Snowmaking at Summit West
We’re making snow for skiers and riders this season!
Better Coverage, Sooner
We’re excited to share that Summit West has a new, state-of-the-art snowmaking system for the 2025-26 winter season. This new system is capable of providing top-to-bottom coverage on Big Bill trail, between Pacific Crest and Dodge Ridge chairlifts. It also gives us the option to make snow around the base area, key lift loading areas, and in learning zones near carpet lifts.
This snowmaking project is a significant investment in reducing our reliance on natural snowfall, allowing us to open the slopes earlier and provide more days on snow for local skiers and snowboarders. Plus, it helps ensure more consistent conditions throughout the winter on Summit West's most popular trail.
Although this pilot system is modest in size and coverage, it's a big step toward providing more dependable conditions and operations - especially early in the season. We’re proud to start making snow for skiers and snowboarders and look forward to expanding our snowmaking system in the future.
- Summit WestPACIFIC CREST CHAIRLIFT
- 9 Tower-Mounted Fan GunsAUTOMATED SNOW GUNS FROM SMI
- 11 Snowmaking HydrantsFLEXIBILITY FOR PORTABLE FAN GUNS
Snowmaking Area
Our new system at Summit West is capable of making snow top-to-bottom on Pacific Crest, as well as in the base area. Portable carriage guns can be utilized in the learning zones, around the base, and between the tower guns near Dodge Ridge Chair.
A Summit First
This project marks the beginning of a new era for The Summit. While we have existing snowmaking at our Tubing Park and a few guns in our terrain park, this is our first time providing top-to-bottom snowmaking on any of our ski slopes — a game-changer for our operation at Summit West and our guests.
The Latest Snowmaking Tech
Our advanced system utilizes SMI Super Polecat fan guns and automation for efficient snowmaking across a wide range of temperatures and conditions - ideal for our environment at Snoqualmie Pass. It's engineered to maximize snow output while minimizing energy and water use.
We're also building a new pump house that will contain all the pumps and controls to make this sophisticated system operate smoothly.
Slope Maintenance
Our diligent brush-cutting efforts every summer translate to needing less snow to get open and fewer hazards when the depth is low. Pair that with our new snowmaking system, and it means the mountain is more dependable, easier to ski, and more fun — no matter what Mother Nature throws our way. Shorter brush on the slopes also means our snowmaking system will use less energy and water to get the coverage we need.