Folks who live or have been to ski areas might recognize these as snow cannons or snow guns. They make snow when Mother Nature needs help. Water and pressurized air are forced through the guns through freezing air and the water freezes into hexagonal crystals or snowflakes.
We saw this collection last year in Killington, VT, a popular New England ski area.
Ski resorts use the cannons to extend their ski season by supplementing natural snowfall. Indoor slopes with a climate-controlled environment use them more often. There are significant costs associated with artificial snow production. It's an expensive process especially in terms of energy use and associated costs.
Some snow gun info: Invention of the snow gun dates to 1950 and is credited to three men in Milford, CT. In 1952, Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel in NY state was the first resort worldwide to use artificial snow. Snow-making began to be used extensively in the early 1970s. Artificial snow was used extensively at the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics.
Enjoy Your weekend, Everyone
(There's no snow in our NH forecast.)
10 comments:
Nothing much in our forecast either. Only a little on Monday. But we will probably have a snow cover for the rest of the winter regardless.
did not even know they existed before this post. great shots of them..
I had no idea what they were. Interesting post. We've had a little snow this week, but not much. Temperatures are supposed to be in the 50s this weekend. Hope you have a nice weekend!
They look like robots poised to attack.
The sno guns help extend the season and keep the snow in good enough condition for skiing.
I have seen them used here.
When I looked at the pictures I thought they were the old searchlights that lit the sky in WW2. Glad you told us what they were really for.
Well........you can tell we do not ski in Texas........I thought they were some kind of big telescope to stargaze with! LOL
I too thought it was a telescope. LOL
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
My initial thought was one of a camera or telescope. No snow here either thankfully.
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