The Birth of "Snow Augmentation" at Sun Valley

While researching the 1976/77 drought year, I came across the article below in the Salt Lake Tribune describing the benefits of "Snow Augmentation" at Sun Valley (click to enlarge).  

Published in late December 1976 when Utah resorts were not operating due to a lack of snow, it describes initial use of artificial snowmaking at Sun Valley.  Today, Sun Valley probably has one of the best snowmaking systems in the world.  At that time, during the great snow drought of 1976/77, it enabled three runs to be open for the holidays.  As described in the article,

"Ribbons of artificial snow from two to three feet deep have been shot by air compressor-activated snow guns up to two-thirds of the way up the mountain."  

It goes on describe the artificial snow as "cube like crystals" with "a bit more density than nature's snow."  I'm sure that sounds familiar to today's skiers.  The system sounded pretty cutting edge for the time, pulling 1400 gallons a minute and putting down two acre-feet of snow in eight hours.  

I suspect in 1976 there were no Utah ski resorts with snowmaking.  It would be interesting to look into the history of snowmaking investment and expansion at our resorts.  Online articles suggest Deer Valley had a snowmaking system when it opened in 1981.  Prior to the 2002 Olympics, Snowbasin expanded and installed what was probably at the time the state's most expansive and sophisticated snowmaking system.  My recollection is that Alta was not yet making snow when I moved here in 1995, but perhaps my memory is inaccurate.  AI tells a lot of good stories, but they can be authoritative BS so I'm reluctant to use it here.  

That said, as we have learned this season, most contemporary snowmaking systems today are still at the mercy of Mother Nature.   If wet-bulb temperatures are too high, snowmaking efforts are hopeless.  This has been a major issue in Utah so far this season (although guns will be roaring in the during and in the wake of this latest cold surge).  All-weather snowmaking systems are available, but are expensive to buy and operate and not used to cover large areas of terrain.  

Let's hope we see a colder, snowier pattern emerge for 2026.