Cold temperatures this November have been a boon to the snowmaking efforts at New Hampshire ski areas. A number of resorts are opening a week earlier than expected.
“You know when the temperatures are cold like this like in the teens and low twenties, and it’s dry, they can cover a lot, it’s amazing what they can do,” says Jessica Keeler with Ski New Hampshire.
She notes Cranmore and Pat’s Peak are opening a week ahead of schedule. Waterville valley also opened this weekend, as scheduled, and both Loon and Bretton Woods opened a week ago.
Keeler says ski areas have been able to capitalize on the cold weather, because of a trend over recent years.
“A lot of our ski areas added snow-guns, a lot of them have been adding snow-guns over the last several years,” she notes.
About a third of New Hampshire ski areas put money into snowmaking this summer. Because of these investments, ski areas can cover entire trails in a matter of just a few days.