Glencoe Mountain Resort on Scotland’s West Coast has confirmed that it has purchased a Snowfactory all-weather snowmaking system ensuring that it can open next season for snowsports regardless of the vagaries of mother nature.
Glencoe was the first Scottish centre to express an interest in the all-weather snowmaking system a year ago after the very poor 16-17 season for snow in Scotland. It launched a crowd-funding campaign and other initiatives last autumn before receiving a unit on trial last winter, whilst Cairngorm and The Lecht also took it in turn to trial a second unit.
In the event the past winter 17-18 was in any case one of the best for several years with the units hardly needed and Glencoe one of the last non-glacier ski areas in the northern hemisphere to close after the MayDay Bank Holiday on May 7th.
”Thanks to your amazing support and the great winter we have just had we are delighted to let you know that the Snowfactory we had on trial is being purchased and will be moved up onto the plateau in the next couple of months. This will ensure a guaranteed opening date (likely to be 1st Dec) for the Coire Pollach tow and the sledging area,” an online statement from Glencoe reads.
The Snowfactory all-weather snowmaking system from Techno Alpin creates snow in an internal chamber before it is sprayed out on to the slopes, so snow can be made regardless of the outdoor temperature, although thawing will still be the same one it is outside the unit.
The units are typically used to make snow for smaller areas such as beginner slopes or terrain parks and to guarantee snow cover.
“Now that’s done we’re dreaming about a second Snowfactory unit, with a reservoir and pumping station so that we can run our conventional fan guns and the Snowfactory at the same time and ensure guaranteed snow across a much wider area,” the statement continued, concluding, “It’s been amazing to see the support for the project still flowing in over the last few weeks. A massive thanks to Argyll Holidays who donated £2,500. Thanks again for helping make dreams come true.”
