What happens on our slopes at night
What happens on our slopes at night
When are the slopes groomed?
You’ve probably spotted a light or two on the slopes in the evening. Where you carve your turns during the day, our grooming team moves up and down at night with 530 horsepower. Between 5:00 PM and 1:00 AM is the best time for grooming. Then the snow has enough time to settle overnight without too much water freezing and icing over on the surface.
After a long day of skiing, not only does your body need rest, but so does the snow. Ideally, this rest period should last as long as possible. This rest phase is called sintering, which essentially means the melting, cooling, and hardening of the snow crystals. Night frost and the curing time play a key role in this process. The shorter this period, the softer the slope will be the next day. And that, in turn, means: rapid hill formation and mogul slopes.
How many snow groomers are actually in use?
We have five drivers on duty every day; on normal days, their workday begins at 3:00 p.m. Before heading out to the slopes, they perform minor repairs (if necessary) and inspect the track links, as well as various hydraulic hoses and cables. Cleaning windows and mirrors is also part of their daily routine. The final slope inspection takes place at 4:15 p.m.; after that, the slopes are officially closed, and our drivers begin their work on the mountain.
It should also be noted that a distinction is made between stand-alone machines and winch systems. Winches are primarily used when slopes are particularly steep. The anchors are then secured, for example, to rock or concrete foundations. A steel cable like this can be up to 1,500 meters long, and the route is often difficult to see.
How do you actually prepare something?
An ideal slope should meet several criteria to ensure adequate safety and comfort: varied, grippy, sturdy, evenly groomed, durable, visually appealing, and, of course, free of ice patches. But that’s no problem for our team. First, the snow that skiers have pushed downhill during the day is pushed back into place using the plow on the snow groomer. Then the tiller at the rear of the snow groomer is used to eliminate unevenness and create as level a surface as possible with even snow distribution. Finally, a smooth finish, and voilà: the slope is ready for another dream day in Gargellen.
