Wisconsin Ski Area Makes Snow for First Time This Season

Wisconsin is typically cold enough to hold a snowpack throughout the winter, but snowmaking is still essential to the ski industry in America's Dairyland.

As temps dipped below freezing, Trollhaugen , one of the state's most popular ski areas, turned on their snowmaking machines for the first time in the early morning hours of October 4, 2024. See below.

According to the social media post that shared the news, Trollhaugen's snowmakers sprung to action as the wet bulb temperature plunged to 31.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Wet bulb temperatures are important to snowmaking quality as it factors relative humidity and ambient temperature. Snowmaking quality and quantity usually improves as the wet bulb temperature drops.

It doesn't appear that Trollhaugen was able to produce much accumulation, due to the wet bulb temperature being just barely below freezing, but as the caption states, "it felt good to be back".

Trollhaugen's first snowmaking test comes at an opportune time. The ski area will open on Sunday, October 6th, 2024 for a rail jam with snow that has been preserved from last season . If only snowmaking conditions would have lasted a bit longer, Trollhaugen could have boosted their preserved snow stash. Oh well. Beggars can't be choosers.

Snowmaking is often denigrated by western skiers who are fortunate to live in a place with big mountains and ample natural snowfall. For most skiers east of the Mississippi River, however, snowmaking is not only essential, it's a lifeline to enjoy skiing or snowboarding all season long.

Are there seasons when ski areas like Trollhaugen receive enough natural snowfall that their snowmaking efforts are redundant? Sure, but they are too rare to rely on. Just ask how last season went. Trollhaugen was able to keep chugging along , thanks to its enhanced snowmaking capabilities, while other ski areas closed. That's why I believe that snowmakers, like the ones captured in Trollhaugen's photos today, are the most under-appreciated members of the North American ski industry.

To put it bluntly, there are hundreds of thousands of skiers in this country who simply wouldn't be able to ski without snowmakers working tirelessly throughout the night. So, if you encounter a snowmaker in the near future, offer to buy them a beer, shake their hand, and say, "Thank you."

Related: Trollhaugen To Open on October 6th With Last Season's Snow

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