Snowmaking and Terrain Expansion Thread (2024-2025)

[Big Bob]

A couple of pictures from about 8AM

In response to the comment about setting up different types of guns, your first picture at the bottom shows ground guns along with the new fan guns. Are they K 3000?? This was done on North Ridge a few years back with low e and air hogs set up side by side, pick your weapon depending on the weather.

[newpylong1]

K3000.

[rogman]

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Edit: realized I wasn't sure which ones you were referring to, BB.

The ones directly in front of the fan guns are K3000s. I seem to recall a mix of them and Ratniks at the bottom along with the fan guns they brought in. Didn't get any pictures, though.

The ones on Preston's the are HKD Phazors. They have a very distinct profile as shown above. They have some whistles and bells that make them easier to operate. The way it was explained to me is you turn on the air and then dial up the water to 350psi. You can see the built in gauge just to the left of where the bottom hose goes in. Then set the lever above that to one of five positions, depending on conditions. It basically sets the ratio of air to water. It simplifies training and also speeds startup since the tuning to conditions is standardized and stable.

[snoloco]

Its 25 degrees at the peak. Why isn't the snowmaking back on? Seems like a missed opportunity.

[slatham]

Its 25 degrees at the peak. Why isn't the snowmaking back on? Seems like a missed opportunity.

It probably was when you wrote that, just uphill and out of cam range. Now you can see guns running.

As newpylong can explain, it’s takes time to get everything primed and guns on the hill running. It’s not a light switch.

[rogman]

24 Peak (4241')
28 Bear (3250')
31 K1 (2500')
Humidity 86% and falling
Either the wet bulb isn't there yet or they've decided they can't get open with the current conditions and forecast and have punted.
....
And from your words to Mtn Ops ears, they are back on.
Wish it covered the ground as quickly as it covered the camera.

[asher2789]

its interesting that the guns are running on north ridge but not superstar. also looks like they got a little bit of natural. its mixed precip at my place.

i wonder if this is the year they fail to get the conditions necessary for world cup... theyre running out of time to make FIS snow control... i dont envy upper management right now, they must really be stressing.

[asher2789]

Its 25 degrees at the peak. Why isn't the snowmaking back on? Seems like a missed opportunity.

It probably was when you wrote that, just uphill and out of cam range. Now you can see guns running.

As newpylong can explain, it’s takes time to get everything primed and guns on the hill running. It’s not a light switch.

isnt everything already primed from the last round of snowmaking? wouldnt the water and air lines stay at pressure when turned off? i thought the whole automation thing was to make it work like a light switch once hoses are connected and everything is up to pressure.

this is way outside my wheelhouse but i had a great convo with a snowmaker the other day who was nerding out about the automation system. i think i understood about half of what he said? hes somebody that loves his job though based on how excited he was to nerd out about it.

[skiadikt]

indeed just saw the snowmaker fire up the first guns on rime & reason few minutes ago. webcam already iced over. noaa at 3400' says temps hold steady during day dropping to 20 overnite with humidity also dropping. high tomorrow of 31 and dropping to 20 overnight before warming a bit daytime thurs but then another overnite window into friday. everyone take a deep breath ...

[rogman]

its interesting that the guns are running on north ridge but not superstar. also looks like they got a little bit of natural. its mixed precip at my place.

i wonder if this is the year they fail to get the conditions necessary for world cup... theyre running out of time to make FIS snow control... i dont envy upper management right now, they must really be stressing.

Still too warm at the bottom. They may be working their way down from the top. Hard to tell through the fog. Additionally, top of Skye is also a few hundred feet lower than top of North Ridge.

[LINYbob]

The Canyon quad was running too. Why would that be? Did they use it to get the snowmakers up to Northridge?

[Skid Mark]

Guns are back on bitches!

[Stormchaser]

From the snow report...

Our snowmaking team fired up the system this morning and plans to take full advantage of cold temps for as long as possible. We are currently making snow on Rime, Reason, Upper Great Northern, Upper East Fall and on Superstar from top to bottom. Our new high-efficiency guns are allowing us to maximize our air and water capacity to allow for great production. Be sure to check our webcams to check out the action on the hill.

Worse than a political ad. No guns going on Superstar, poor production everywhere. Snow reporter can't even look out the window? Geesh

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[Downdraft]

I’m surprised there are not more handicap spots for you all to park in at Killington. Man, you people are dumb on this site.

[newpylong1]

Some of you just need to sit this one out. It's going to be an extremely long winter if people continue to look for snowmaking when the wet bulb is over 26 degrees and whine about it.

They probably are just sand bagging it to piss people off on K-Zone. Then operations is giving the Snow Reporter wrong info out there so that all the Temple juniors inspecting the web cams get even more pissed off.