Would you want to be a snowmaker?

[marzNC]

Apparently as destination resorts in the Rockies come to depend more on snowmaking, the issue of water rights has become more important.

Sep 2018, Colorado Sun, by Jason Blevins
How Colorado’s ski resorts can continue making snow in drought years like this one
A dry season more than 40 years ago kicked off decades of aggressive water rights acquisition, storage and other techniques to keep the slopes white

While a storage tank that hold 5 million gallons can make a big difference to a small mountain like Wintergreen in VA, a large resort is more likely to be thinking about much more. The amount that's practical depends on region. West Lake at Mt. Snow in southern VT holds 120 million gallons and the original smaller pond holds 20 million gallons. Arizona Snowbowl has a hard time filling it's 10 million gallon pond.

 

[marzNC]

Mountain High in southern CA depends a lot on snowmaking for its 290 acres. The price tag for recent upgrades to the snowmaking infrastructure was $500,000. Quite an investment for a ski area for locals that sells season passes for just under $400. Good to see a place that had skiing in the 1920s continuing to do well.

https://www.mthigh.com/site/connect/news/authors/mountain_high/mountain-high-prepares-for-winter - Sep 2019
" . . .
Mountain High has one of the largest snowmaking systems in the country and, this year, more than $500,000 was invested making the system even more powerful, and more efficient. Through a combination of 70 new Technoalpin “Low Energy” Stick Guns, 30 Ratnik “Mid-Energy” Snowguns (primarily for the upper mountain), and 7 Technoalpin and SMI Fan Guns, the resort can make more snow than ever before using 16K less gallons of Diesel and reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions by 15% each season.

Says Mike Childress, Snow Operations Manager, “We can run 100 of these sticks for the cost of 3 of the previous guns. They are incredibly efficient and make terrific snow.”

The difference can be found in the design. Traditional snow guns use electric fans or high-pressure nozzles to project the snow horizontally across the slopes. Mountain High’s new “stick” guns tower 35 feet above the ground allowing fresh snow to fall naturally, ultimately requiring less energy. Thanks to this new design, they are dramatically quieter, creating a much better experience for guests on the mountain while snowmaking is underway.

Resort operators expect to use 100 fewer gallons of diesel fuel per hour ostensibly cutting its carbon footprint in half.

All snow guns in the West base area have been replaced with this new technology and new snowmaking hydrants have been added to the upper mountain and teaching terrain. The mountain’s increased snow production means earlier openings, longer seasons, better snow, and a deeper base. These new guns are dramatically quieter as well, making for a more enjoyable guest experience while snowmaking is underway.

Augmenting Mountain High’s snowmaking enhancements is its water supply. This is the most water the Wrightwood resort has had since 2010 and above-ground reservoirs are filled to the brim.
. . ."

 

[marzNC]

When reading about snowmaking in the west, it's interesting to me to see how recently the investments in snowmaking have happened. Seems especially noticeable in the Pacific northwest. Depending on 100% coverage for snowmaking is the only way a few ski areas have survived as businesses in the the southeast where I live.

Mission Ridge started snowmaking in the 1970s. The disadvantage of getting less natural snow turned into an advantage in low snow years in 2004-05 and 2014-15. John Kircher saw the need for increase snowmaking infrastructure at Crystal before he bought it from Boyne Resorts. Now with Crystal owned by Alterra and Stevens Pass owned by Epic, more snowmaking is likely to be installed in the future in order to assure open slopes by the December holiday period.

Oct 2017, Crosscut, Cascade Public Media
Coming to Washington ski slopes: Fake snow

Nov 2015, Tacoma News Tribune
Snowmaking: A dirty word turned game changer

 

[marzNC]

This 14-min video from 2014 done by Calabogie, which is an hour from Ottawa, is the best introduction to the business realities of snowmaking I've found so far. Not only covers the temperature and humidity considerations but also goes over all the connectors on a fan gun and hidden infrastructure that's required for an effective snowmaking system that has to be available from Nov thru Mar just to make it possible to sustain an existing ski resort. Calabogie has had snowmaking for a long time, but has completely updated their systems over the last decade for increased efficiency in terms of water and electricity use, as well as to improve coverage and timelines.

 

[marzNC]

Found another video with tidbits about an automated fan gun. It's hosted by Tracey Bartels, who was Sr. Dir. of Mountain Ops. at Keystone from 2017 to 2019. She was recently promoted to GM at Mt. Sunapee. Fair to say that Sunapee is far more dependent on snowmaking all season long compared to the Colorado resorts where Bartels has been working for the past couple decades in a variety of roles, starting with ski instructor at Breck.

The entire series of videos by Keystone put out this summer is quite good. Covers everything from the installation of fan guns along School Marm to the fact that Keystone draws water from the Lake Dillon Reservoir. At one point, Keystone was considering building a large holding pond. That's the more typical approach to assuring a bit enough water supply. But instead they invested in large pumps that move water from Lake Dillon upstream to the Snake River, just above where Keystone draws water for snowmaking.

