Snowmaking Commences

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine (November 7, 2025) – Winter has officially arrived at Sugarloaf. With natural snow blanketing the mountain this week and temperatures dipping into the ideal range for snowmaking, Sugarloaf’s Mountain Operations team officially fired up the snowguns to kick off preparations for the resort’s 75th winter season, targeting Friday, November 21 for Opening Day.

This year’s snowmaking plan focuses on the center of the mountain first—including Spillway, Lower Winters Way, Narrow Gauge, and Comp Hill—before shifting efforts to Tote Road. This targeted approach maximizes efficiency by utilizing both the primary and secondary water systems for optimal early-season coverage.

At peak output, the team had 178 snowguns online, moving 5,900 gallons per minute (GPM) of water while using only 12,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air from two compressors — an efficient early-season start that sets the stage for a strong opening stretch.

“We’re in a great position heading into mid-November,” said Brent Larson, Vice President of Mountain Operations. “The temperatures have lined up perfectly, the team is dialed in, and we’ve already seen great production across several key trails. The river held up well, and the rain this weekend will actually help water levels — so our plan is to start back up Monday afternoon and, hopefully, run continuously through the week.”

The Sugarloaf snowmaking crew plans to continue operations as long as conditions allow, building toward the anticipated Opening Day on Friday, November 21, when the resort will officially kick off its milestone 75th anniversary winter season.