Facts

Here are some of the facts behind what it takes for us to have optimum snow production:

- The dry bulb temperature must be < 26°F

- The wet bulb temperature must be < 23°F

- Relative humidity must be < 73%

- Winds must be < 5 MPH

- Water temperature from our dry well is usually 52°F, but the temperature can drop to 40°F by time it follows above ground piping to the snow gun.

- We have made snow up to 36°F when the humidity was very low.

- When the temperature drops below 10 degrees the heat from the water makes the plume from the snowgun steam.

- Evaporation, drift, and failure to crystalize are issues that we must constantly account for. We adjust air flow, water flow, and gun positioning to combat these effects

- Each snowgun is monitored throughout the snowmaking process and is typically repositioned every 15 minutes.

- Making snow in October requires over 50% more air to compensate for warmer water temperatures (since the ground is still warm the water doesn't cool).

- Temperature inversions on the hill can make the base area up to 8 degrees cooler than the summit.

- We can make 3 different kinds of snow by adjusting the air/water ratio at each gun; Base, Solid, and powder.

- Winds are a major factor when making snow above midstation.

- Our system is custom designed, only Peak "P" series snowguns work since we operate using lower pressures than standard guns found in the ski industry.