Get ready skiers and snowboarders: The state’s three most prominent ski areas are now open for the season.

Mt. Hood Meadows on Friday joins Timberline Ski Area and Mt. Bachelor in offering daily lift-served skiing. The resort has 17 inches of snow at its base and initially plans to operate four chairlifts.

One surface lift, Meadows’ Ballroom Carpet, is also scheduled to run.

The chairlifts will provide “limited access” to Meadows’ lower-mountain terrain, according to the resort.

“We hope to open more lifts and terrain by the weekend, depending on the weather and conditions,” Meadows said on its website.

Much of the state’s snowpack is well below normal for this time of year. And Meadows has relied on snow harvesting — or moving snow from areas such as parking lots onto skiable terrain — to supplement its base.

Much of the state’s snowpack is well below normal for this time of year.

Timberline has a 16-inch base at its namesake lodge and plans to operate its beginner chairlift Friday. The resort said more lifts will operate as additional snow falls.

Mt. Bachelor, which reports 17 inches of mid-mountain snow, plans to operate two chairlifts and a surface lift Friday.

Snow is in the forecast for each of the ski areas this weekend.

Read our ski season preview, which covers what’s new at Mount Hood resorts, as well as Mt. Bachelor, here.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

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