Anchorage, Alaska – When you think of places that need snowmaking, a ski area in Alaska isn’t the first place that comes to mind for many reasons.
While it could be argued that Hilltop Ski Area could operate without snowmaking, snowmaking allows it to open early and be open consistently during the winter. In addition, its elevation means that Hilltop doesn’t receive the snow that mountains like Alyeksa do.
To guarantee a long season, Hilltop decided to acquire new snowmaking equipment. Before the 2024-25 season, the Alaska ski area originally had nine snow guns. This year, Hilltop purchased nine snowmaking guns, doubling its snowmaking capacity. These additions allow Hilltop to make snow faster and be more efficient in producing the white stuff.
Alaska News Source caught up with Trevor Bird, the General Manager of Hilltop, and Sean Bradley, the Snow Services Manager at the ski area. Sean Bradley explained to them why this snowmaking project is so important:
“We need quite a bit just to have a stable, solid base to operate on, that provides us longevity into the season. It’s durable, we can groom it, people can ski it. It will hold up for many warm spells.”
An official opening date has yet to be announced, but Hilltop Ski Area is aiming to open during the first week of December.
Image/Video Credits: Hilltop Ski Area, Gabriel Simmons, Alaska News Source
