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No snow? No problem for ski areas |
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Friday, December 30, 2011 09:29 |
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Summit Daily News file photo
By JANICE KURBJUN, SUMMIT DAILY NEWS
With only slight snowfall in the near-term forecast and with the long-range snow forecast ambiguous at best, ski areas still aren't worried; they say their snowmaking is good to go.
On the flip side, long-time Summit County water commissioner Scott Hummer, who now works with the Colorado Water Trust, said there's only so much water, and with additional snowmaking pressures like building terrain parks, managing water consumption is a balancing act. That balancing act only gets more tenuous in dry seasons.
The typical snowmaking season is mid- to late-September through Christmas or New Year's Day. Hummer remembers the season that prompted its creation — Breckenridge closed in January and February 1978 due to lack of snow. The next year, preliminary technology was in place at large resorts in Colorado. Over the years, it has evolved from guaranteeing a trail base throughout the season to building halfpipes and large jumps for terrain parks. It has also evolved in efficiency.
Hummer said making snow for various attractions is all fine and good, until the early-season dry spell lasts. And until one considers that the snow comes from water which, in the mountain West, is highly limited.
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