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57-557: After the 2010s modernization, the ski area has expanded from 50 hectares (120 acres) to 80 hectares (200 acres) and the slope’s length increased from 13.8 km (8.6 mi) to 23.9 km (14.9 mi). Most slopes now have snow cannons installed. In 2013, Poiana Brașov hosted figure skating, alpine skiing, and short track in the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival . The resort is located at about 1,020 metres (3,350 feet) above sea level near

114-509: A 250 room hotel, convention centre, private residences and other amenities. Sullivan Resorts LLC was said to be "a subsidiary of owner Louis Cappelli's Valhalla-based Cappelli Enterprises". The author of a news item in September 2019 did not seem as certain as to the long-term plan for the property. Like most Catskill resorts, Grossinger's grew over time, evolving from a Victorian hotel, later remodeled with Mission-style improvements, through

171-460: A Tudor-styled expansion in the 1940s and ending with the construction of Modernist-styled accommodations and entertainment facilities in the 1950s and 1960s. The original building, the former Nichols House, was designed by Frank Cottle, a local architect. Competition from nearby resorts drove the 1940s expansion, expanding the dining room on a large scale and creating the Terrace Room club and

228-490: A bigger house on 100 acres (0.40 km ), calling it Grossinger's Terrace Hill House. Reportedly, the Grossinger family offered a million dollars to rename the local New York, Ontario and Western Railway train station at Ferndale to "Grossingers", but were rebuffed by competing hoteliers. In 1952, Grossinger's earned a place in the history of skiing as the first resort in the world to use artificial snow . During

285-484: A central location. Operational parameters are: starting and stopping time, quality of snow, maximum wet-bulb temperature in which to operate, maximum windspeed, horizontal and vertical orientation, and sweep angle (to cover a wider or narrower area). Sweep angle and area may follow wind direction. Smaller versions of the snow machines found at ski resorts exist, scaled down to run off household size air and water supplies. Home snowmakers receive their water supply either from

342-454: A garden hose or from a pressure washer , which makes more snow per hour. Plans also exist for do-it-yourself snowmaking machines made out of plumbing fittings and special nozzles, or pressure washer nozzles. Pressurized air is typically supplied from standard air compressors. Volumes of snow output by home snowmakers depend on the air/water mixture, temperature, wind variations, pumping capacity, water supply, air supply, and other factors. Using

399-671: A household spray bottle will not work unless temperatures are well below the freezing point of water. By the 2009–2010 ski season, it was estimated that around 88% of ski resorts belonging to the US National Ski Areas Association were using artificial snow to supplement natural snowfall. In the European Alps the proportion of ski slopes that can be covered by artificial snow varies among countries (Germany 25%, France 37%, Switzerland 53%, Austria 70%, Italy 90%). Since 1985, average aggregate temperatures in

456-524: A lawsuit against the US Forest Service and Arizona Snowbowl. Plaintiffs alleged that undertaking such a project would significantly alter and damage the cultural and spiritual nature of the mountain. This legal challenge ultimately failed in 2009. In Swedish, the phrase "snow cannon" ( Snökanon ) is used to designate the lake-effect snow weather phenomenon. For example, if the Baltic Sea

513-466: A likely increase of 1.5 °C (2.7 °F), and an average increase in temperatures in the US of between 1.7 °C (3 °F) and 6.7 °C (12 °F) by 2100. Furthermore, scientists predict that snow cover in the northern hemisphere will decrease by 15% by the end of the century with snowpack decreasing and snow seasons shortening concurrently. It's been projected that by the 2050s, fewer than half of

570-661: A negative cultural externality is the contention surrounding use of artificial snow at Arizona Snowbowl , a ski resort in Northern Arizona. Arizona Snowbowl is situated in the San Francisco peaks, which are one of the holiest sites for various Native American tribes in the Four Corners area, including the Navajo Nation . In 2004, Arizona Snowbowl was renting its slopes from the US Forest Service, and

627-524: A temperate-continental climate. The average temperature in summer is 20 °C and in winter -4 °C. There is a snow cover of about 50–60 cm which lasts from mid-November until mid-March, for about 120 days a year. However, snowfalls can occur from the end of September. Poiana Brașov is host to several hotels and restaurants, the majority of which cater to foreign tourists. Two of the better known restaurants are Șura Dacilor ( The Dacians ' Barn ) and Coliba Haiducilor ( The Outlaws' Shack ). There

