Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Or, in the case at BVAC, we are relearning tricks from years past. Specifically, this winter's snow has gotten “old” with very little new (aka “young) snow being added to the mix. Coupled with shallow snow depths, we have been reluctant to bring out last winter's winning grooming tool, The Renovator, which aggressively breaks up hard ice before the tiller grinds, processes, and re-aerates the snow, resulting in a snow surface that resembles fresh snow.
Over the past decade, our snowcats have gotten bigger, stronger, and faster. These incredible machines have raised the grooming standards in the ski industry. Frankly, before my time, snowcats struggled with both deep snow and hard ice; two common conditions in the Sierra Nevada. Snowcat drivers were forced to make multiple passes before the snow behaved and provided a favorable ski surface. This technique is both time- and fuel-consuming and difficult on a driver's morale.
Fast forward to this winter, and it hasn’t snowed in weeks since the Christmas holidays. As the snowpack aged, we struggled for a few nights without The Renovator. The snowcat drivers were getting frustrated and seeking a solution. Out of desperation, we decided to have one snowcat follow the other. Immediately, we got better results. Then, when we were feeling smug, a snowcat driver from years past reminded us that this was normal protocol in their days behind the helm of a snowcat. Therefore, while an old dog may struggle to learn a new trick, they can help a young dog get better results. We hope that you have enjoyed the good skiing this January.
Cheers!
Heidi M. gracefully ice skating in the Bear Valley meadow. This doesn’t happen every season.
Stellar grooming with fresh snow on The Runway
