Creating Winter: The Magic Behind Steamboat's Snowmakers
02/27/2025 12:36PM ● By Haley Watkins
Photos by Gavin Liddell.
Long before the first skier carves a turn on the slopes, Steamboat’s snowmaking crews are racing against time and temperature to transform the rugged mountain terrain into a skier’s paradise, one snowflake at a time. Snowmaking is a dangerous job – dealing with extreme conditions, expert terrain, limited visibility and heavy equipment operations. These crews work around the clock to create the magic of winter.
"Crews start typically in mid-October, or as soon as the temperature hits 26 degrees,” explains Ryan Olson, senior slope maintenance manager. At the start of a cold spell, Ryan and his
gun-running teams prepare all day, anticipating the perfect temperature drop. Once the temperature starts falling, the gun-running crews roll out on their snowmobiles to fire up the equipment.
“We are trying to open the best experience possible for our guests,” Ryan says. “We focus on the base area early in the season. This year, we changed our operation pattern to open more areas earlier, such as High Noon, Tomahawk and Sunshine. These areas offer a fun skiing experience, and we were able to open them in November instead of right before Christmas.”
This season, there were four gun-running crews of 10 people each, with shifts varying from noon to midnight or midnight to noon. The move crews, which consist of five members, work from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. “We start our shifts at snowmaking control on the top of Christie Peak. There, we review the runs we’re making snow on and hold a safety meeting,” says Shane Duffy, a snowmaker with 13 years of experience at the resort. “When the mountain is open, we travel by lifts with our boards and skis. Once it closes, we jump on our snowmobiles or into the snowcats.”
The ideal conditions for snowmaking are low humidity and low temperatures to get as much water flow as possible. Achieving this requires careful management of water pressure and various nozzle settings on the snowmaking guns. The gun-runners operate high-pressure water and air through hydrants to rubber hoses wrapped in woven nylon to metal snow guns. “Anytime something is cold, it’s more likely to break,” Ryan says. "If a gun freezes up, it can create ice, which isn’t ideal for snow quality when running guns.”
The risks of snowmaking are as real as the rewards: first of all, it’s cold. Frigid temperatures can push the limits of both humans and machines. High-pressure water and air race through hoses, which can rupture or freeze if not meticulously maintained. A frozen gun spraying water in the wrong place can turn a trail into an ice rink, and navigating snowmobiles in the dark adds another layer of danger. “It can be a dangerous situation,” Ryan says. Every year, crews undergo extensive training and safety procedures for both new and returning staff to ensure everyone knows the risks and how to handle them. This training, combined with the crew’s vigilance, keeps injuries at bay. But make no mistake – working on the front lines of winter is not for the
faint-hearted.
Teamwork is critical for safety and efficiency of these crews. "Many hands make light work up here, and we work in tandem with all the other departments to ensure a safe and enjoyable skiing experience,” Shane says. The gun-runners operate with a buddy system and extensive radio communication to coordinate their efforts.
Steamboat’s crews operate three different types of snowmaking machines: ground guns, tower guns and automated fan guns. Ground guns, which use a lot of air and water, are ideal for warmer situations or low air pressure. Tower guns are more energy-efficient and high-yield, while automated fan guns, introduced two years ago, are highly efficient and quick to start.
“We can start with the push of a button and the fan guns automatically adjust to the outside temperature,” Ryan says. "A run set up with ground and tower guns takes about two to three hours to get running efficiently, but with the new guns, we can start to produce snow on High Noon in about 20 minutes, allowing us to use our crews and time more efficiently.”
Snowmaking guarantees routes from lift to lift and ensures that skiers won’t encounter obstacles like rocks, trees or downed logs. “We also allow the rest of the mountain to form naturally, giving guests both experiences while ensuring access to our incredible terrain, like Pony and Mahogany Ridge,” Ryan says.
From October to January, the teams make as much snow as they can, whether it is a dry or snowy year, ensuring the resort opens early and stays open through closing day. “It’s honestly really fun,” Ryan says. “What keeps us motivated is seeing our work produce something in
real-time. Watching a pile of snow turn into a groomed, open run is instant gratification.”
Steamboat’s snowmakers don’t just create snow – they craft the soul of the season. With every flake, they bring the mountain to life, delivering a winter playground to thrill-seekers and
powder-chasers alike. Their work, born of long nights, icy danger and relentless determination, is the foundation of every skier’s favorite run. These gun-runners don’t just embrace winter; they dominate it.
