NORTH CREEK -- It snowed a little on Tuesday, as if to remind the North Country that winter isn’t far away.
     And in order to take advantage of white flakes as soon as they start to fly in earnest, Gore Mountain is preparing to open its newest facility in a matter of days.
     "We’re going to have a soft opening for the Northwoods Lodge this Saturday, and we’ll have a grand opening on or before December 8," said Emily Stanton, Gore’s marketing manager.
      The mountain will open for the season on Saturday.
     Since June, construction crews have been hard at work on the new lodge, transforming it from the mountain’s old gondola-loading barn into the headquarters for ski school and rental programs.
     Retired in 1999, and replaced by a new gondola that began operating that same year, the old loading barn was the perfect building to renovate in order to expand Gore’s winter sport offerings.
      "It’s going to make it a lot easier for families and beginners to start their ski experience," said Mike Pratt, Gore’s general manager. "It’s the first building from the parking lot, and it’ll be really convenient for them to get there with their children and equipment."
     Indeed, the Northwoods Lodge will have everything the entire family needs to get a day on the slopes going.
      "They’ll be able to access this lodge directly from the parking lot," said Stanton. "At the lodge, they can obtain their lift tickets, access their ski programs, and get their rental equipment all in one place."