January 22, 2026 – We’ve officially slid into what is shaping up to be a true winter pattern, with temperatures dipping well below seasonal averages and a core cold snap settling in for the weekend. While these frigid conditions present some challenges for our operations teams, they also bring some advantages that help shape the winter experience here at Blue.
With forecasts calling for temperatures colder than -20°C, we’re carefully balancing snowmaking, mountain operations, and guest comfort as we move deeper into this extended cold stretch.
Running Snowmaking in Extreme Cold
Cold air is fantastic for snow quality — snow made in these temperatures is dry, sets up quickly, and creates firm, resilient surfaces that hold up exceptionally well under skier and rider traffic. When groomed thoughtfully, the snow sets into what many folks call “hero snow” — firm enough to carve reliably, but soft enough underfoot to feel great on every turn.
However, sub–20°C cold doesn’t come without its operational hurdles:
- When we shut snow guns down, moisture left in the pipes can freeze, meaning our team must thaw pipes and guns by hand to ensure reliable startups.
- At startup, even once snowmaking resumes, it’s not unusual for no snow to come out right away. Our crew manually thaws frozen sections with torches to get everything flowing again.
- Ice beards — those layers of freeze-built ice on snow guns — are more prone to forming in this deep chill and need to be manually tapped off regularly to keep the guns operating optimally.
- On lines where we push multiple guns from one floodline, it’s possible for ice build-ups to block nozzles, requiring attentive clearing by the team.
We’re mindful too of our people in the elements: even with cold-weather gear, our crews can only be outside safely for limited periods at these temperatures, so we’re rotating teams and adjusting work routines to keep everyone safe and productive.
Balancing Guest Experience & Snow Operations
You’ll notice that the guns are running, but not to the maximum number we might during more moderate cold windows. This is intentional: it lets us balance snow production with a comfortable guest experience around the hill. In extremely cold conditions, blowing too many guns — or blowing them too close to guest areas — can impact comfort and visibility.
This thoughtful approach ensures we’re strategically building quality coverage where it matters most while also keeping the mountain fun for everyone who braves the cold to get out and play.
Cold Weather Perks (Yes, There Are Some!)
For those who love classic winter conditions, this deep freeze brings a few real highlights:
- Perfect natural snow powder — Arctic air means light, fluffy natural flakes that ski beautifully.
- Ice skating the rink is sublime — firm, glassy surfaces make for awesome ice.
- Snow that sets up instantly on the hill — snow from snow guns doesn’t need much water content to form, so it bonds fast and stands up to traffic throughout the day.
- Firm conditions that don’t break down as quickly — because the snow is so dry and cold, it doesn’t get skied off the same way as softer winter temps.
Tubing and Terrain Notes
You might also notice that tubing can feel a bit slower in these temperatures — the snow is firm, which means less slide than you’d get on wetter, warmer snow. While that might feel different than other days, it’s a great reminder that winter conditions are dynamic and every day on the hill has its own character.
Guests can enjoy the features in the Grove Terrain Park this week, and look forward to Badlands reopening as of next week. Yahoo will be built out and reopened once we have more snowmaking and grooming completed on that trail.
Stay warm, stay safe, and we’ll see you out there!
— Operations Team at Blue Mountain Resort
