Archive for Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Too early for snowmaking at Chapman Hill
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Durango — The temperature may be in the teens at night, but man-made snow won’t pump out of Chapman Hill’s new snowmaking equipment for a few weeks, Durango’s director of Parks and Recreation said.
“Obviously, if it stays balmy and beautiful and warm, that’s not going to happen for a while,” Cathy Metz said.
Sunday’s low was 17 degrees, but the high was 48, according to Accuweather.
The City Council purchased snowmaking equipment for Chapman Hill in May for $502,000 and a used snowcat to move it around in September for $115,000.
The city operates a tow rope at the hill in the winter, but a lack of consistent natural snowfall kept the facility closed three of the past four years.
Metz said the new equipment will allow the city to run the hill from about mid-December to early March.
The season should line up with the first days of Durango School District’s winter break and spring break.
“Right now, it’s cold enough at night, but it’s not cold enough during the day,” said Matt Morrissey, recreation supervisor at Chapman.
Metz said the city has monitored temperatures at Chapman for each of the past four winters and that mid-December has been when the hill is cold enough to keep snow day and night.
Morrissey said he’s waiting until the days are about 30 degrees.
Crews with Parks and Recreation have been connecting the snow guns to the pump house at the top of the hill. Crews this week are pressure-testing water lines and finishing electrical work on the pump house.
Metz said the snowcat will arrive in Durango the first week of December.
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