So what if summer hasn’t even officially started? We’re already getting reading for next winter. Deal with it!

Just this week, our snowmakers began work on one of their major summer projects: re-routing and replacing the snowmaking pipes on Flying Fox.

The pipes, which carry water and compressed air up the mountain, were installed in the 1980s and had reached the end of their lifespan. In recent winters, snowmakers have spent precious time repairing sections of the pipe, rather than making snow. This winter, snowmaking efficiency and reliability on Flying Fox will get a big upgrade.

We’re also relocating the snowmaking pipes from the eastern edge to the western edge of the trail. Relocating the pipes (and snowmaking guns) will take full advantage of the prevailing winds, which typically come out of the northwest during the winter. For decades, snow guns positioned on the eastern edge of the trail have cranked snow directly into the wind, rather than with it. This change should make it a whole lot easier for snowmakers to bury Flying Fox during the winter, and may even help them open the trail a bit earlier in the season.

We’re looking forward to the day they put those new pipes to good use in November.