18 and under, as well as value priced season memberships for individuals and families.

Updated conditions and information about openings will be posted to the Kachemak Ski Club’s webpage at homerropetow.org, on Facebook (Homer Rope Tow) and by calling 235-SNOW.