There are seven more weeks of summer to spend in the sunshine, but for those already dreaming of snow, Purgatory Resort has a date to put on the calendar.

For the second year in a row, the resort plans to open the weekend before Thanksgiving, on Nov. 19, according to a news release.

To make sure the mountain is ready, snowmaking may start in October, depending on the weather.

“We’ve been enhancing our snowmaking system with snowguns and nozzles, which makes it much more efficient,” said Kim Oyler, a spokeswoman for the resort.

The mountain is also planning a slew of other improvements, the release said.

The Snow Coaster Tubing Hill will be slightly relocated and redesigned for a longer ride. For beginners, the Combine area is going to be expanded and regraded.

More advanced skiers and snowboarders can look forward to a new surface lift near the bottom of Lift 8. Earlier this year, the resort expected the first phase of construction would carry people from Lower Bull Run to the base of Lift 8 this winter. The lift will be expanded over time.

Above Lift 8, the Legends Bypass put in for those who find the slope above the lift too steep is going to be widened and regraded.

Construction projects around Lift 8 are expected to start in September.

mshinn@durangoherald.com