Opening Day: Thank a snowmaker

Big Sky opens behind a 272-hour, 34-million-gallon effort

By Jack Reaney ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Thanks to a multi-year investment in snowmaking infrastructure and tireless work, turkey isn’t the only thing being carved this week.

Big Sky Resort opened this morning for its 50th winter season, a cause for smiles from skiers and riders of all ages and abilities as they carved into Mr. K, Tippy’s Tumble, Pacifier and Ambush. Although the menu is somewhat limited, the resort’s ability to open four trails is a testament to its snowmaking push during an otherwise dry and temperate fall.

Adam West, director of mountain operations, spoke with Explore Big Sky after his opening runs. So far, he’s pleased to see hootin’ and hollerin’ from skiers and riders spread around the multiple groomed runs and small terrain park—even first-time skiers on the magic carpet.

“We’re excited. Ball is rollin’ now, can’t stop the show,” West said. But this November, the ball didn’t roll itself.

West said Big Sky Resort doubled down and began making serious investments in snowmaking a few years ago. They’ve added mid-mountain booster stations to bring water higher up the hill, installed nine miles of pipe and purchased more than 100 high efficiency snow guns.

All of those improvements put the resort in a good position to capitalize on cold temperatures. A mid-October cold snap kept temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit above Big Sky Resort’s 7,500-foot base.

“We got out like 20 million gallons of water, which we simply could not have done just a couple years ago,” West said.

Compared to some other resorts in the mountain West, Big Sky’s climate is typically cold enough to begin snowmaking in October, West said. The system upgrades revolved around Big Sky’s weather pattern, with the ultimate goal of meeting deadlines: this year, they rose to the occasion and opened on schedule.

West explained that although the manmade snow doesn’t quite feel natural, “it’s real close” thanks to high-tech snow guns and the resort’s deliberate strategy to prioritize making snow in temperatures as cold as possible.

A team of experts

According to PR Manager Stacie Mesuda, Big Sky Resort began its season with the third-most open terrain in the country. West said the snowmaking crew is now entering phase three.

A recently installed water line will allow snowmaking on Lone Wolf—beneath the Explorer Chair—and that trail should be open by early next week, West said.

Hopefully tonight, he added, snowmaking will begin on Elk Park Ridge. The Swifty terrain park is another priority.

“So we’ll kind of be spread out on all sides of the mountain here, and we’ll be doing stuff at Moonlight and over at Spanish Peaks as well. But the core of Big Sky will be Elk Park Ridge, Lone Wolf and the terrain park,” West summarized.

He commended Big Sky Resort’s snowmaking department: “they’re experts.”

Some bring years of experience on Big Sky’s system, others are enthusiastic young contributors pitching in from other departments—instructors, lifties, park crew. West gave credit to Snowmaking Manager Cody Cavanaugh for leading the cold, dark charge.

“All of these folks, they work so hard. I really can’t state that enough,” West said. “I mean, these guys are working in single digits or below [zero] temperatures, so they’re working 12-hour shifts… a standard work week for these guys is 48 hours.”

There’s two daily shifts: 12 a.m. to 12 p.m., or 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., West explained. It’s a grind between dragging hundreds of feet of hoses, chiseling and shoveling ice.

“We all have them to thank for skiing,” West said. “… This year is one where [snowmaking] really shines, and you see the work that team does and how important it is.”