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684-408: A tower or on a stand on the ground. It uses higher pressure water and air, while a fan gun uses a powerful axial fan to propel the water jet to a great distance. A modern snow fan usually consists of one or more rings of nozzles which inject water into the fan air stream. A separate nozzle or small group of nozzles is fed with a mix of water and compressed air and produces the nucleation points for

741-410: Is 100–150 feet (30–46 m), for fan guns 250–300 feet (76–91 m). From these hydrants 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 –2 in (38–51 mm) pressure resistant hoses are connected similar to fire hoses with camlocks to the snow machine. The infrastructure to support snowmaking may have a negative environmental impact, altering water tables near reservoirs and mineral and nutrient content of the soil under

798-407: Is about 0.6–0.7 kW h/m for lances and 1–2 kW h/m for fan guns. The density of artificial snow is between 400 and 500 kg/m and the water consumption for producing snow is roughly equal to that number. Snowmaking begins with a water supply such as a river or reservoir. Water is pumped up a pipeline on the mountain using very large electric pumps in a pump house. This water

855-430: Is also one nightclub, Capra Neagră ( The Chamois ). There are 7 main ski / snowboard slopes in the resort: magic cover ski lift aerial tramway gondola Snow cannon Snowmaking is the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a " snow gun ", also known as a " snow cannon ". Snowmaking is mainly used at ski resorts to supplement natural snow. This allows ski resorts to improve

912-444: Is always below the outside temperature. The damper the air, the less moisture it can absorb. The higher the atmospheric humidity, the colder it must be to turn the small water droplets into snow crystals. Examples: To start a snowmaking system a wet-bulb temperature of −2.5 °C (27.5 °F) is required. If the atmospheric humidity is very low, this level can be reached at temperatures slightly above 0 °C (32 °F), but if

969-420: Is augmented due to their potential impact on lower populations and properties. Snowmaking machines generally require between 3,000 and 4,000 cubic meters of water per hectare of slope covered. Accordingly, it takes approximately 106 gallons (400 litres) of water to produce one cubic meter of snow, and snowmaking machines use about 107 gallons (405 litres) of water per minute. A significant amount of this water

1026-421: Is distributed through an intricate series of valves and pipes to any trails that require snowmaking. Most resorts also add a nucleating agent to ensure that as much water as possible freezes and turns into snow. These products are organic or inorganic materials that facilitate the water molecules to form the proper shape to freeze into ice crystals . The products are non-toxic and biodegradable. The next step in

1083-400: Is estimated that in years of lower snowfall, there is about a US$ 1 billion decrease in economic activity. The implementation and use of artificial snow making technologies requires the undertaking of major infrastructural projects. These projects result in significant disruptions to local ecosystems. A major infrastructural project associated with the use of artificial snowmaking technology is

1140-449: Is lost due to evaporation, and thus is not returned to the water table. Furthermore, it takes approximately 3.5 to 4.3 kWh of energy to produce one cubic meter of snow; however, this number can be as high as 14   kWh, or as low as 1   kWh per cubic meter of snow. Snowmaking accounts for approximately 50% of the average American ski resort's energy costs, which amounts to about $ 500,000. Ski resorts often use mineralized water in

1197-415: Is not viable given the current technology. The photograph of Parsenn to the right demonstrates the use of artificial snow to supplement natural snowfall. The strip of white going down the mountain is a ski slope that has been opened due to extensive use of snowmaking technology. As the use of artificial snow becomes more common and efficient, developers may seek to build new or expand existing ski resorts, as

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1254-621: Is not yet frozen in January, cold winds from Siberia may lead to significant snowfall. Grossinger%27s Catskill Resort Hotel Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel was a resort in the Catskill Mountains in the Town of Liberty , near the village of Liberty, New York . It was a kosher establishment that catered primarily to Jewish clients from New York City . Under the direction of hostess Jennie Grossinger , it became one of

1311-496: Is only returned to the water table through runoff. As a result of changing weather patterns, snowmaking has become a major revenue-making activity due to a shortage in the supply of natural snow. However, it poses significant environmental threats that may serve to perpetuate the issue that resulted in an increased demand for artificial snow in the first place. The EPA forecasts temperatures to increase by between 0.28 °C (0.5 °F) and 4.8 °C (8.6 °F) globally with