Keystone was one of the first resorts in Colorado to invest in snowmaking. It happened back in 1998, soon after the purchase by Vail Resorts. Given that some of the infrastructure is about 20 years old, it makes sense that new equipment and pipeline will make a big difference on when the core groomers can be open top-to-bottom in order to open relatively early. Meaning that Keystone will once again be making news as one of the ski areas/resorts that might be the first to open in the region.

https://blog.keystoneresort.com/featured/keystone-snowmaking-upgrades/

 

[marzNC]

Found some numbers about snowmaking coverage at Park City and Deer Valley in this 2018 article. Coverage is over 70%. It's clear that while snowmaking has been standard practice in the northeast, mid-Atlantic, southeast, and midwest for quite a while, it's become the norm out west as well. Especially for the important end of year holiday weeks. Snowmaking isn't just at the base any more. The idea is to have at least a few blue or blue/black groomers for top-to-bottom runs for both intermediates and advanced folks.

Dec 2018, Park City Magazine
Behind the Scenes: How Snowmaking is Saving Winter
" . . .
both Park City Mountain and Deer Valley spend heavily on snowmaking every year, as do US ski areas from Maine to California. According to the National Ski Areas Association, 91 percent of ski areas in operation today have invested in snowmaking, and the average ski resort has upped its snowmaking capacity by 60 percent in the past 21 years.

The local snowmaking systems are among the West’s most extensive, covering approximately 76 percent of Deer Valley Resort’s 101 runs and 71 percent of Park City Mountain’s 340 runs. During summer 2018, Deer Valley’s snowmaking crews installed additional snowmaking guns, upgraded control systems, and replaced several thousand feet of snowmaking pipe. At Park City Mountain, in addition to regular maintenance work, crews installed new snowmaking equipment on intermediate connector Red Pine Road, with the goal of opening Tombstone Lift earlier in the season. And snowmaking infrastructure at the High Meadow run—which, over the summer, was regraded and widened to be more family- and beginner-friendly—was essentially doubled.
. . .
Just about everyone in the industry agrees that, in light of warming winters, the future of snowmaking is automation: systems that self-activate when temperature conditions are right, turn off when temperatures leave the snow zone, and are leaps and bounds more power and water efficient than traditional systems. Management at both Park City Mountain and Deer Valley are moving their respective snowmaking systems in that direction.
. . .
In a typical year, snowmaking is a 24-hour-a-day operation from about mid-October at Park City Mountain and the beginning of November for Deer Valley to the end of January. (In the 2017–18 season, both resorts had snow guns going well into February.)
. . .

 

[SierraLuLu]

Big Bear has a section on snowmaking as well. In CA we have a water problem, but they get pretty much unlimited water from the lake. Without it, it wouldn’t be open nearly as early or as often.

https://www.bigbearmountainresort.com/winter/mountain-information/mountain-info/snowmaking

 

[marzNC]

In the Killington Snow Report for 11/24/19, a test of the new water pipeline to Pico was mentioned:

"As of this week, we are proud to announce the successful transfer of water through the newly built pipeline between Killington and Pico, which will make a big difference in Pico’s snowmaking capability this winter. Once Pico opens, be sure to take advantage of those slopes (and take note of the terrain benefits throughout the season)."​

The new pipeline is over 16,000 ft long. There was also a lot of work for the snowmaking pipelines at Pico, as well as new pumps. I think snow conditions at Pico over the holidays will be significantly better than in past years. There was much that needed to be done for Killington and Pico after Powdr took over. Takes time not only for planning but also to make sure the company isn't spending too much money all at the same time.

https://www.killington.com/the-mountain/mountain-info/mountain-improvements/pico-snowmaking
"Pico Mountain is set to undergo major upgrades to its snowmaking system, which means starting in the 2019-20 season guests will experience a better, more consistent and more reliable snow surface. This project, which will be the largest investment since Killington took ownership of Pico more than 20 years ago, includes installation of a 16,850' pipeline from Killington's water source to radically increase Pico's snowmaking water supply.This will allow Pico Mountain to make more snow, for longer periods of time and deliver a better guest experience.

Additional improvements to Pico’s snowmaking ahead of the 2019-20 season include the installation of more than 4,000 feet of new snowmaking pipe and the replacement of 5,418 existing feet of snowmaking pipe. That's not all either - come spring 2020 Pico's primary pump house will receive three new pumps and a new control system, further enhancing snowmaking capacity."

 

[MissySki]

In the Killington Snow Report for 11/24/19, a test of the new water pipeline to Pico was mentioned:

"As of this week, we are proud to announce the successful transfer of water through the newly built pipeline between Killington and Pico, which will make a big difference in Pico’s snowmaking capability this winter. Once Pico opens, be sure to take advantage of those slopes (and take note of the terrain benefits throughout the season)."​

The new pipeline is over 16,000 ft long. There was also a lot of work for the snowmaking pipelines at Pico, as well as new pumps. I think snow conditions at Pico over the holidays will be significantly better than in past years. There was much that needed to be done for Killington and Pico after Powdr took over. Takes time not only for planning but also to make sure the company isn't spending too much money all at the same time.

https://www.killington.com/the-mountain/mountain-info/mountain-improvements/pico-snowmaking
"Pico Mountain is set to undergo major upgrades to its snowmaking system, which means starting in the 2019-20 season guests will experience a better, more consistent and more reliable snow surface. This project, which will be the largest investment since Killington took ownership of Pico more than 20 years ago, includes installation of a 16,850' pipeline from Killington's water source to radically increase Pico's snowmaking water supply.This will allow Pico Mountain to make more snow, for longer periods of time and deliver a better guest experience.

