Snowmaking Facts

[Pat Donnelly]

From MichiganSkier.com . . .

As the temperature begins to fall skiers think about snow. It won't be long before Michigan's resorts start cranking up snow guns to ready slopes for early season skiing. Did you know that 10 inches of natural snow, when packed, usually adds only one inch of snow to the ski slope's base while 10 inches of snowmaker snow adds seven inches of base. Snowmaker snow is more dense and durable. You can find more snowmaking facts on the MSIA's More News page at www.goskimichigan.com.

There's also a more technical explanation of snowmaking on the website of our friends in Midland, Snow Machines Incorporated. www.snowmakers.com/smi_facts.html

[mirror70]

Is it really 10:1? I thought one inch of rain was equal to 10" of snowfall? That would put the base at the same density as water, which would also mean it is more dense than ice.

[knoch]

They like to pack it hard here in michigan. I've always heard 10-1 just like he said, and the same 10-7 for the sticky stuff. With real snow i'd prefer that they leave it be, let us have the little fun we can get here. But the "man made" snow, yeah that sucks ungroomed.

[LeeW]

I'd like to post that I'm -VERY- proud to be a snowmaker of Vail! it's hard work, no doubt, but well worth it, knowing that I get to contribute to skiiable slope!

Kudos to you Pat!
Lee