New Snowguns Arrive at Hidden Valley Resort

This past summer, Pennsylvania’s Hidden Valley Resort was purchased by the Buncher Company, a developer based out of Pittsburgh. The new owners are wasting no time making improvements. This past week, the first 6 of 30 new state-of-the-art snowguns arrived at the ski area, ready for use this winter season. The remaining 24 snow guns just shipped from Europe and will arrive mid-November.

New snow guns arrived at Hidden Valley Resort this past week. Photo provided by Hidden Valley Resort.

Designed by Italy-based TechnoAlpin, the new M18 propeller-driven snow guns are fully automated and feature advanced atomization and nucleation technology. With power consumption of less than 20 kilowatt-hours per gun, each gun has 6 quadrijet fixed water nozzles and 12 adjustable nozzles with 6 nucleators, and can make snow at 29 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hidden Valley is also purchasing two new groomers and a half-pipe cutter for use this winter.

Local Retail Shops Honored by Ski Magazine

Each year, Ski Magazine ranks the best ski shops in the nation, highlighting tops shops in the regions of New England, the East, the Midwest, the Far West, and the Rockies. For the 2007-2008 winter season, several mid-Atlantic shops were awarded “Gold Medal” status. Washington D.C.’s Ski Center took top honors in the East, with recognition also going to Pro-Fit Ski and Skate in Leesburg, VA; Freestyle in Charlottesville, VA; Nestor’s Warming Hut in Whitehall, PA; and Pinnacle in Reading, PA.

North Carolina Ski Areas Association Offers Golf Card

Once again this winter, the North Carolina Ski Areas Association is selling a “Gold Card” season pass, valid anytime at all seven North Carolina ski areas. The Gold Card costs $750, and sales are limited to a total of 125 cards. The cards usually sell out each year.

The card is valid at Cataloochee Ski Area, Hawsnest Resort, Sapphire Valley Ski Area, Ski Beech, Appalachian Ski Mountain, Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, and Sugar Mountain Resort.

For more information or to purchase a card, visit www.goskinc.com/goldcard or call Holly Green at 828-898-4521 extension 227 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.