Pressure testing and polishing the gem continues

With less than five weeks until snowmaking is scheduled to begin for the 2009-10 season, crews are busy pressure testing the World’s Most Extensive Snowmaking System, checking for leaks and blowouts that suck energy and limit snow production.

Nothing is worse than a snowmaking blowout, so pressure checks play a key role in optimizing overall system efficiency and ensuring that all the water and air going into the system comes out as snow on the other end. Mobile compressors are being moved around the mountain area as pressure checks continue for the next couple of weeks. This photo here was shot Tuesday at the bottom of Superstar.

Our new Techno Alpin M-18 fan guns will be moved up on the hill in the next few weeks. Concrete foundations are scheduled to be poured late next week and after a curing period, the towers and guns will be moved into place around mid-October. In the meantime, crews will be working on power and water lines to the new guns.

Mowing operations continue on the vast majority of trails. All the upper mountain trails have been mowed and trimmed back and crews are working on the lower slopes over the next few days. We have also re-graded the kids learn to ski/ride area at the base of Ramshead for improved access this winter. We’ve also completed lift painting for the summer, including the Superstar Express towers.

System checks for lifts are also on-going. Tuesday morning the Ramshead Express was put through a series of tests, including running at full speed!