Sunday River is the best in
the biz when it comes to snowmaking, opening as early as October
– even the
first in the country for the 2010 season. Sunday River blazes their 1,600
guns making quality snow across all eight interconnected peaks, typically
starting on Locke Mountain for early fall skiing and riding, then moving on
until Jordan Bowl and Oz open by Christmas week.
Okemo
rivals Sunday River in the snow blowing department. The call their
snowmaking effect the Okemo Blizzard, and they point their snow guns at
achieving a high trail count by mid-December, often offering the most trails
open in the east by the Christmas New Years week.
Killington for decades was the
first to open in the East and last to close in May. Now the parent company
Powdr Corp has dialed down that dramatic snowmaking. But Killington’s
snowmaking is still mighty powerful and has the Beast of the East opening by
mid to late November with a variety of trails.
Loon Mountain in New Hampshire, owned
by Boyne with Sugarloaf and Sunday River, has over 600 tower guns and blows
serious snow on 97% of its terrain. Loon typically has the most ski acreage
open in NH because of its serious commitment to making snow on all three
peaks.
Sugarloaf
in northern Maine has bumped up their snowmaking systems since Boyne Resorts
bought the Kingfield resort in 2007. Boyne’s low energy guns have improved
The Loaf’s early season trail openings and snow quality throughout the
season. While Maine sister Sunday River opens first in the East, Sugarloaf
is now reputed to be the last resort skiing into late April or May.
Bretton Woods, New Hampshire's
largest ski resort has huge snowmaking power, and typically opens mid
November and skis through until April when they host Bodefest and Easter on
the slopes.
Best Snowmaking Resorts Out West
Sun Valley has likely
the most sophisticated snow making system in the world. Its completely
computerized automated and allows the Idaho ski resort to resurface
signature trails every night with a dusting of fresh talcum powder snow.
Solitude
in Utah actually guarantees early season snow and is often the first
resort in Utah to open in lean natural snow years – and typically well ahead
of Park City resorts The Canyons, Deer Valley and Park City Mountain.
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