On Monday, January 6, we reintroduced mid-day grooming and expanded it to seven days a week. This is a result of the feedback we received from guests and pass holders, who told us this service is highly valued. This unique practice is now strategically executed every day, ensuring a smoother skiing experience during the afternoons. This is an uncommon practice in the ski industry, and as the only ski resort in Ontario that offers a mid-day groom, we’re committed to making it work effectively.
Safety remains our top priority. To ensure the safety of everyone on the mountain, our Patrollers and Slope Maintenance team carefully coordinate the temporary closure of runs as grooming machines operate. It is essential that skiers and riders respect these safety measures. Our team has mapped out a route that covers high-traffic crossover trails and moves northward quickly, minimizing interruptions for our guests.
Although the mid-day groom doesn’t cover every trail, it provides significant improvements where it’s needed most. Full grooming of the entire hill typically requires 9-12 machines working for 12 hours, totalling about 106 machine hours. In contrast, our mid-day operation achieves targeted results in about an hour with just 2-3 groomers. To be clear, we are still in a testing phase, fine-tuning this process to ensure maximum safety and efficiency, particularly on busy days when skier numbers are expected to be higher.
Snowmaking Updates
This weekend marks a brief pause in snowmaking operations following a robust five-day run with 250-300 guns in action at all times. Favourable winds out of the north and optimal temperatures of -7 and below allowed us to make substantial progress, approaching an 80cm base. As temperatures begin to rise, we’re shifting our focus to grooming the newly created snow. This pause provides an opportunity to manage the volume of snow we’ve produced, ensuring optimal skiing conditions.
As the season continues, we are beginning to strategically select trails and times for snowmaking to minimize disruptions during peak skier visits. We understand that skiing on trails that are actively snowmaking is not always ideal. Snowmaking can create variable surface conditions or visible mounds, undulations in the snow or a quick change in surface density. However, it’s a necessary part of the process to deliver a high-quality base to ski as far into the spring season as possible. With temperatures expected to drop again on Sunday night, we’re gearing up for another productive week of snowmaking, bringing us closer to our goal of a one-metre average base across the mountain.
Southern Comfort Express Repaired
This week, the Southern Comfort Express experienced a mechanical issue involving a leaking oil seal in the gear box – also known as the heart of the lift. During a routine inspection, our team identified the problem and promptly addressed it by replacing two seals. This is a complex repair requiring the entire disassembly of the gear box. Thanks to the dedication of our Lift Mechanics, the lift was back in operation within 48 hours and is now running smoothly.
Terrain Park & Activities Update
In L-Park, we’re constructing the cross track, which is scheduled to open on Saturday morning. Meanwhile, snowmaking efforts continue to expand the Badlands, with more features planned for later this month. Next week, we’ll be setting up the build for FRZN Rail Jam at the base of Smart Alec in preparation for the January 18th event.
Over at snow tubing, we’re rebuilding the lanes on Friday morning to increase snow depth and improve the experience. Across the mountain, our goal remains to achieve a full trail count so you can enjoy the best skiing and riding terrain Ontario has to offer.
