The 2013-2014 ski season begins today, skiing and riding on 5 trails with 2 lifts operating. Opening this early is a big deal and takes the right weather and an incredible effort by our team. Come up and enjoy our great Mountain!
Operating Hours:
Saturday 11/30 - 9a-5p (day sessions only)
Sunday 12/1 - 9a-5p (day sessions only)
We will be closed Monday through Thursday, re-opening on Saturday 12/7 and Sunday 12/8 for day sessions only.
Terrain Park:
2 Progression rail lines
First - 2 flat boxes back to back and a flat rail
Second - Small battleship, double bar side by side rail and a down rail
Tubing:
We are making snow in the tubing park with plans to open it soon. Please check this report for updates on our snowmaking progress.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013
SKIING AND RIDING TOMORROW!
Opening day is tomorrow, skiing and riding on 5 trails with 2 lifts. In addition, the Terrain Park Staff will build a mini park on Upper Dobie skiers left. Conditions will be fantastic, make plans to be here!
TODAY IS ALL ABOUT PUSHING PILES AND TOUCHING UP WEAK AREAS:
MAKING SNOW ON THE HIGHLANDS!
MAKINGS SNOW ON TYRO AND SUNRISE!
Operating hours for the next 2 weekends:
Saturday 11/30 - 9a-5p
Sunday 12/1 - 9a-5p
Closed Monday - Thursday
Friday 12/6 - 9a-5p
Saturday 12/7 - 9a-5p
Sunday 12/8 - 9a-5p
TODAY IS ALL ABOUT PUSHING PILES AND TOUCHING UP WEAK AREAS:
MAKING SNOW ON THE HIGHLANDS!
MAKINGS SNOW ON TYRO AND SUNRISE!
Operating hours for the next 2 weekends:
Saturday 11/30 - 9a-5p
Sunday 12/1 - 9a-5p
Closed Monday - Thursday
Friday 12/6 - 9a-5p
Saturday 12/7 - 9a-5p
Sunday 12/8 - 9a-5p
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
THE COLD AIR IS BACK! - UPDATED
YES! Snowmaking temps have returned allowing us to re-start our snowguns. The cold air is going to hang around through the weekend, allowing us to open for skiing and riding on Saturday and Sunday. The weather forecast is so good, we plan to start working on The Highlands in the next few days. Keep checking this report for snowmaking and slope opening updates.
UPDATE PICTURE - taken Thanksgiving Day at 8am WOW!
What to expect Saturday and Sunday:
Skiing and riding on 5 trails - 9am-5pm (DAY SESSIONS ONLY)
Upper and Lower Dobie, Eagles Swoop, both Cross Trails and build a mini Terrain Park on skiers left of Upper Dobie.
What to expect for the following weekend:
We will re-open on Friday Dec 6th and operate day sessions only through the weekend.
Open trails will increase - we plan to add Upper Cliffhanger, Hydraulic, Lower Turkey, Sunrise, Tequila, The Plunge and more Terrain Park features. SNOWPOWER provides us with the opportunity to spread out and lay down snow fast!
Normal operating hours will begin on Friday December 13th.
UPDATE PICTURE - taken Thanksgiving Day at 8am WOW!
What to expect Saturday and Sunday:
Skiing and riding on 5 trails - 9am-5pm (DAY SESSIONS ONLY)
Upper and Lower Dobie, Eagles Swoop, both Cross Trails and build a mini Terrain Park on skiers left of Upper Dobie.
What to expect for the following weekend:
We will re-open on Friday Dec 6th and operate day sessions only through the weekend.
Open trails will increase - we plan to add Upper Cliffhanger, Hydraulic, Lower Turkey, Sunrise, Tequila, The Plunge and more Terrain Park features. SNOWPOWER provides us with the opportunity to spread out and lay down snow fast!
Normal operating hours will begin on Friday December 13th.
