Skiers Await Cold Temperatures and Snow
CAMDEN, MAINE (December 18, 2015) – While some residents may not be looking forward to the cold that winter brings, skiers and ski area operators around New England are growing impatient for cooler weather to arrive. A series of cold nights will be required to cover the local Camden Snow Bowl with a sufficient blanket of snow to open. The Snow Bowl crew began making snow on the evening of December 16th but soon had to turn off the guns as clouds arrived and temperatures rose. Snow guns may fire up again over the next few days.
Temperature is not the only factor that affects snowmaking. Humidity levels are equally important. A term used in snowmaking is the “wet bulb” temperature, made up of the combined measures of temperature and humidity. If the wet bulb temperature is low enough for long enough, then enough snow can be made to last through upcoming warm spells. Optimally, the ground should also be frozen before snowmaking begins.
Another technical term related to snowmaking is the “lapse rate”, or the decrease in temperature as you go up in elevation. If the lapse rate is great enough, it is sometimes possible to make snow closer to the summit when the wet bulb temperature at the base of the mountain isn’t conducive.
Forecasts indicate that there may be windows of time in upcoming weeks when snow can be made at night. General Manager of the Camden Snow Bowl, Landon Fake, says, “If we get clear nights with marginal temps, we may be able to move more guns uphill and make snow just up high. Running the snow guns only at night is not ideal from a labor standpoint,” he explains. “It takes a couple of hours to get everything prepared and running and a couple of hours to shut down, drain the guns, hoses and pipe. So for 8 hours of making snow we are working 12 hours. On the other hand,” he adds, “using part of the system for smaller amounts of time can cost less in electricity peak demand charges.”
The below chart illustrates how temperatures and humidity levels combine to create the right wet bulb temperature to allow snow to be produced.
The Snow Bowl recently completed Phase II of the extensive three-phase ski area redevelopment. The first phase of the project begun during 2014 saw expansion of trails, snowmaking, trail lighting, and the addition of a triple chairlift. The second phase features the relocation and reconstruction of the double chairlift, a new parking lot and installation of a sophisticated stormwater management system. The new beginner area increases the amount of beginner terrain by 6 acres. In addition to the double chairlift, it provides new skiers and young children a ski-on, ski off carpet lift, installed during 2014. The double chairlift will also give skiers and snowboarders direct access to the top of the terrain park. Phase III, set for 2017, will see the construction of a new base lodge to serve skiers as well as the entire community as a center for events year-round.
Season pass revenue is currently 17% ahead of last year at this time, in part due to the fact that the word that is spreading about the large-scale improvements at the Snow Bowl. Another indicator is that those purchasing season passes come from a broader geographic market.
Instructional programs for all ages are set to launch, highlighted by the addition of a new freestyle program www.camdensnowbowl.com/freestyle. Trainings for staff, ski instructors, ski patrol and volunteers are underway, and the base lodge and rental shop are set to welcome skiers as soon as temperatures cooperate.
The Camden Snow Bowl is a community ski area owned and operated by the Town of Camden. The Snow Bowl is in its second year of an $8 million dollar redevelopment for which 75% is provided through private donations and 25% by a municipal bond. The goal of the redevelopment is to create a facility that serves as a magnet for four-season recreation in Maine’s mid-coast.
The Snow Bowl winter operation contributes $3.5 million annually to the region’s economy by attracting more than 30,000 skier visits and furnishing more than 60 jobs. The municipal ski area also provides free and reduced priced skiing and programming to more than 500 area youth.
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