Winter has arrived in New Hampshire’s North Country, as the ski industry and local shops gear up for their busy season.
Most of New Hampshire's ski resorts have been making their own snow for days or weeks now, ahead of planned openings the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Recent falling snow – captured on live ski slope webcams – has added to the inches on the ground.
At lower elevations, much of that snow has turned into rain. But that hasn't dampened the spirits of retailers like Chad Larrivee, at Lahouts Ski Shop in Littleton.
“Once people see snow on the ground, they start freaking out, and they need winter boots and kids’ jackets and, you know, the whole get-up,” he says.
He says the first real snow of the year helps people accept the winter – and start enjoying it, rather than dreading it.