Additional improvements to Pico’s snowmaking ahead of the 2019-20 season include the installation of more than 4,000 feet of new snowmaking pipe and the replacement of 5,418 existing feet of snowmaking pipe. That's not all either - come spring 2020 Pico's primary pump house will receive three new pumps and a new control system, further enhancing snowmaking capacity."

Sounds awesome!!

 

[marzNC]

Snowmaking began in the midwest back in the 1950s, meaning in northern Michigan at Boyne Mountain. Everett Kircher invented a snowgun that became an industry standard but chose to stay in the resort business instead of the snowmaking business. Plenty of days with cold enough temperatures for good snowmaking in that region. MI, WI, MN still have lots of small ski areas, along with a few 4-season resorts.

Ski Wisconsin did a great overview of the entire snowmaking and grooming process last year. One of the few articles to pull together both activities. It mentions the "cure" process and the cost of a grooming machine.

Aug 2018, Skiing Wisconsin
SNOWMAKING MADE SIMPLE: A SUMMARY OF THE ART OF SNOWMAKING

 

[marzNC]

Voting for the annual SAM I Am A Snowmaker award has started and goes thru Jan. 21, 2020. Anyone can vote once a day. Per usual the nominees are from all over the U.S. and isn't limited to destination resorts. Each has an introductory video. Aspen/Snowmass and Killington are the big mountains this time. The northeast is also represented by Bristol, Hunter, Gunstock, and Pats Peak. Eaglecrest near Juneau, Alaska is probably getting a lot more press than usual this season since it's part of the new Indy Pass.

 

[Mistletoes]

Bristol's my home mountain!

I'm not sure how many days they'd be open without snowmaking, no where near the 100 they guarantee.

 

[marzNC]

Bristol's my home mountain!

OMG! I've heard of Ratnik snow guns but didn't know that the inventor started at Bristol.

https://ratnik.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Trailblazers-Ron-Ratnik-edited.pdf

 

[marzNC]

Learned that Hunter had top-to-bottom snowmaking by 1967 and 100% coverage by 1980. The video is very cute. The "star" has been making snow at Hunter for 40 years. There are over 1000 snow guns at Hunter as of 2019. Only 15% of the snowmaking team ski or board. They just love making snow.

 

[marzNC]

The snowmaking team at Eaglecrest in Alaska is probably unique in that none of them focus on snowmaking. They all have other responsibilities and snowmaking is just one of them. Never thought about the fact that snowmaking near Juneau has more in common with the southeast than other U.S. regions. They make snow at every chance, even if temps and humidity are marginal. They are making snow in a "rain forest." Eaglecrest is on the Indy Pass and has other partnerships for reciprocal lift tickets as well.

 

[Mistletoes]

OMG! I've heard of Ratnik snow guns but didn't know that the inventor started at Bristol.

https://ratnik.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Trailblazers-Ron-Ratnik-edited.pdf

Thanks for the link. I had no idea there was so much history here!

 

[marzNC]

The winner of the I Am A Snowmaker voting for 2019-20 is Bristol. More votes than usual for some reason. The difference between first and second was in the hundreds out of 10,000 votes. The team actually gets some sort of tangible prize in addition to bragging rights.

Jan. 28, 2020, SAM
BRISTOL MOUNTAIN WINS 2019-20 I AM A SNOWMAKER CONTEST
"SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Jan. 28, 2020—The snowmaking crew from Bristol Mountain, N.Y., emerged as the winner in this year’s HKD and SAM “I AM a Snowmaker” contest. More than 10,000 votes were cast for the seven resort snowmaking crews in a close contest, with Bristol coming out on top by only a few hundred votes. The 13-day voting period concluded Jan. 21. IAMWinnerHN

The Bristol crew will receive a break-room makeover prize from HKD and industry recognition for their dedication to and passion for the art of snowmaking.
. . ."

 

[marzNC]

Never knew HKD has a collection of videos on their website. I enjoyed seeing the factory tour. Didn't realized it was in Québec City. A lot of little parts go into the snowmaking equipment.

 

[marzNC]

A pioneer of American snowmaking died recently at age 87. Herman Dupré took over Seven Springs at age 23 when his father died. He helped to found HKD Snowmakers. The video with comments from Herman was made a couple of years ago.

 

[marzNC]

This article is from Oct 2019 but I missed it the first time around. The video shows Copper during early season when the snow guns are used to get a head start before there is any natural snow on the core trails. May look odd to folks who only ski out west, but it's normal for folks in the southeast for the only snow to be on the trails most of the season.

Oct 2019, OpenSnow
Snowmaking - Explained
https://opensnow.com/news/post/snowmaking-explained