2 weeks Ago By Moira McCarthy
As nature blankets all of New Hampshire with what right now feels like a semi-steady line of storms, the state’s mountain resorts have a message to share: They didn’t take last year’s challenging season sitting down. Rather, they doubled down on the continued march toward more and more efficient and dependable snowmaking. From small nonprofit hills to bigger mountains, new guns, better systems and all kinds of forward-thinking tweaks are debuting on New Hampshire mountains this winter.
Ski New Hampshire (www.skinh.com) President Jessyca Keeler said this is very much by design.
“Newer, more efficient equipment has made a dramatic difference at ski areas, improving snow production and snow quality, particularly in the early season, and at the same time increasing sustainability and reducing energy impact,” said Keeler. “It enables ski areas to open earlier and to stay open even when Mother Nature isn’t producing as much snow as we’d like.” At Gunstock Mountain (https://www.
gunstock.com/) snowmakers will have an updated system resort wide as part of their current $4.8 million capital expense plan that included $1.
6 million for snowmaking expansion on the mountain, widening one trail, and extending and reconfiguring another. They’re also expanding a deck for outdoor dining at the Stockade Lodge. A new $1 million welcome center is under construction as well.
Loon Mountain Resort has fired up over 100 new semi-automated snowmaking hydrants on Loon Peak and North Peak trails, including Haulback, Brookway, and Bear Claw Extension. Snowmaking upgrades have also been expanded to South Peak trails including Cruiser, Ripsaw, Escape Route, and Chipper. Additionally, snowmaking has been installed on Upper and Lower Stinger.
Nonprofit Whaleback Mountain used a $100,000 grant awarded through the Northern Border Regional Commission and matching funds to purchase and install additional snowmaking guns, a water pump and an upgraded electrical supply, doubling its snowmaking capacity. Pat’s Peak (https://www.patspeak.
com/) can now depend on four new semi-automatic fan guns and a dozen HKD Impulse snow guns on Downdraft trail that they say will enhance the capability to produce snow even at marginal temperatures. This equipment provides an efficiency boost of at least two degrees, which might not seem significant, but in the realm of snowmaking, the difference between 26 and 28 degrees is substantial. Cranmore Mountain Resort (https://cranmore.
com/) has been busy building their ever-expanding new base buildings, but that doesn’t mean they’ve not been focused on snow. They expanded two separate systems in the snowmaking line, enabling snowmakers to boost and maximize pressure resulting in higher quality snow and increased production rates. They will also be adding eight new high-production snowmaking guns.
Mount Sunapee (https://www.mountsunapee.com/) upgraded 20 snow guns with low-e snow guns that will improve snow production, snow quality, and energy efficiency.
Nordic spots are taking the same steps. Great Glen Trails (https://greatglentrails.com/) invested in energy-efficient snowmaking, adding power to the top of the tubing hill so that the snow guns will be electric-powered.
Jackson XC (https://www.jacksonxc.org/) has been working to improve its pumping capacity and will be extending its snowmaking to include additional distance on the Wentworth Resort Loops.
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