Adirondack Sports March 2024

MARCH 2024 43
COMMUNITY continued from 41
This makes a big difference for the mountain, with the
most terrain of any ski area in New York. Gore is three
times the size it was two decades ago, yet it uses about the
same amount of energy as it did back then.
“The higher-efficiency system is not just to get it done
quicker, but with climate change and our cold-weather
windows getting smaller and less of them, we have to have
more efficient equipment, or we’re just never going to get
it done,” Dan explained.
The snow guns pull from a reservoir halfway up the
mountain that holds 30 million gallons of water. Since
Gore uses about 300 million gallons of water to make
snow each winter, it pumps up from the Hudson River to
fill the reservoir.
Dan explained that Gore has been using water from
the reservoir since 1976 and additionally drawing from
the Hudson River since 1996. These pipes and snowmaking
equipment require nonstop maintenance, which is a
massive part of the snowmakers’ job.
“When you move 300 million gallons of water through
above-ground pipes when it’s ten below zero, stuff tends
to break,” Dan explained.
His seasonal crew includes about 25 employees, who
work around the clock over three shifts: 7:30am to 4pm,
3:30pm to midnight, and 11:30pm to 8am. They work
closely with the grooming team to ensure they follow the
same plan and everyone is safe, especially when sharing
the trails with groomers at night.
In the summer, Dan can keep about six staff members,
including himself, on his core team. Two of them have
been working at Gore for over 20 years. This marks Dan’s
16th season.
This year, the crew earned their first nomination to
the annual I AM a Snowmaker contest to recognize “the
hard work, determination and camaraderie of snowmakers,
and recognize their critical contributions,” according
to Ski Area Management magazine. They were asked to
create a “Day in the Life” video to capture the essence of
their snowmaking team, which they did with the help of
Gore’s marketing department: youtube.com/watch?v=w-
90sUpD7gk4.
While they didn’t win, (Greek Peak Mountain Resort in
Cortland won), Dan said they appreciated the recognition.
“We’re the behind-the-scenes guys,” he noted. “Nobody
sees what we’re doing or how we’re doing it. I think there’s
a misconception that you just turn some valves on, go
home, come back in the morning, and everything’s fine,
but you have to be walking the trails constantly.
“Guns and pipes freeze; the system and equipment can
be temperamental. It’s never-ending work,” Dan added.
“If I didn’t have these guys, especially my core group of
year-round guys… I wouldn’t be able to get this stuff done.
They’re the ones who know what they’re doing.”
Adirondack Sports would like to thank and recognize
ALL the snowmakers and groomers at Gore, Whiteface,
ski areas of New York, and across the Northeast, who have
made the most of a challenging winter!
● MEMBERS OF GORE’S
SNOWMAKING TEAM. ▶
Alex Kochon (alexkochon@gmail.com) of Gansevoort
is a freelance writer, editor, and outdoor-loving mom
of two who enjoys adventuring in the Adirondacks. A
longtime journalist and former ski reporter, she has
covered Olympics, world championships, and athletes
of all calibers. She shares her passion for sports and
recreation as a sales and content contributor for
curated.com.
● SNOWMAKING MOUNDS.
● HKD SNOWMAKERS
ON THE SUNWAY TRAIL.
GORE MOUNTAIN/OLYMPIC AUTHORITY