Grooming Information

Grooming Information

At ski resorts around the world, grooming departments face many challenges on a daily basis. We feel it is safe to say that each and every groomer/snow-cat operator does his/her utmost to supply the best possible product with the tools provided. Fortunately at Mount Washington we are provided with some of the world's best equipment and most certainly Canada's highest snowfall amounts. I am sure you are already asking why, if we are blessed with new equipment and tones of snow, we can't groom it all, every night. Well, there's a little more to it than meets the eye and we hope that some, if not all of your questions, are answered in the following paragraphs.

Let's take a look at the scientific end of things.

Snow is a type of precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds in complex hexagonal forms. Snow forms mainly when water vapor turns directly to ice without going through the liquid stage, a process called deposition. Different forms arise out of different temperatures and water saturation.

Snow deteriorates and can be affected by many things including wind, (transport and compaction) temperature, (above and below freezing) solar radiation, (wide temperature swings) rain (causing different water content) and continuous use by people and equipment to name a few. All these conditions influence our abilities to provide the product we strive to deliver every morning seven days a week.

There are a multitude of different snow types. Here are a few with brief explanations:

  • Powder - dry and light, un-compacted snow. The density and moisture content can vary widely; snowfall in coastal regions with higher humidity is usually heavier than a similar depth of snowfall in an arid or continental region i.e.; The Rockies.
  • Hail - many layered ice balls, ranging from pea sized to golf ball sized.
  • Sleet - rain mixed with snow; ice pellets formed when snowflakes pass through a layer of warm air, partially thaw, then refreeze on further descent.
  • Graupel - precipitation formed when freezing fog condenses on a snowflake, forming a ball of rime ice.

When falling from the sky, snow is often described as:

  • A blizzard. A long lasting snow storm with intense snowfall and high winds with whiteout conditions.
  • A flurry. A period of light snow with usually light accumulation.
  • Freezing rain. Rain that freezes on impact with a sufficiently cold surface. This can cover everything in a uniform layer of very clear, shiny, usually treacherous, ice.

Once fallen to the ground, snow is often described as:

  • Blowing snow. Snow transported by wind causing low visibility and drifts.
  • Corn. Coarse, granular even wet snow.
  • Crust. A double layer of snow in which the lower layer may be powdery dry but where the surface is frozen together.
  • Slush. Snow which partially melts upon reaching the ground, to the point that it accumulates in puddles of partially frozen water.
  • Ice. Densely packed material formed from snow that doesn't contain air bubbles and can be transformed in only minutes under the right atmospheric conditions.

OK, enough of the scientific stuff.

In the world of grooming there is similar terminology that you should be aware. The following provides a bit of explanation:

  • Powder. Dry and fluffy. Essentially, almost everyone's "dream come true" in the ski industry. Easy to ski and ride in and makes one look like a hero. Don't tell me you haven't looked over your shoulder to admire the tracks you just left. One never complains of having too much but believe it or not, the more mother nature deposits, the more we are challenged with loss of traction, climbing abilities and a need to re-groom a trail twice or even three times prior to opening. Large overnight snowfalls also require grooming equipment to dig out buildings, lift terminals (top and bottom) lodges and access/service roads to name a few.
  • Hard Packed. When natural snow becomes compressed through grooming, wind to ski or ride and a turn into "corduroy" (yep, it resembles your favorite pair of cords from the 70's and 80's and is sweet to ride especially after a recent snowfall).
  • Spring snow. Generally goes through a number of different consistencies in a day. As the day progresses it softens up from an almost icy condition first thing in the morning becoming granular "sugar" and ultimately turning into a "slushy" by afternoon. This is when the grooming crews are challenged to groom as much as possible prior to temperatures dropping below freezing. Once the snow "kicks off" or freezes it can take as much as two or even three times as long to achieve the same acceptable product. This is because the water content in the snow is that much higher during the day and at night it freezes from the surface down forming a crust from a few millimeters to many centimeters thick.
  • Rain/fog affected snow. Wet would be the best description. It is sometimes better left ungroomed but that doesn't work for the beginner snow sports enthusiast. It also provides less traction for grooming vehicles and due to high water content can "squish out" due to the machines weight regardless of every effort by highly skilled operators.
  • Ice. Yuk, if we may say so ourselves! There is a distinct difference between hard packed snow and ice. It can be created by one of many factors: by freezing rain, rapid freezing of snow from rain or sunshine or ground water rising to the surface and freezing.