1368-550: The contiguous United States for the months of November through February have consistently been above the average temperatures for those months measured between 1901 and 2000 as graphed in Figure 1. Such a trend both limits and encourages the use of artificial snow. Rising temperatures will result in greater snowmelt and decreased snowfall, thus forcing ski resorts to depend more heavily upon the use of artificial snow. However, once temperatures approach 6 °C (43 °F), snowmaking

1425-484: The wet-bulb temperature of the air is as high as −1 °C (30 °F). The lower the air temperature is, the more and the better snow a cannon can make. This is one of the main reasons snow cannons are usually operated in the night. The quality of the mixing of the water and air streams and their relative pressures is crucial to the amount of snow made and its quality. Modern snow cannons are fully computerized and can operate autonomously or be remotely-controlled from

1482-584: The 1890s. After several failed business ventures, Asher's health was failing, and around 1913 the family moved from New York City to Ferndale in Sullivan County in the Catskill Mountains in the 1900s. There he rented rooms to visitors from New York City. His wife, Malka, operated the kosher kitchen, and Jennie Grossinger (1891–1972), his daughter, was the hostess. They called their home Longbrook House. In 1919, they sold it and purchased

1539-487: The 21 locations historically used for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics (up to Beijing 2022) would still have reliable weather conditions. These predicted changes in temperature and snowfall patterns will induce ski resorts to rely more heavily upon artificial snow which uses significant amounts of water and electricity. As a result, ski resorts will further contribute to the production of greenhouse gases and

1596-576: The French Alps, US$ 1,005 in Austria, and US$ 415 in Switzerland. Furthermore, 50% of the average American ski resort's energy costs are generated by the production of artificial snow. Snowmaking machines allow ski resorts to extend their seasons and sustain their businesses in times of low snowfall. With changing climate trends, snowfall is becoming increasingly unpredictable, thus jeopardizing

1653-629: The additional economic value of winter tourism in the United States is estimated to be around US$ 12.2 billion per year. These additional benefits come in the form of spending at hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and other local businesses. Additionally, winter tourism supports around 211,900 jobs in the United States, which amounts to a total of approximately US$ 7 billion paid in benefits and salaries, US$ 1.4 billion paid in state and local taxes, and US$ 1.7 billion paid in federal taxes. The economic benefits of snow sports are great, but also fragile. It

1710-427: The air humidity is high, colder temperatures are required. Temperatures around freezing point are referred to as borderline temperatures or limit temperatures. If the wet-bulb temperature drops, more snow can be produced faster and more efficiently. Snowmaking is an energy-intense process, and has environmental impacts, both of which inherently limit its use. Americans Art Hunt, Dave Richey, and Wayne Pierce invented

1767-400: The area. The Concord Resort was part of the same deal. Demolition of the remaining buildings on the resort started in summer 2018. The last building at Grossinger's was demolished on October 19, 2018. One of the remaining buildings on the property burned to the ground on August 16, 2022. In February 2019, a news report stated that Sullivan Resorts LLC intended to build a "$ 50 million resort with

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1824-435: The atmosphere to freeze the water. From this plant the air travels up a separate pipeline following the same path as the water pipeline. The water is sometimes mixed with ina (ice nucleation-active) proteins from the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae . These proteins serve as effective nuclei to initiate the formation of ice crystals at relatively high temperatures, so that the droplets will turn into ice before falling to

1881-540: The city of Brașov in Romania and is easily accessible by road. Regular buses operated by Brașov Transit ( RATBV ) serve the 12 km (7.5 mi) route between Brașov and Poiana Brașov (lines 20 and 100). The resort also runs minibuses that take visitors from hotels to the base of the ski, these cover areas where people can hike or take a cable car to the Cristianu Mare or Postăvaru summits. Poiana Brașov has

1938-434: The composition of snow produced using snow guns differs from that of natural snow, and as such provides for improved conditions for winter sports competitions. It is often favoured by professionals for being fast and "hyper-grippy" but also raises their fear of falling on it. The most visible negative externalities resulting from snowmaking are the adverse environmental impacts. However, in addition to environmental impacts,

