Massachusetts Ski Area Making Snow In August
You read that headline correctly folks. Ski Ward Ski Area in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts is actively making snow thanks to a new all-weather snowmaking system from Latitude 90.
The machine uses a shipping container to make snow inside at below-freezing temperatures. The snow is them pumped outside. Latitude 90s can make snow when outdoor temperatures are below 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Check out the machine in action below:
Ski Ward is among only a few ski areas in North America to own a Latitude 90 all-weather snowmaking machine. Spring Mountain Adventures (PA), and Kelly Canyon (ID) are notable adopters of the devices.
Latitude 90 claims that their L60 product, the one that's used by Ski Ward, can pump out 156 cubic yards of snow every 24 hours.
"A real power trip. The L60’s production capacity is pretty eye-popping: 120 cubic meters (156 cubic yards) every 24 hours. That’s 2 x 30 tons of automatic snow production with a total water consumption of 42 L/min. (11 US/gal). This unit has two outlets that can each to blow snow up to 100 m (328 ft). Fully automatic and remotely controlled."
Check out what Ski Ward was able to produce in their first round of summer snowmaking:
Not too shabby for the first week of August, eh?
Ski Ward has yet to announce an opening day, but their season typically begins in late-November or early-December, conditions permitting.
The current Latitude 90 machines don't make enough snow to completely transform a resort's snowmaking capabilities, but there is value in making snow on demand even in above freezing temperatures.
These devices certainly come in hand for patching up thin spots throughout the season, and to keep high traffic areas like bunny slopes and tubing hills covered no matter how warm it gets throughout the winter.
Their impact can especially be felt at small ski areas with low annual snowfall totals.
Will more ski areas adopt this technology? We'll have to wait and see.
Ski Ward Ski Area Stats/Info:
Vertical: 220 ft.
Skiable Terrain: 45 ac.
Average Snowfall: N/A
Lifts: 4
Trails: 9
Snowmaking: YES
Night Skiing: YES
Mega-Pass: NO
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