Annual East Coast Snowmaking Test Proves Winter Is Almost Here

At 6:30 a.m. on October 9, 2024, Sunday River, Maine’s snowmaking system roared to life with guns spraying the Rogue Angel, Excalibur, and Lollapalooza trails.

The annual test, which comes after numerous improvements to the resort’s snowmaking capabilities, is a tradition indicating that winter, while likely several weeks away, is almost here. Video below.

Video: Sunday River First Snowmaking Test of the Season, October 9, 2024

Sunday River’s snowmaking upgrades are far-reaching. Last season, Nearly two miles of 20-inch pipe were installed, linking the North Peak Booster Pump House to the summit of Jordan Bowl, tripling snowmaking capacity in that area.

Then, this summer, the resort added 160 high-efficiency HKD snowguns to several key trails. The effort to revitalize snowmaking at Sunday River is part of an ongoing master plan, and the addition of over 550 new guns has occurred in the past three years. Today, Sunday River’s snowmaking system is capable of 11,000 gallons of water and 54,000 cubic feet of air per minute.

“Snowmaking is at the core of providing an exceptional experience for our guests," said Sunday River general manager Brian Heon. "This test confirms that we are fully prepared to kick off the season the moment temperatures drop.”

The upcoming season at Sunday River—which doesn’t yet have an announced opening date—will again begin in the Jordan Bowl for the second year in a row. In a press release, the resort noted that this decision was made because of the Bowl’s higher elevation and expanded snowmaking capacity.

Presumably, these factors mean easier-to-maintain early-season snow coverage. This terrain will be serviced by Sunday River’s recently unveiled Doppelmayr D-Line lift , the Jordan 8, which boasts bubble covers, heated seats, and a four-and-a-half-minute ride time. Skiers can anticipate top-to-bottom skiing with multiple trails on opening day.

Sunday River will begin snowmaking in full once overnight temperatures drop into the 25 to 30-degree range. Last winter, they opened for skiing and riding on November 14th. Sunday River’s website reports that the resort typically opens in late October, if temperatures cooperate. In summary, Maine residents could be hitting the slopes in the not-so-distant future. According to The Weather Channel’s forecasts, overnight temperatures at Sunday River may dip below 30 degrees as early as next week.

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