1995-463: The decline began. By the late 1970s and 1980s, resorts like Grossinger's or the Concord could no longer attract younger guests. In August 1984, Grossinger's, in its dying years, promoted a Woodstock weekend to mark the 15th anniversary of the festival. It featured a workshop in tie-dyeing, a musical performance by David-Clayton Thomas , formerly of Blood, Sweat & Tears , a midnight showing of

2052-529: The direct effects of the production of artificial snow, snowmaking practices result in various secondary effects. Positive externalities resulting from the production of artificial snow include positive impacts on local economies, increased opportunities for physical activity, and improved competition conditions. Furthermore, producing artificial snow allows ski resorts to extend the amount of time that they are operational, thus increasing opportunities for people to participate in outdoor physical activities. Finally,

2109-412: The economic success of ski resorts. Between 2008 and 2013, American ski and snowboard resorts experienced annual revenues of about US$ 3 billion. Such high levels of revenue increase the demand for predictable and adequate amounts of snow cover, which can be achieved through artificial snowmaking practices. While the economic benefit of ski resorts has been around US$ 3 billion in recent years (see Figure 2),

2166-520: The equipment operator. Today, computer control supplements that skill with greater precision, such that a snow gun operates only when snowmaking is optimal. The key considerations in snow production are increasing water and energy efficiency and increasing the environmental window in which snow can be made. Snowmaking plants require water pumps – and sometimes air compressors when using lances – that are both very large and expensive. The energy required to make artificial snow

2223-491: The four-hour documentary Woodstock , and an appearance by John Sebastian , who advised, "Don't eat the purple tzimmes ." Abbie Hoffman , who was thrown off the Woodstock stage by Pete Townshend of The Who for making a political speech, was brought in by Grossinger's for the promotion. In 1986, the Grossinger descendants sold the property to Servico. Grossinger's main hotel and main resort areas closed in 1986, but

2280-470: The golf course stayed open until 2017, and was kept maintained. The members of the golf clubhouse called the course "Big G". The golf course clubhouse was demolished in July 2018. Servico failed to reopen the hotel due to the massive costs associated with it. Numerous other companies also failed to accomplish the same feat. It was owned by Louis Cappelli as of September 2013, who was hoping for casinos to come to

2337-516: The ground. The bacterium itself uses these ina proteins in order to injure plants. The pipes following the trails are equipped with shelters containing hydrants, electrical power and, optionally, communication lines mounted. Whereas shelters for fan guns require only water, power and maybe communication, lance shelters usually need air hydrants as well. Hybrid shelters allow maximum flexibility to connect each snow machine type as they have all supplies available. The typical distance for lance shelters

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2394-529: The issue of water scarcity . In addition to long-term environmental impacts, artificial snow production poses immediate environmental challenges. Artificial snow takes around two to three weeks longer to melt than does natural snow. As such, the use of artificial snow introduces new threats and challenges to local flora and fauna. Furthermore, the high mineral and nutrient content of the water used to produce artificial snow changes soil composition, which in turn affects which plants are able to grow. In addition to

2451-527: The largest Borscht Belt resorts. After decades of activity and notable guests, it closed in 1986. Most of the buildings on site had been demolished by 2018; however, a few remained in decrepit condition, and were destroyed in a fire in 2022. Asher Selig Grossinger and his wife, Malka Grumet Grossinger, were both born in Baligrod , a small village in Galicia , Poland. They immigrated to the United States in

2508-669: The mountain reservoir. Many mountain reservoirs are embankment dams that feed underground water pipelines, and pose significant safety risks to nearby populations and ecosystems. In addition to the hazards posed by conventional reservoirs and dams, mountain reservoirs are subject to a variety of mountain-specific hazards. Such hazards include avalanches, rapid flows, and landslides. Approximately 20% of mountain reservoirs are built on avalanche-prone sites, and about 50% are prone to very high hazards. Additionally, mountain reservoirs expel water very quickly, causing massive floods, and significantly jeopardizing public safety. The severity of these hazards

2565-473: The production of artificial snow results in significant negative cultural and social externalities. Such externalities include issues regarding land use and land rights. Many ski resorts rent out mountains and slopes from the US Forest Service , which raises questions surrounding how the land can and should be used, and who should be the arbiter of determining appropriate uses. A specific example of

