Peak Resorts is spending more money than they anticipated this season. If you ski or ride there regularly, you are probably aware just looking around that Peak Resorts has spent more money the past couple seasons improving the place than previous owner ever did. Base lodge improvements, new ski patrol building, removing summit gondola building eyesore and snowmaking improvements that will ultimately pay off over the long run. Lift operations have been on point this year too. What do they call it in the sports world, a transition building season?
Info below was posted on their website recently: http://skiwildcat.com/whats-happening.html?id=5509
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Notes From The Summit GM Blog - Wildcat Snowmaking Update (1/2/2014)
For those of you who have been “following” my blogs, I started out talking a lot about snowmaking, followed by a few holiday messages and now it’s time for another snowmaking update!
I refer to the Wildcat snowmaking system as “the little system that can” and as we now approach the halfway point of our snowmaking season I’d like to share with you a few of the “Wins” and “Losses” that that the Wildcat snowmakers have experienced.
Wins!:
1. Wildcat’s snowmaking system had a major overhaul this past summer ($600k +) and this is only the “tip of the iceberg”! This is a 2 part win: (Part 1) Nine out of ten Wildcat pumps were rebuilt this season. It is safe to say that we have doubled the capacity of the pumps we are running! (Part 2) Six new after cooled air compressors. Wildcat snowmaking now has the ability to make snow earlier in the season as well as manage our compressed air more efficiently.
2. Wildcat snowmakers have learned A LOT about the old system we run. We have, for the first time in, been successful in making snow from top to bottom simultaneously. Before this, we either made snow from the Summit to Cat Track or from Cat Track to the Base. This is 100% due to us rebuilding our pumps!
3. We are figuring out what energy efficient, high output snow guns work at Wildcat. As you ski the trails of Wildcat this season you will notice some “weird” looking snow guns scattered about. We have the 3 best snow gun manufactures in the world competing to make the best snow at the lowest cost here at Wildcat this season. HKD, Techno Alpin and Snow Logic have invested more than $200,000 in snow guns and man power to this test. We are half way through and have seen amazing results. We can make twice as much high-quality snow at 10% the operating cost and have less of a carbon footprint in the White Mountain Forest.
Losses:
1. We are at half snowmaking capacity above the Cat Track trail. Unfortunately, five weeks ago one of the two pumps that boosts water to the summit failed. With two pumps running we can move 1,200 gallons per minute (gpm) and run 32+/- guns on any of our upper mountain trails. As if losing a pump isn’t bad enough, this also limits us to what temperatures we can make snow at the summit. Here’s why… with only one pump running we can only move 600 gpm. At this flow, the water isn’t moving nearly as quickly through the pipe as it would with higher flow. Wildcat’s water supply starts off very cold (34 degrees) and gets colder as it moves through aboveground pipes on the hill. If that water cools too much it creates a very dangerous situation. We have tested the limits of our system and with one pump, we can only make snow between 10 and 25 degrees on the upper mountain. Below 10 degrees the water coming out of the end of the pipe is actually below freezing! We continue to look for a replacement pump but with lead times 16-18 weeks out on a fix, we feel handcuffed!
2. Upper Lynx Trail. Unfortunately we are going to have to let Mother Nature do the snowmaking on the Upper Lynx trail this season. When the above booster pump failed, it turns out that was only half the issue. Because our snowmaking water is super cold, it is imperative that we keep that water moving at a high rate of speed, any change in the water’s flow can cause a flash freeze. In an effort to get the upper mountain open early, we decided to make snow on Upper Lynx in some extremely cold early November temperatures. As we were moving water through the upper lynx line at -8 degrees with 30 MPH wind blowing on above ground water pipes and moving water at half capacity…this was the perfect storm for the Upper Lynx snowmaking line to flash-freeze solid.
3. Mother Nature. Mother Nature is kind enough to deliver Wildcat over 200 inches of snow annually and the last thing we intend to do is slight her in any way possible! That said, everything is relative. Last week when Attitash was forced to spend two days de-icing after a storm that closed the resort on December 22 and 23, Wildcat Mountain saw over 50 degree temperatures and torrential rain (at the summit). We refer to this as an inversion in the temps.
A wise man (who also doubles as my boss) once told me, “Brian, figuring out the best way to succeed with making snow at Wildcat is a marathon, not a sprint”. As stressful as snowmaking can often be this time of year, it is important to remember this. When Peak Resorts acquired Wildcat Mountain, they saw potential, huge potential; but at the same time a very old and dilapidated snowmaking system. With some wins under our belt and many lessons learned the Wildcat snowmaking system will improve and will continue, to the best of its ability, to make the best snow it can for our guests.
Over the past 14 years I have had the fortunate opportunity to work in the ski industry. I have experienced many facets of mountain operations, both good and bad! I have been with Peak Resorts for the past three and a half years and can assure you that our commitment to snowmaking is strong, in fact the strongest I have ever seen. We are constantly looking to improve our system and a major part of that is understanding our weaknesses. We have been challenged this season, but with the continued hard work of our snowmakers and the support of Peak Resorts we look forward to improving and being able to provide a great product, for all abilities, all season long.
Is there more improvements coming…Yes there are!
