Snowmaking Efforts Underway at Sugarloaf

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine (November 4, 2021) – With overnight temperatures in the twenties and a few inches of natural snow coating surfaces at higher elevations, Sugarloaf began making snow in preparation for the start of the 2021/22 winter season last night. Favorable conditions allowed the resort’s snowmaking team to turn on as many as 106 guns along the Tote Road Trail.  

While the resort hasn’t yet announced a definitive opening date, conditions permitting, the mountain typically opens for the season by Thanksgiving.   

“We'll keep the guns running as long as temperatures allow this week,” Crusher Wilkinson, Sugarloaf Vice President of Mountain Operations said. “And going forward, we'll be keeping a close watch on the forecast with plans to take advantage of any extended opportunity that we get to blow snow.”

Over the summer, Sugarloaf made substantial enhancements to much of resort’s snowmaking system, replacing miles of air and water lines and upgrading hydrants. In addition, Sugarloaf worked with Efficiency Maine to add several hundred new low-energy HKD R4 Impulse tower guns in various locations across the mountain.  

The new ultra-efficient guns produce snow with significantly less energy than older-style ground guns and are projected to save over 11,000 kWh per gun per year – an important step towards reaching the goal of a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030. 

For more information on snowmaking, conditions and resort updates, please visit www.sugarloaf.com/daily.