Skiing during snow-making: hate it or don't mind?

[legalskier]

Now that the snow guns are going full blast all over the N.E., most of us will have to ski/ride around/under/next to snow guns. I suppose they are a necessary evil, but to me they're still a pain- taking a shot in the face from a snow gun rates right up there with skiing in the rain...or when it creates the illusion that there's a nice base, so you ski over it only to hear stones shredding your bases. Then again, without snow-making, we'd all be sitting around at home. Also, some say that heavy snow-making damages the environment: "Researcher preaches snow-making in moderation" (http://www.canada.com/topics/news/n...=fa68ff58-3c4a-4453-ad3a-389552c0b73d&k=25858).

So you could say I'm "conflicted." How about you- are you pro or con? Any good/bad sno-making stories?

Surface fire hose gun- ugh!

 

[deadheadskier]

early season I hate it. temps are higher, water percentage in the mix is higher and skiing through them turns you into a glazed donut.

Super cold days like today? love it. bumps tend to form pretty quick and if you're lucky, some nice whales to enjoy as well.

 

[SkiDork]

I hate it

 

[wa-loaf]

Necessary evil.

 

[bvibert]

Not such a big fan when the product is on the wet side, mostly because the snow tends to be sticky. I don't really mind though. It's better than not skiing at all. FWIW I also like skiing in the rain though...

 

[Cornhead]

I guess the only time it bothers me is when they're constantly icing up my goggles. Or when they aim the guns at the lifts. I am a big fan, pun intended, of the new fan guns. I hate the jet engine roar of the old style guns. I think the new guns put out better product also.

I was at Hunter Monday, all you had to do was look at the trails they haven't blown on to see just how dire things could be.

 

[Vortex]

early season, kind of a grin and live with it casue thats how you get open. Now and mid season means expansion and re surfacing and I follow the guns.

 

[Smellytele]

early season I hate it. temps are higher, water percentage in the mix is higher and skiing through them turns you into a glazed donut.

Super cold days like today? love it. bumps tend to form pretty quick and if you're lucky, some nice whales to enjoy as well.

+1

 

[BenedictGomez]

Used to happen to me all the time growing up skiing the Poconos, and I hated it.

Now I pretty much only ski Vermont and the Catskills and it rarely ever happens to me as I usually dont start the season until conditions are decent.

 

[Glenn]

I don't enjoy it...but when the entire area within view is brown, it's something you have to deal with.

I find the fan guns aren't as bad as the air/water guns. They're much quieter, and that's a bonus.

 

[4aprice]

For the first time in my time there Camelback was letting us ski Rodo with the fan guns going over the holidays. The snow was certainly the best which kept me going back for more but I'm up in the air as to the enjoyment factor. Remember back in my Killington days skiing the top of Superstar with the guns blowing and huge bumps, that was pretty fun. Earlier this season I skied K and they were blowing on the connector between Snowden and Rams Head in marginal conditions and putting out a wet product that almost brought you to a stop, that was not fun.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[MarkC]

It depends on the type of snow guns I am skiing under. Old High energy internal mix guns are no fun to ski under. They are loud and generally very wet. Some of the new technology air water and fan guns at the right temperatures can produce some nice fluffy powder.

 

[MarkC]

For the first time in my time there Camelback was letting us ski Rodo with the fan guns going over the holidays. The snow was certainly the best which kept me going back for more but I'm up in the air as to the enjoyment factor. Remember back in my Killington days skiing the top of Superstar with the guns blowing and huge bumps, that was pretty fun. Earlier this season I skied K and they were blowing on the connector between Snowden and Rams Head in marginal conditions and putting out a wet product that almost brought you to a stop, that was not fun.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

I was at K the first Saturday of December and could not believe that they did not shut those guns off. All they were doing was blowing a wet sloppy mess. The rest of the season there will be nothing but ice in that spot.

 

[gmcunni]

hate skiing thru it. hate being on a charilft riding thru it worse.

would rather ski thru it than sit home doing nothing.

 

[mriceyman]

the guns on whiteface during the holidays made some great bumps by the afternoon. It does suck while on chairlift getting blasted by pebbles at 9* lol

 

[Nick]

I'd rather not ski through it but right now i'd rather have it going than not. we need the snow, any way we can get it!

 

[drjeff]

Don't mind it. Even when wet super glue base snow is being made, since in the long run its all for the good. Goggles, neck gaitor and some good water/wind resistant outerlayers are mandatory though

 

[Cheese]

As others have stated, it depends on what precipitation actually strikes me while I'm skiing under the guns. If it doesn't ice me up, I find it a welcome change to the conditions.

I'm actually more upset when areas don't allow me the opportunity to ski under them if I wish. I'm in favor of the "Ski at Own Risk" or "Snow Making In Progress" signs as apposed to roping off a trail. Especially after they shut the guns off. Nothing bugs me more than to see a closed trail with whales knowing it will be opened as flat groomed corduroy. It'll be flat groomed corduroy for the rest of the season. Why not give those of us who like something different one or two days to play?

 

[MV Frank]

if only more ski resorts could afford weather modification:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_seeding

vail resorts do it...breckenridge, keystone, etc

 

[thinnmann]

Belleayre last week. Training under the guns, the ski racerats had fun....