Long before the first skier carves a turn on the slopes, Steamboat’s snowmaking crews are racing against time and temperature to transform the rugged mountain terrain into a skier’s paradise, one snowflake at a time. Snowmaking is a dangerous job – dealing with extreme conditions, expert terrain, limited visibility and heavy equipment operations. These crews work around the clock to create the magic of winter.
"Crews start typically in mid-October, or as soon as the temperature hits 26 degrees,” explains Ryan Olson, senior slope maintenance manager. At the start of a cold spell, Ryan and his
gun-running teams prepare all day, anticipating the perfect temperature drop. Once the temperature starts falling, the gun-running crews roll out on their snowmobiles to fire up the equipment.
“We are trying to open the best experience possible for our guests,” Ryan says. “We focus on the base area early in the season. This year, we changed our operation pattern to open more areas earlier, such as High Noon, Tomahawk and Sunshine. These areas offer a fun skiing experience, and we were able to open them in November instead of right before Christmas.”
This season, there were four gun-running crews of 10 people each, with shifts varying from noon to midnight or midnight to noon. The move crews, which consist of five members, work from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. “We start our shifts at snowmaking control on the top of Christie Peak. There, we review the runs we’re making snow on and hold a safety meeting,” says Shane Duffy, a snowmaker with 13 years of experience at the resort. “When the mountain is open, we travel by lifts with our boards and skis. Once it closes, we jump on our snowmobiles or into the snowcats.”
The crew’s main priority is to get the snowmaking guns running. The night crew creates a microclimate around the machines – an artificial environment where the temperature and humidity are carefully gauged to maximize snow production. This process involves saturating the air and ground with moisture, gradually transforming the immediate area into a snowmaking hotspot. The more water, the more snow. “A lot of gun-running is adjusting the guns to the temperatures and moving placements for maximum quality,” Shane says.
The ideal conditions for snowmaking are low humidity and low temperatures to get as much water flow as possible. Achieving this requires careful management of water pressure and various nozzle settings on the snowmaking guns. The gun-runners operate high-pressure water and air through hydrants to rubber hoses wrapped in woven nylon to metal snow guns. “Anytime something is cold, it’s more likely to break,” Ryan says. "If a gun freezes up, it can create ice, which isn’t ideal for snow quality when running guns.”
The risks of snowmaking are as real as the rewards: first of all, it’s cold. Frigid temperatures can push the limits of both humans and machines. High-pressure water and air race through hoses, which can rupture or freeze if not meticulously maintained. A frozen gun spraying water in the wrong place can turn a trail into an ice rink, and navigating snowmobiles in the dark adds another layer of danger. “It can be a dangerous situation,” Ryan says. Every year, crews undergo extensive training and safety procedures for both new and returning staff to ensure everyone knows the risks and how to handle them. This training, combined with the crew’s vigilance, keeps injuries at bay. But make no mistake – working on the front lines of winter is not for the
faint-hearted.
Teamwork is critical for safety and efficiency of these crews. "Many hands make light work up here, and we work in tandem with all the other departments to ensure a safe and enjoyable skiing experience,” Shane says. The gun-runners operate with a buddy system and extensive radio communication to coordinate their efforts.
Steamboat’s crews operate three different types of snowmaking machines: ground guns, tower guns and automated fan guns. Ground guns, which use a lot of air and water, are ideal for warmer situations or low air pressure. Tower guns are more energy-efficient and high-yield, while automated fan guns, introduced two years ago, are highly efficient and quick to start.
“We can start with the push of a button and the fan guns automatically adjust to the outside temperature,” Ryan says. "A run set up with ground and tower guns takes about two to three hours to get running efficiently, but with the new guns, we can start to produce snow on High Noon in about 20 minutes, allowing us to use our crews and time more efficiently.”
Snowmaking guarantees routes from lift to lift and ensures that skiers won’t encounter obstacles like rocks, trees or downed logs. “We also allow the rest of the mountain to form naturally, giving guests both experiences while ensuring access to our incredible terrain, like Pony and Mahogany Ridge,” Ryan says.
From October to January, the teams make as much snow as they can, whether it is a dry or snowy year, ensuring the resort opens early and stays open through closing day. “It’s honestly really fun,” Ryan says. “What keeps us motivated is seeing our work produce something in
real-time. Watching a pile of snow turn into a groomed, open run is instant gratification.”
Steamboat’s snowmakers don’t just create snow – they craft the soul of the season. With every flake, they bring the mountain to life, delivering a winter playground to thrill-seekers and
powder-chasers alike. Their work, born of long nights, icy danger and relentless determination, is the foundation of every skier’s favorite run. These gun-runners don’t just embrace winter; they dominate it.