The first of several all-weather ‘snow factory’ machines have arrived on site at Cairngorm ski area above Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands today.
The centre will trial the technology which makes snow within its articulated unit before it is spread out on the slopes so can make snow regardless of the outside temperature.
Cairngorm is one of three Scottish areas trialing Snow Factory technology from Italian snowmaker TechnoAlpin this winter, The Lecht and Glencoe will also have units at several times during the season.
The units do have limited coverage and of course the snow made still thaws, but the centres plan to use them at altitudes where the freezing point is more frequently reached and aim to use the snow for limited areas such as terrain parks and beginner slopes.
Four of Scotland’s five Scottish ski centres were open at the weekend with a promising start to the season, but a major thaw over the past few days has led to most closing again. However cold temperatures and more snow is expected towards the end of the week.
