Ingersoll Rand IQ HP1600 Air Compressor being delivered for snowmaking system at Killington.

Ingersoll Rand IQ HP1600 Air Compressor being delivered for snowmaking system at Killington.

Another visible sign that winter is around the corner at Killington is all of the work being done on the mountain to prepare the snow making system to create snow. While Killington "on average" receives around 250 inches of natural snow each year, Mother Nature is a fickle lady. To successfully operate a modern ski resort requires that you deliver a quality snow product "ALL" of the time. The only way to do that is to build a large snow making system.

Killington has the "worlds most extensive" snowmaking system, covering 70% of the resorts mountains. Water is supplied via a variety of sources, the largest of which is the Woodward Resevoir on Route 100 south in Plymouth Vermont.

Air compressors being removed from a flat bed truck used to deliver them to Killington this morning.

The muscle behind the snowmaking system is compressed air. The air to drive the system is supplied by a fleet of air compressors. They are the "bad boyz" of the operation. Killington's "Air Compressor" farm is midway down the Snowshed trail, on skier's left. This time of year, compressors are brought in to the resort to support Killington's winter snowmaking plans. And, of course, the system still relies on Mother Nature to supply cold air to turn the the water and pressurized air into nice snow crystals.

When snowmaking at Killington will begin is a hot topic around town. Of course, with temperatures in the area today touching the low 70's, it's a pretty good day for the crews to unload compressors for the snowmaking system...but not a good day to turn the system on. Of course, that will all start to change in the next few weeks (we hope!)

Dare we say...Let it snow!