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(COLORADO) — Have you ever wondered how much snow it actually takes to get a ski resort up and running? Spoiler alert: it’s not as simple or straightforward as you might think.
The truth is, the amount of snow needed can vary quite a bit depending on the resort, the terrain, the elevation, and whether or not the resort makes its own snow. All those factors come into play when it’s time to open for the season.
Many resorts rely on man-made snow to kick off the season. That means they’ll fire up the snow guns early to lay down a solid base layer before the real snow starts falling. In those cases, it usually only takes 6 to 12 inches of natural snowfall to get things going. That base layer helps smooth things out and keeps the slopes in good shape even when the atmosphere takes a break.
Other resorts, though, take pride in sticking with natural snowfall only. They wait for the real deal (no machines, no man-made help), just pure mountain snow. For those resorts, it typically takes a bit more accumulation, around 18 to 24 inches, before they can officially open for the season. Without that artificial base, they need enough snow to cover rough terrain and rocks so skiers can glide safely.
So, when does it all usually happen? Most resorts can get things up and running sometime between early to mid-November. But in years when the snow is slow to fall, openings can get pushed back to early December.
The photo below shows a comparison to last year’s opening time. It really all depends on how cooperative the weather decides to be.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to one thing: the base. Whether it’s built from snow machines or a few big natural storms, that layer is what makes the season possible. You could say… It’s all about that base!
