Ah sprinter! Not quite winter, but not quite spring just yet! It’s a tricky time for our grooming team as we’ve been getting a mix of all kinds of weather here lately. With warmer temperatures during the day and freezing temperatures at night, we need to adapt our grooming plan to always ensure we provide the best ski conditions. Our technique: work around the sun! The sun rises over the North side by the Superieur trail, then heads to the Soleil side and sets across from the Nansen trail on the South side. When skiing during these transition periods, you’ll want to follow this path throughout the day to get the softest spring conditions.
With the mercury rising drastically as soon as the sun starts shining, we work with the path of the sun to groom appropriately. Because the warmer days and occasional light rain saturate the snow with water, trails become very firm when groomed during the colder nights. So by grooming in the same direction as the sun takes to warm up the slopes, the snow gets softer faster. As the day progresses, the hard-packed surface becomes that nice granular spring snow we all know and love. Depending on the drop of temperatures at night, some trails may be too icy and dangerous to open right when the lifts open. In these cases, they will stay closed until they warm up enough to be safe.
With fluctuating temperatures and varying weather conditions, our approach to grooming is crucial in maintaining optimal ski conditions. By strategically grooming in the direction of the sun’s path, we can ensure that the snow softens evenly throughout the day. It’s a delicate balance, but by working with nature, we can continue to offer exceptional skiing experiences for all our guests.
We hope to see you on the slopes and terraces soon!
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