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Big snowmaking upgrade at Wildcat

Newpylong

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Yes, the midstation is only used in the summer - we used it every season after the old double came out. It's not used in the winter because the snow up there swallows up the mid station and there really is no business need. Half the time Palmer is closed in the winter, too much snow. Notice the extra support pylons on the towers.

Summer (the snowfields end at the midstation): http://www.mthood.com/images/mhssc/palmer snowfield August 21, 2007.JPG

Winter: http://www.mthood.com/images/mhssc/PALMER from bottom looking up March 7, 2007.JPG

Spring: http://www.mthood.com/images/mhssc/buried towers resized with graphic.jpg
 

deadheadskier

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Excellent. There's the answer to my question.

Nice to see the new guns for Avenger at Attitash. Hopefully they use them earlier in the season. IMO, that trail should be a top priority to get open for Christmas week. Lots of acreage to absorb skier traffic.
 

Gforce

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Dec 1, 2013
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I totally agree. Avenger is a screamer, nice to see the new snow making capability there. I remember the first day that trail opened last season a week before Xmas, Avenger was pure velvet. You can ski that trail all morning.
Excellent. There's the answer to my question.

Nice to see the new guns for Avenger at Attitash. Hopefully they use them earlier in the season. IMO, that trail should be a top priority to get open for Christmas week. Lots of acreage to absorb skier traffic.
 

canobie#1

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Jul 20, 2013
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Finally!!! New guns on Avenger! That's the best trail at the place, I hope it's up early this season.
 

SIKSKIER

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Nov 13, 2006
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Bedford and Franconia NH
Here is an update

What's happening @ Wildcat

Wildcat Puts Largest Snowmaking Upgrade In Ski Area History To Initial Test Making Snow Sunday Night, October 19


Wildcat Mountain has completed the largest snowmaking upgrade in its history installing over 10 miles of new snowmaking water and air pipe, acquiring 227 new high output/high efficiency snow guns and completing the construction of a new, state-of-the-art, mid-mountain, booster pump house. Over $2 million dollars has been invested to dramatically improve the snowmaking efficiency and output of Wildcat's snowmaking system.

During the 2013/14 season, Wildcat worked with some of the industry's leading snowmaking equipment manufacturers in what is believed to be the largest testing and demonstration project ever conducted at any mountain in the East. Following successful tests in a variety of weather conditions, delivery of new snow guns from HKD and Snow Logic have been arriving this summer and fall. In addition to the original 131 gun investment of almost one half a million dollars, Peak Resorts has recently announced an expansion of the project. An additional $330,000 was approved to acquire 96 more high efficiency units. The total investment in new guns now totals more than $800,000. Trails that will directly benefit from the snowmaking improvement project include Polecat, Lynx, Upper Catapult, Middle Wildcat, Wild Kitten, and Bobcat.

As part of the original project, a new $350,000 booster pump house building facility was constructed and completed, including the installation of new diesel motors, booster pumps, diesel filtration system, heat, electricity and 3,600 gallon fuel storage capacity. Excavation of a functioning work road to and the area around the top of Middle Lynx was required to accommodate demolition of the old pump house and allow access for cement trucks to build a new foundation complete with custom grated cement floor.

From the early planning stage, the goal of the project has been to modernize and improve how efficiently the snowmaking system operates, which was a factor when deciding which technology to purchase. "Today's snowmaking technology is so impressive and we estimate Wildcat will burn 50,000 gallons less diesel fuel annually as a result of the upgrade," said Peak Resorts' Northeast Project Manager, Brendan Ryan. "The completed project will ultimately lead to using less power and burning less fuel while producing more, high quality snow and the new pump house will ensure snowmaking reliability on the key upper mountain trails."
 

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