Behind the Scenes of our Winter Operations

• Snowmaking operations run for about 45 days, around the clock, for a total of about 1080 hours, with 2 teams of 5 people dedicated solely to this task. 
• We spend nearly 240 hours clearing the mountain, in a span of 6 weeks between summer and fall.
• The mountain requires nearly 10 hours of grooming per day, at a rate of 4 groomers simultaneously dedicated to this task. 
• Grooming is an art that, much like snowmaking, requires certain conditions. 
• Before you even get up, our operations and communication teams are on duty to evaluate the snow conditions and ensure you have the best mountain experience.
• Beyond the operations you may see at a ski resort, we also have land development experts who monitor water runoff and much more.

Snowmaking has never been more relevant than in recent years. Climate change has led to inconsistent, unpredictable, and, above all, less snowy winters. What happens to the production of white gold? Several factors come into play when it comes to making snow. Geographic location, proximity to the river, sunlight, wind, and humidity are all key determinants in the equation.

The process by which water transforms into snow through pressurized air is called nucleation. The droplets created immediately turn into snowflakes. The longer a snowflake remains suspended in the air, the drier it becomes, resulting in higher-quality snow.

The Cold Window
Several consecutive days of cold weather are necessary to start the snow cannons. Why? The first step of the snowmaking process can take up to 6 hours before continuous production even begins. The same applies to the closing stage. Therefore, good management of energy and water is required. Making snow at temperatures that are too high does not yield the expected results. The volume of snow produced at -2 degrees will be half of that produced at -10 degrees. This is what happens when the snow piles turn yellow.

The sun
The sun plays an important role in the nucleation process. When you see a rainbow in the droplets, it’s never a good sign. The sun warms these droplets, slowing down the snowmaking process.

Humidity
Proximity to the river creates an additional challenge at Massif de Charlevoix. Relative humidity must not be high. Frost is the number one enemy of artificial snow. Even if it’s cold, humidity can prevent the nucleation process. 

Winds
Due to the river's proximity, prevailing winds on the mountain complicate our teams’ tasks as they must control everything to ensure that the manufactured snow settles in the right place.

The Work of Snowmaking Operators
This work is performed in extreme conditions on rugged terrain. Long hours are required to cover the mountain in snow, both day and night. "The Flakes," as the operators are nicknamed, sometimes have to deal with water damage in the cold. In the event of a break or power outage, a race against time begins to drain the system of its water before it freezes.

Ski lifts

Each year, the equivalent of 8 months is spent on the maintenance of the gondola and chairlifts. Eight mechanics work tirelessly for nearly 5,000 hours to ensure you have access to the mountain in all four seasons. They are on site by 6 AM to inspect each lift before the mountain opens. No lift operates until it has been inspected by one of them.

There are many safety systems on a chairlift, including electronic ones. The more safety measures in place, the more likely it is that stoppages may occur. When a stoppage is triggered by an electronic device, one of our mechanics must go on site to inspect the issue before resuming operation. This is a race against time that is systematically conducted according to the rules to take all necessary precautions to avoid major problems.