Kesako? To produce artificial snow, we simply use cold ambient air and pure water (without additives) pressurized using the small nozzles of the snow guns. Most of the water withdrawn is then returned to the natural environment in the spring. Most of the artificial snow is produced in late fall and early winter. This underlay ensures the opening of the areas (alpine & nordic) at the start of the season (mid-December). It is also essential to maintain the slopes at the end of the season (until mid-April). All you need to know about artificial snow ... Progress The equipment and techniques have greatly improved, allowing considerable energy savings to be made. - Thanks to developments in measuring equipment (temperature, wind, etc.), control and the snow guns themselves, production is now optimized. The artificial snow has also improved in quality. - Grooming now also makes it possible to better conserve snow while saving fuel thanks to the centimetric GPS units fitted to the machines. The Saisies resort won the Eco-Damage Trophy in 2017 & 2018. More info ... - The snow cover of culture perpetuates the opening of the domains (Alpine & Nordic) on fixed dates. - All projects are carried out in strict compliance with environmental standards. Certain developments (eg around the Route des Crêtes) allow farmers who work in the pastures in summer to take advantage of water points. This avoids many trips by tractors to get them.
Snow farmers (snowfarming) For several years now, the SPL Domaines Skiables des Saisies has been experimenting with SnowFarming. This is a gentle and environmentally friendly method of conserving snow from one winter to the next. When it is left at the end of the season, it is gathered in a sheltered place and covered with a thick layer of sawdust from recycling and reused each year. This is a constantly evolving experimental process. This summer, for example, the sawdust layer was watered regularly to limit melting. The remaining snow (between 60% and 80% of the initial storage) is used to open a Nordic ski slope of about 1.5 km from mid-November.
The Network in Figures - 4 hill reservoirs (Challiers, Bisanne, Lézette and Pêchette). - 653 snow cannons in the Espace Diamant. - 45% of the area covered by cultural snowmaking. - 1 m3 of water = 2 m3 of snow - 1 to 3 kWh = 1 m3 of snow Discover the profession of SnowMaker In winter our SnowMaker (snowmakers in French in the text) welcome you once a week to explain their job to you. They are the ones who manage the network, monitor the installations and are the guarantors of efficient and optimized production ... They will gladly show you around the installations to explain the smallest workings to you. This is a free, very interesting and educational activity for the whole family. Do not hesitate to inquire at the Piste Service once there.
