Between Mother Nature and snowmaking, Lake Tahoe area ski resorts are setting their opening dates.

While these are not locked in Sierra cement, so to speak, this is what some of the resorts are forecasting:

• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: Oct. 31
• Boreal: Nov. 4
• Squaw Valley: Nov. 11
• Alpine Meadows: Nov. 11
• Northstar: Nov. 18
• Heavenly: Nov. 18
• Kirkwood: Nov. 18
• Homewood: Dec. 9.