Monday, November 25, 2013
16 DEGREES AT 7AM!
MAKING SNOW, MAKING SNOW!
WE HAVE PUMPED MORE THAN 8 MILLION GALLONS THROUGH OUR SNOWMAKING SYSTEM, COVERING EAGLES SWOOP, UPPER AND LOWER DOBIE, BOTH CROSS TRAILS AND THE PLUNGE.
OUR FOCUS REMAINS THE SAME - SKI AND RIDE ON SATURDAY 11/30! KEEP CHECKING THIS REPORT FOR UPDATES ON OUR SNOWMAKING PROGRESS AND OPENING INFORMATION.
Pictures from this morning:
WE HAVE PUMPED MORE THAN 8 MILLION GALLONS THROUGH OUR SNOWMAKING SYSTEM, COVERING EAGLES SWOOP, UPPER AND LOWER DOBIE, BOTH CROSS TRAILS AND THE PLUNGE.
OUR FOCUS REMAINS THE SAME - SKI AND RIDE ON SATURDAY 11/30! KEEP CHECKING THIS REPORT FOR UPDATES ON OUR SNOWMAKING PROGRESS AND OPENING INFORMATION.
Pictures from this morning:
Sunday, November 24, 2013
6 DEGREES AT 7AM.....
HOLY LONG UNDERWEAR BATMAN, IT IS COLD UP HERE! 6 degrees and 20 MPH winds makes for a refreshing outdoor experience. This is a November like no other.
We are making snow like crazy in a quest to open the ski area on Saturday 11/30. Keep checking this report for updates.
Get your gear out of the attic and make plans to visit soon!
We are making snow like crazy in a quest to open the ski area on Saturday 11/30. Keep checking this report for updates.
Get your gear out of the attic and make plans to visit soon!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
SNOWMAKING BEGINS THIS WEEKEND!
The snowmaking 101 piece focused on having the right weather conditions to support early season snowmaking. Making snow and watching it melt is NO fun.
Today's National Weather Service 6-10 day and 8-14 day forecasts are GORGEOUS, with a delightful deep blue almost purple highlight over our area... We like these forecasts...
We plan to stat making snow overnight Saturday with a goal of sliding on something Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving Weekend. Exactly what we can get open depends on the extent of the cold and the amount of snowmaking time... Our initial opening plan includes - Dobie, Eagles Swoop and both cross trails. Cross your fingers and toes for enough snowmaking hours to get this done.
Today's National Weather Service 6-10 day and 8-14 day forecasts are GORGEOUS, with a delightful deep blue almost purple highlight over our area... We like these forecasts...
We plan to stat making snow overnight Saturday with a goal of sliding on something Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving Weekend. Exactly what we can get open depends on the extent of the cold and the amount of snowmaking time... Our initial opening plan includes - Dobie, Eagles Swoop and both cross trails. Cross your fingers and toes for enough snowmaking hours to get this done.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
SNOWMAKING 102 - TECHNOLOGY
In the ski biz, snow is money and no snow is no money. For snow lovers, snow is fun and no snow is NO FUN!
To protect what we love to do, investing in and maintaining our snowmaking system is extremely important. While we have always promoted our snowmaking capabilities, last years $6 million dollar investment in snowguns, water storage, increased pumping, pipeline and water cooling took our great system to a whole new level.
Like everything else in our lives, technological advancements change the way we live and work. Snowmaking advancements can provide huge increases in snowmaking efficiency and snow production. Keeping up with these advancements is what sets Wintergreen apart from our competition. As a result, we have one of the best snowmaking systems in North America!
Automation -
What is automation? Using technology to keep track of and continually adjust snowgun output automatically. Why is this important? QUALITY AND PRODUCTION! As weather conditions change (temp and humidity), so does the quality and quantity of snow being produced. If the temp drops and a gun is not adjusted, the snow quality is too dry and the production is diminished. If the temp goes up and a gun is not adjusted, the snow turns into wet snow or rain and the surface quality suffers dramatically.
