Upgrades in snowmaking paired with ideal temperatures have propelled Vermont ski resorts into a promising early season.
After starting the season with the most ski areas open in the country for Thanksgiving, Vermont’s snow guns have launched the resorts into December with nearly 20 percent open terrain for skiers and riders, the strongest opening since the epic 2008-2009 season, Ski Vermont reported.
“We can certainly attribute a successful early season to our expansive 80 percent statewide snowmaking coverage,” said Ski Vermont President Parker Riehle. “The resorts’ investments in state-of-the-art, highly efficient snowmaking combined with early season snowfall have given us the boost we need to fulfill the pent up demand of skiers and riders.”
The National Weather Service estimated roughly 12 percent of the Northeast was covered by snow last week, compared to just 0.5 percent a year earlier, 45 percent in 2010 and 86 percent during the same week in December 2009.
During the 2009-10 ski season, 88 percent of resorts belonging to the National Ski Areas Association were using snowmaking equipment to supplement natural snow cover, according to the association. The association reported that while snowmaking keeps resorts in business over low-precipitation winters, it cost its member resorts $500,000 annually on average and consumed up to 50 percent of resort energy costs.
