Snowmaking 101

Snow-covered ski slope at night with bright lights and snow machines.

You are ready for winter, and so is Crystal Mountain – especially the mountain operations team and snowmaking crew. While we all know it’s mostly up to Mother Nature to decide what kind of winter we’re going to have, she isn’t the only one who can deliver the “white gold.” Crystal Mountain’s snowmaking squad is quite talented and experienced when it comes to delivering an epic season.

But snowmaking isn’t just flipping a switch when temperatures hit the freezing mark. There’s a lot of strategy and science behind the art of snowmaking.

Snow machine blowing snow at night with lights illuminating the mist.

Ideal Conditions

In perfect snowmaking conditions and with all 179 snowmaking machines running at full capacity, the Crystal Mountain snowmaking crew can cover the slopes in about a foot of snow in 45 hours. A lot can change in a small amount of time!

Here's what the crew needs to make quality snow:

28 degrees or less (15 degrees is the sweet spot)
Low humidity (the drier, the better)
High barometric pressure (clear skies)
Light and consistent wind (preferably from the north or east)

So, it’s not just about cold, it’s about cold and dry. A good rule of thumb is the wet bulb temperature, which is essentially adding the temperature and the humidity, and if it’s less than 100, we can make snow.

Temperature # + Humidity % = must be BELOW 100.

Snow machine operating on a ski slope at night, casting bright light and mist.

Time and Talent

Crystal Mountain’s snowmaking squad is made up of 24 people: 12 people on the night crew and 12 people on the day crew. Some of the snowmakers have been at it for 20+ years, others are just getting started, but in total, the Crystal Mountain snowmaking team has more than 250 years of experience! They work in 12-hour shifts, but are on call 24/7 starting in November until the slopes are 100% open. So how do they know when to get to work?

The snowmakers are constantly watching the weather forecast, looking for those ideal conditions that will allow for a window of snowmaking. Plus, there’s a weather monitoring system that will alert them when the conditions are right, and they can come in and get to work.

The magic starts in the pump house, which connects to about five miles of snowmaking pipe underneath the slopes. The crew deploys out on the slopes to fire up the machines and position them in the appropriate direction, and continues to adjust them throughout the day and night.

Snow-covered machine spraying snow on a snowy landscape.

Our snowmaking arsenal is made up of a variety of equipment.

Mounted: These SMI fan guns are mounted to the towers up and down the slopes. They have a farther throw and can allow the water more “hang time” in the air to turn to snow before dispersing on the ground. These types of guns are designed to cover a broader area.
Stick: Our HKD stick guns are highly efficient and more direct. You will see these tall and skinny snowmaking machines on tighter/narrower runs.
Portable: Snowmaking on wheels. These machines keep the snowmaking crew busy as they are constantly moving these snow guns to wherever they are needed on the slopes. A lot of times, you will see these snowmaking machines at the base of the slopes because they deliver a bigger throw and broader coverage.
Automated: The high-tech, big throw, fan snowmaker guns, such as the Super Puma, are equipped with an onboard aspirated weather station, air and water pressure monitoring, and automated flow control. They can adjust the water volume, air pressure, and nucleation to best suit the existing weather conditions.

Learn more mountain facts

Sunrise over snowy landscape with snow machines and trees.

The Game Plan

Our snowmaking isn’t random; it’s a calculated and strategic effort designed to get you on the slopes as soon as possible. As much as we would love to open all the runs at the same time, there is a process in place based on snow depth needs, safety, and quality.

Typically, it’s the learning area, green, and blue runs that open first because they aren’t as steep as black diamonds and don’t require as much of a base.

~6-inch base: Enough to safely open the learning area.
~12-inch base: The goal for opening blue and green runs.
~24-inch base: Needed for steeper trails like Buck.

Remember, a decent base is also needed to operate the groomers and deliver that flawless corduroy. Plus, we have three chairlifts that service the front side of the slopes, which is where all the fun begins, so there’s a focus on those runs that bring you back to the beginning.

Purchase Lift Tickets

Skier in turquoise jacket on snowy slope under clear blue sky.

Durability Difference

Let’s not forget, manmade snow is much more durable than natural snow. Don’t get us wrong, we love a good powder day and will certainly leave the fluff out there for you to create the perfect powder stash, but Mother Nature’s stuff just doesn’t last as long.

~10” of natural snow = 1” of base
~10” of manmade snow = 10” of base

Our snowmaking machines blast water into finer, denser particles, making it much harder to melt and about 10 times more durable. That’s why we love our snowmaking heroes, because they are the reason we can get the slopes open and keep the slopes open for 100+ days.

Keep an eye on our webcams for a real-time look at slope conditions and resort activity.

Watch The Snowmaking

Ready for the Season

Whether you’re chomping at the bit to shred the slopes or just play in the snow off the slopes, the entire Crystal Mountain team is excited for a long season ahead. We have more than 100 ski and snowboard instructors ready to set you up for success on the slopes and dozens more employees waiting to help you explore the fat tire bike trails, snowshoe trails, cross-country trails, ice rink, and more.

Reserve Winter Activities