Old school snowmaking requires an army of snowmakers checking the quality of the snow that each gun is producing. This process is SLOW and can produce a wide variety of surface snow conditions. Computer Automation monitors and adjusts the snow production of every gun constantly. The result = the best quality snow and a lot more of it!
Guns -
Not every gun is created equal...some guns are much better than others. Wintergreen continues to invest heavily in our snowgun arsenal, recognizing the need to have a blend of gun types. Why? Because individual gun performance can change dramatically depending on the operating scenario. Example - In most cases, guns designed to operate well at marginal snowmaking conditions, perform less well when it is extremely cold. Guns that produce enormous amounts of snow when it is extremely cold, often make only NOISE when snowmaking temperatures warm up. The variability of Wintergreen's weather requires a combination of marginal and cold weather snowmaking guns, with more emphasis on marginal snowmaking performance.
Water Storage -
Having a good supply of water is critical. In addition to 100 million gallons located at the foot of our mountain, Wintergreen maintains an additional five million up at the ski area. Five million gallons of on mountain storage allows us to double our snowmaking production during overnight hours and puts an additional 5 million gallons or more on the hill during extended cold periods. More water = more snow.
Water Cooling -
Trying to make snow with warm water is more difficult and more expensive than in a cold water scenario. Old Timers say for every degree you reduce the supply water temp, you gain an increase in production by as much as 10%. The importance water temp plays in the process is huge. Example - Wintergreen often starts the snowmaking season with a supply water temp of 55 degrees or more. December snow production can be painfully slow because warm water reduces snow production dramatically. Water cooling changes the game, allowing big increases in early season snowmaking production.
Wintergreen's water cooling plant is capable of cooling more than 3,000 gallons of water per minute, circulating water in our storage tank through a chiller "loop". Whenever the outside air temperatures is seven degrees colder than the stored water temp, the system comes on and begins cooling our tank. All of this is done automatically and results in an increase in snow produced. Example - In early November, the tank water temp was 58 degrees, the current temp is 44 degrees and falling.... Dropping our supply water temperature to 44 degrees (14 degrees less) increases snow production by an enormous amount. Remember - one degree drop in water supply temp produces an increase in snow by 10%... Water cooling is a game changer in snow production, especially early season!
Water Pumping -
WATER - snow guns need lots of it. The colder the outside temperature is, the more water each gun needs. The more water you can pump, the more snow you can make. Wintergreen discharges 8,000 gallons per minute into our snowmaking system at a discharge pressure of approximately 600 PSI.
Conclusion -
It really is all about the snow, and LOTS OF IT!
To protect what we love to do, investing in and maintaining our snowmaking system is extremely important. While we have always promoted our snowmaking capabilities, last years $6 million dollar investment in snowguns, water storage, increased pumping, pipeline and water cooling took our great system to a whole new level.
Like everything else in our lives, technological advancements change the way we live and work. Snowmaking advancements can provide huge increases in snowmaking efficiency and snow production. Keeping up with these advancements is what sets Wintergreen apart from our competition. As a result, we have one of the best snowmaking systems in North America!
Automation -
What is automation? Using technology to keep track of and continually adjust snowgun output automatically. Why is this important? QUALITY AND PRODUCTION! As weather conditions change (temp and humidity), so does the quality and quantity of snow being produced. If the temp drops and a gun is not adjusted, the snow quality is too dry and the production is diminished. If the temp goes up and a gun is not adjusted, the snow turns into wet snow or rain and the surface quality suffers dramatically.
Old school snowmaking requires an army of snowmakers checking the quality of the snow that each gun is producing. This process is SLOW and can produce a wide variety of surface snow conditions. Computer Automation monitors and adjusts the snow production of every gun constantly. The result = the best quality snow and a lot more of it!
