Operators are Getting Ready to Make Snow at Blue Mountain

It will look like the ski season has started early at Blue Mountain Resort this Tuesday as the Snow Making team gets ready for the season. “We will be running our snowmaking system close to capacity this week to get ready for the upcoming season,” says Steve Spiessman, Director of Slope and Grounds Operations and resident snow whisperer at Blue. “It is still a little early to actually be making snow on the hill but testing all the snow guns will make it look very wintery on the mountain.”

According to Spiessman, this run-through is an important step in starting the season as early as possible. “We always test the system in advance so that we can make any repairs or adjustments,” notes Spiessman. A lot of snowmaking is at the mercy of the elements and ideal snowmaking conditions are a bit more complicated than a thermometer reading of zero degrees or colder.
“This year, we are running the system at near capacity and will be testing snow guns, piping systems, air compressors, water pumps, and automation software. By running this equipment now we will be able to improve our pre-season efficiency and take advantage of even the shortest snowmaking windows leading up to opening day,” Spiessman says.

Blue Mountain has Canada’s largest snowmaking system and ranks among the most powerful in North America. Over the past several years, Blue has made significant investments in its capabilities including energy efficient tower guns that operate at higher temperatures. “Of particular note is how much more efficient we are with our automation system,” says Spiessman. “We used to have to wait for 1-3 days of cold weather to make snow. Now we can take advantage of ideal snow making conditions in windows as short as 4 hours.”


The snowmaking system will be running as early as 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon but as always, Mother Nature gets the last say as to when the hills open for the season. Guests who want to be ready for ski season as soon as possible, can take advantage of the early bird rates on season passes by visiting www.bluemountain.ca or calling 1-800-445-0231 by November 1.