- Phase 2 (Summer 2014) of the snowmaking overhaul will include:
- Replacing the mid-station pump house, to avoid any more freezing issues
- Installation of our new snow guns
- Continued replacement of old pipe
I’d like to thank our guests and pass holders for understanding the “marathon” that the Wildcat snowmakers are running and we all look forward to winning the race! Stay tuned - BH
Brian Heon, General Manager, Wildcat Mountain
Info below was posted on their website recently: http://skiwildcat.com/whats-happening.html?id=5509
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Notes From The Summit GM Blog - Wildcat Snowmaking Update (1/2/2014)
For those of you who have been “following” my blogs, I started out talking a lot about snowmaking, followed by a few holiday messages and now it’s time for another snowmaking update!
I refer to the Wildcat snowmaking system as “the little system that can” and as we now approach the halfway point of our snowmaking season I’d like to share with you a few of the “Wins” and “Losses” that that the Wildcat snowmakers have experienced.
Wins!:
1. Wildcat’s snowmaking system had a major overhaul this past summer ($600k +) and this is only the “tip of the iceberg”! This is a 2 part win: (Part 1) Nine out of ten Wildcat pumps were rebuilt this season. It is safe to say that we have doubled the capacity of the pumps we are running! (Part 2) Six new after cooled air compressors. Wildcat snowmaking now has the ability to make snow earlier in the season as well as manage our compressed air more efficiently.
2. Wildcat snowmakers have learned A LOT about the old system we run. We have, for the first time in, been successful in making snow from top to bottom simultaneously. Before this, we either made snow from the Summit to Cat Track or from Cat Track to the Base. This is 100% due to us rebuilding our pumps!
3. We are figuring out what energy efficient, high output snow guns work at Wildcat. As you ski the trails of Wildcat this season you will notice some “weird” looking snow guns scattered about. We have the 3 best snow gun manufactures in the world competing to make the best snow at the lowest cost here at Wildcat this season. HKD, Techno Alpin and Snow Logic have invested more than $200,000 in snow guns and man power to this test. We are half way through and have seen amazing results. We can make twice as much high-quality snow at 10% the operating cost and have less of a carbon footprint in the White Mountain Forest.
Losses:
1. We are at half snowmaking capacity above the Cat Track trail. Unfortunately, five weeks ago one of the two pumps that boosts water to the summit failed. With two pumps running we can move 1,200 gallons per minute (gpm) and run 32+/- guns on any of our upper mountain trails. As if losing a pump isn’t bad enough, this also limits us to what temperatures we can make snow at the summit. Here’s why… with only one pump running we can only move 600 gpm. At this flow, the water isn’t moving nearly as quickly through the pipe as it would with higher flow. Wildcat’s water supply starts off very cold (34 degrees) and gets colder as it moves through aboveground pipes on the hill. If that water cools too much it creates a very dangerous situation. We have tested the limits of our system and with one pump, we can only make snow between 10 and 25 degrees on the upper mountain. Below 10 degrees the water coming out of the end of the pipe is actually below freezing! We continue to look for a replacement pump but with lead times 16-18 weeks out on a fix, we feel handcuffed!
2. Upper Lynx Trail. Unfortunately we are going to have to let Mother Nature do the snowmaking on the Upper Lynx trail this season. When the above booster pump failed, it turns out that was only half the issue. Because our snowmaking water is super cold, it is imperative that we keep that water moving at a high rate of speed, any change in the water’s flow can cause a flash freeze. In an effort to get the upper mountain open early, we decided to make snow on Upper Lynx in some extremely cold early November temperatures. As we were moving water through the upper lynx line at -8 degrees with 30 MPH wind blowing on above ground water pipes and moving water at half capacity…this was the perfect storm for the Upper Lynx snowmaking line to flash-freeze solid.
3. Mother Nature. Mother Nature is kind enough to deliver Wildcat over 200 inches of snow annually and the last thing we intend to do is slight her in any way possible! That said, everything is relative. Last week when Attitash was forced to spend two days de-icing after a storm that closed the resort on December 22 and 23, Wildcat Mountain saw over 50 degree temperatures and torrential rain (at the summit). We refer to this as an inversion in the temps.
A wise man (who also doubles as my boss) once told me, “Brian, figuring out the best way to succeed with making snow at Wildcat is a marathon, not a sprint”. As stressful as snowmaking can often be this time of year, it is important to remember this. When Peak Resorts acquired Wildcat Mountain, they saw potential, huge potential; but at the same time a very old and dilapidated snowmaking system. With some wins under our belt and many lessons learned the Wildcat snowmaking system will improve and will continue, to the best of its ability, to make the best snow it can for our guests.
Over the past 14 years I have had the fortunate opportunity to work in the ski industry. I have experienced many facets of mountain operations, both good and bad! I have been with Peak Resorts for the past three and a half years and can assure you that our commitment to snowmaking is strong, in fact the strongest I have ever seen. We are constantly looking to improve our system and a major part of that is understanding our weaknesses. We have been challenged this season, but with the continued hard work of our snowmakers and the support of Peak Resorts we look forward to improving and being able to provide a great product, for all abilities, all season long.
Is there more improvements coming…Yes there are!
- Phase 2 (Summer 2014) of the snowmaking overhaul will include:
- Replacing the mid-station pump house, to avoid any more freezing issues
- Installation of our new snow guns
- Continued replacement of old pipe
I’d like to thank our guests and pass holders for understanding the “marathon” that the Wildcat snowmakers are running and we all look forward to winning the race! Stay tuned - BH
Brian Heon, General Manager, Wildcat Mountain