At Mount Washington we operate nine front line grooming machines, all of which come with front mounted twelve way blades, a set of rubber/aluminum tracks and a rear mounted tiller shaft or auger that spins at up to 1100 RPM. This pulverizes the snow one last time before it is forced, under pressure through rubber combs leaving the world renowned "corduroy". All of these implements are powered by a 350 HP diesel engine.

Two of our grooming machines are winch cats equipped with 1000m of cable designed specifically to pull them up and down the steeper terrain that cannot be worked or rebuilt without the assistance of the winch. Prior to the advent of the winch cat, we were forced to find other more time consuming ways to rebuild steep terrain that wasn't always effective and on occasion put machine and operator at risk. Now, the winch cat attaches itself to an anchor point at the top of the trail to be rebuilt and spends hours on end moving large amounts of snow back to the scoured, high traffic areas so that skiers and boarders hopefully don't hit rocks or debris. Depending on conditions, this process could see a winch cat occupied on one or two pitches for an entire shift. (i.e.: top pitch of Fantastic or Invitation). This process is repeated almost every night again and again depending on settled snow base, traffic volumes and weather conditions. The winch cat probably produces about 25% as much groomed terrain in a night when compared to a conventional machine.

When the crews venture out onto the hill, they do so with a purpose in mind. Beginner trails are given highest priority, followed by intermediate runs, and then selected expert runs, are groomed on a rotational basis and as conditions dictate or permit. There may be occasions when your favorite expert trail simply cannot be groomed (i.e.; Rick's Ride), not because we don't feel like it but because other areas of higher priority take precedence and require more attention. Snow conditions, temperatures and climbing conditions have to be just right for us to put the equipment and operators under such circumstances. Grooming Rick's Ride with a winch cat can sometimes take two full shifts.

The next time you make a turn on snow, notice that the snow is moving, downhill and toward the trees correct? This snow is moved constantly when thousands of skiers descend our trails. Well, the grooming crews primary focus is to put that snow back where it belongs and here are a few of the roles a cat operator plays while you are fast asleep or eagerly awaiting that 9 am opening of your favorite lift:

  • Maintain snow depths on all trails, particularly high traffic areas by rebuilding nightly.
  • Provide consistent quality and quantity to all level of skier/snowboarder.
  • Cover creeks, ditches, rocks and other natural objects.
  • Pack and groom fresh snowfalls.
  • Shape, construct and maintain features in terrain parks for events, races and other clubs.
  • Groom all Nordic trails for the cross country enthusiast.
  • Ensure all buildings and facilities are safe and cleared for public and staff use.

With the ever increasing popularity of terrain parks and machine made features our crews have committed to providing what we feel is some of the best freestyle terrain in Western Canada if not North America. Construction and maintenance of these parks takes time and effort and certain standards have to be met. The equipment is in the parks on a regular basis in an effort to keep the features safe and enjoyable for all user groups.

Snow grooming equipment and humans do not mix. It is for this reason that you rarely see the equipment during the day. Our team works two shifts, one commencing at 3:00pm and finishing at 11:30pm while the other starts at 11:00 pm finishing at 9:30am. The early shift traditionally works on "special projects" and some rebuilding while the late crew focuses largely on trail grooming. Under perfect conditions the equipment is off the hill for 9am and all the goals have been attained. The variables that always throw a wrench into the plan are storm cycles and or equipment malfunctions. Our plan includes regrooming beginner trails when accumulations exceed 20cm's or more. This is tough to do when it has just dumped 70cm's plus overnight and is still snowing at a rate of 10cm's per hour. Only under escort and with vigorous safety procedures in place will the equipment be on the hill at the same time as the public.

There are days, nights and certain conditions that don't allow us to accomplish everything we would like to (usually mother nature has reared her head) but we can assure you we have a fantastic staff who makes every effort night and day to provide the best possible product. Each and everyone of them undergoes rigorous training and takes great pride in what they do, after all, that is why we are here, for YOU, our guest.

Should you have further questions or comments, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it