2622-400: The production of artificial snow, which has adverse impacts on surrounding ecosystems and water tables. Mountain reservoirs are often filled with highly mineralized water, and the runoff from these reservoirs affects the mineral and chemical composition of groundwater, which in turn pollutes drinking water. Furthermore, mountain reservoirs do not allow water to seep back into the ground, so water

2679-446: The reliability of their snow cover and to extend their ski seasons from late autumn to early spring. Indoor ski slopes use snowmaking. They can generally do so year-round as they have climate-controlled environments. The use of snowmaking machines has become more common as changing weather patterns and the popularity of indoor ski resorts create a demand for snow beyond that which is provided by nature. Snowmaking machines have addressed

2736-409: The required high-output water pumps, but not an air pump. Onboard compressors are cheaper and easier than having a dedicated pumping house. The air is generally cooled and excess moisture is removed before it is sent out of the plant. Some systems even cool the water before it enters the system. This improves the snowmaking process as the less heat in the air and water, the less heat must be dissipated to

2793-646: The shortage in the supply of snow; however, there are significant environmental costs associated with the artificial production of snow. According to the European Environment Agency , the length of snow seasons in the northern hemisphere has decreased by five days each decade since the 1970s, thus increasing the demand for the production of artificial snow. Some ski resorts use artificial snow to extend their ski seasons and augment natural snowfall; however, there are some resorts that rely almost entirely upon artificial snow production. Artificial snow

2850-408: The snow cannon in 1950, but secured a patent sometime later. In 1952, Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel became the first in the world to use artificial snow. Snowmaking began to be used extensively in the early 1970s. Many ski resorts depend heavily upon snowmaking. Snowmaking has achieved greater efficiency with increasing complexity. Traditionally, snowmaking quality depended upon the skill of

2907-425: The snow crystals. The small droplets of water and the tiny ice crystals are then mixed and propelled out by a powerful fan , after which they further cool through evaporation in the surrounding air as they fall to the ground. The crystals of ice act as seeds to make the water droplets freeze at 0 ° C (32 ° F ). Without these crystals the water would supercool instead of freezing . This method can produce snow when

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2964-586: The snow itself. There are many forms of snowmaking guns; however, they all share the basic principle of combining air and water to form snow. For most guns the type or "quality" of snow can be changed by regulating the amount of water in the mixture. For others, the water and air are simply on or off and the snow quality is determined by the air temperature and humidity. In general there are three types of snowmaking guns: internal mixing, external mixing and fan guns. These come in two main styles of makers: air water guns and fan guns. An air water gun can be mounted on

3021-460: The snowmaking process is to add air using an air plant. This plant is often a building which contains electric or diesel industrial air compressors the size of a van or truck. However, in some instances air compression is provided using diesel-powered, portable trailer-mounted compressors which can be added to the system. Man fan-type snow guns have on-board electric air compressors, which allows for cheaper and more compact operation. A ski area may have

3078-423: The years that the resort was operated by their daughter Jennie Grossinger , it expanded to over 35 buildings. The main building contained an enormous dining room capable of seating 1,300 guests; under the dining room there was a vast, cavernous night club called the “Terrace Room". It had its own airstrip and post office. During his fighting days, Rocky Marciano would train at the resort. In 1972, Jennie died and

3135-463: Was looking to build new ski slopes and increase the production of artificial snow. The proposed project would involve the clearing of approximately 74 acres (30 ha) of forest, the use of reclaimed water to produce artificial snow, the construction of a three-acre holding pond for reclaimed water, and the installation of an underground pipeline. A group of plaintiffs made up of members from six Native American tribes and various other organizations filed

3192-556: Was the case with the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort. Such an action could cause significant deforestation, the loss of fragile and rare ecosystems, and cultural opposition. The high costs associated with the production of artificial snow serve as a barrier to entry for its use. It was estimated that in 2008 it cost approximately US$ 131,000 to purchase a snow gun and develop the necessary infrastructure. Overall, approximately US$ 61 million have been invested in snowmaking technology in

3249-658: Was used extensively at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing to supplement natural snowfall and provide the best possible conditions for competition. The production of snow requires low temperatures. The threshold temperature for snowmaking increases as humidity decreases. Wet-bulb temperature is used as a metric since it takes air temperature and relative humidity into account. The bulb temperature

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