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The east coast of the US has long used extensive snowmaking capacity to keep slopes open. Most resorts in the east have plenty of cold air, but natural snow is
by JCM9 4y ago
The east coast of the US has long used extensive snowmaking capacity to keep slopes open. Most resorts in the east have plenty of cold air, but natural snow is iffy at best for long periods. It’s now common for resorts in the east to have 100% (or close to it) of the mountain equipped with snow guns. It’s not fluffy powder but creates a perfectly acceptable surface.
However if the problem these Swiss resorts are having is that it’s just consistently too warm them this is unfortunately probably the beginning of the end for them. Flying snow in via helicopters strikes me as trying to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic.
- scythe 4y agoRecently, ski resorts around Cleveland have been closed due to warm conditions as well: https://www.alpinevalleyohio.com/ https://www.alpinevalleyohio.com/ The Great Lakes, except Superior, are nearly ice-free right now. In January! It's not looking good.
- teeray 4y agoNatural snow is more of an “icing on the cake” in the northeast. If you don’t make snow, you might be okay eventually, but you’ll likely miss out on some early major holiday income periods (Christmas week, MLK weekend). Snowmaking is an arms race in that those ski areas that did make snow will take your customers for those times.