Snow Trails announced Friday that opening day for the resort will be this Saturday, November 30 at 12:00 noon. Snow making began for the 2013-2014 season several days ago and has produced conditions that allow for an early season opening, with the resort’s well pumps going full-speed.
Interested winter sports junkies can follow snow conditions on the Snow Trails website.
When asked last week about when the resort might open, company representative Nate Wolleson stated, “We know you want to be out on the slopes skiing and snowboarding as early as possible this season, and we want to be there right along with you. Snow Trails wants to provide the best conditions, while also opening just as soon as all factors align.”
Snow junkies all over Ohio will be happy that everything came together in what is a pretty rare occurrence. This will be just the third time Snow Trails has opened for Thanksgiving weekend, in the past 52 seasons.
Snowmaking, as it turns out, is a fairly complicated process.
The well pumps supply a cooling tower where water will work its way in and through the pump house’s four 300 HP electric vertical turbine pumps, and out to each snow gun. The end product is what Snow Trails describes as the best quality of snow.
The resort makes decisions about snow making based on three primary factors. First, Snow Trails decides whether or not conditions can be sustained early season. Two, they will look for forecasted low temps, humidity, and wind. Finally, the company makes an educated judgment call based on their past experience with snow making, especially in the early season.
