Low-energy snow farming technique yields softer powder at mountain peaks

Canada's first ski resort to open its gates this yearwas able to get a jump start on the season thanks in part to itsunique, low-cost method of harvesting natural snow for its runs.

• 'Snow magnet' Sunshine Village marks earliest opening in decades with 'amazing' powder

Sunshine Village's low-energy "snow farming" technique uses roughly 20 kilometres of plastic fencing to trap snowfall on its upper peaks, reducing the need for traditional snow-making.

Located on the Continental Divide, the resort naturally receives up to 11 metres of powder each year.

These fences capitalize on that by effectively protecting snow from alpine gusts that would otherwise blow it off the peak at least untilsnow cats can pack the powder down andpave the trail.

The fences are then transplanted to another area, and the process repeats itself.

Everybody wins, Riley says

The snow fencingresults inlower energy costs for the mountainand a softer, drier snow for skiiers and snowboarders, said chief operating officer Dave Riley.

"The quality of the snow is far better, quite frankly. Because it's natural,it's drier," he said.

Snow guns, by contrast, create a firmerartificial snow with a higher moisture content, he explained.

Geographical advantage

Sunshine is fortunate in that much of itsalpine terrain lies above the tree line, which makes this technique applicable on a large scale.

The process begins in early September, long before any snow dusts the peaks.

Several thousand pieces of 1.8-metre steel are pounded into the ground, which later freeze into place so that fencing can be tied around it securely.

"There's really no other ski resort in the world that does as much snow farming through the snow fence technique as Sunshine Village,"Riley said.

"It's really unique in the ski industry because of the scale of what we do."