Skiers, snowboarders rejoice at Afton Alps' early opening

At exactly 3 p.m. on Friday, the chairlifts at Afton Alps stirred to life. Eager skiers and snowboarders hopped aboard, making their way up to the bright hilltops. Hans Swanson, 14, was among the early birds. "It's kind of my place," he said, snowboard in hand. It's his third year at Afton Alps, he said, and the earliest in the season he's ever started. An unusually long string of cold days has made...