Guns -
Not every gun is created equal...some guns are much better than others. Wintergreen continues to invest heavily in our snowgun arsenal, recognizing the need to have a blend of gun types. Why? Because individual gun performance can change dramatically depending on the operating scenario. Example - In most cases, guns designed to operate well at marginal snowmaking conditions, perform less well when it is extremely cold. Guns that produce enormous amounts of snow when it is extremely cold, often make only NOISE when snowmaking temperatures warm up. The variability of Wintergreen's weather requires a combination of marginal and cold weather snowmaking guns, with more emphasis on marginal snowmaking performance.
Water Storage -
Having a good supply of water is critical. In addition to 100 million gallons located at the foot of our mountain, Wintergreen maintains an additional five million up at the ski area. Five million gallons of on mountain storage allows us to double our snowmaking production during overnight hours and puts an additional 5 million gallons or more on the hill during extended cold periods. More water = more snow.
Water Cooling -
Wintergreen's water cooling plant is capable of cooling more than 3,000 gallons of water per minute, circulating water in our storage tank through a chiller "loop". Whenever the outside air temperatures is seven degrees colder than the stored water temp, the system comes on and begins cooling our tank. All of this is done automatically and results in an increase in snow produced. Example - In early November, the tank water temp was 58 degrees, the current temp is 44 degrees and falling.... Dropping our supply water temperature to 44 degrees (14 degrees less) increases snow production by an enormous amount. Remember - one degree drop in water supply temp produces an increase in snow by 10%... Water cooling is a game changer in snow production, especially early season!
Water Pumping -
WATER - snow guns need lots of it. The colder the outside temperature is, the more water each gun needs. The more water you can pump, the more snow you can make. Wintergreen discharges 8,000 gallons per minute into our snowmaking system at a discharge pressure of approximately 600 PSI.
Conclusion -
It really is all about the snow, and LOTS OF IT!
Thursday, November 7, 2013
SNOWMAKING 101 - WEATHER
Snow lovers,
Like our friends in the ski business, Wintergreen is busy getting ready for another great Winter. The season pass office is busy selling, HR is busy hiring, Ski Maintenance is finishing grooming tractor service and preparing lifts and the snowmakers are going full force on one last improvement project.... Opening is only a month away, this is an action packed time for all of us.
The number one question asked this time of year - When are you guys gonna start making snow???
The easy answer is when the weather cooperates. The better answer is a bit more complicated....
This series of updates will provide a more detailed explanation and highlight snowmaking improvements that make Wintergreen's SNOWPOWER so special. Over the next few weeks, be on the lookout for updates that provide an explanation of the different pieces in this snowmaking puzzle...
The first piece:
WEATHER
Snowmaking is an expensive process. The cost to run our system is approximately $800 per hour in electricity charges alone. Just electricity. November is a transition month where warm and cold air systems are battling it out to see who wins. This time of year, the weather can fluctuate wildly here at Wintergreen. A forecast issued today shows highs in the 60's on Sunday followed by the chance of snow on Wednesday. November can be crazy up and down...
Because temps in November fluctuate so wildly, making snow early can prove to be a HUGE waste of money and resources. Example - 3 cold nights with daytime highs in the low 40's. We run 10 hrs per night over 3 days. 30 run hours = $24,000 in electrical expense. The cold shot is followed by normal early November warmth (50's during the day and high 30's at night) that lasts 5-6 days. At the end of the cold period we have produced a couple inches of beautiful new snow. By the middle of the normal warm period, we have no snow left over. $24,000 in electricity expense + labor + equipment wear and tear +++. When it all melts away, one might argue it was not a good idea.....A waste of money and our natural resources.
In the end, more consistent cold temperatures is the key decided when to start making snow. With this in mind, we most often wait until late November or the first of December to make snow. Weather forecasters are predicting a colder than normal Winter with the transition to Winter coming late in the Month. All good news for us, waiting to make snow until late November or even early December can still provide for an incredible season.
Look for another update early next week. Piece two will be about TECHNOLOGY!
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