There’s A Big Green Machine At A Few U.S. Resorts
It’s More Than A Pretty Paint Job. It’s The World’s First Hybrid Snow Groomer.
Up the hill goes the PistenBully. Quietly. Credit: PistenBully
On the outside, it looks pretty much like all the others in a resort’s fleet. It has a fierce-looking blade up front, a cab in the middle, and a corduroy-making tiller behind. What’s “under the hood” makes the green groomer special.
The PistenBully 600 E+ is on the forefront of environmental kindness. It uses 20 percent less fuel, and its carbon emissions are reduced by 20 percent. In addition, there’s a major reduction in particles released. And it’s also quieter.
Those are major factors because grooming operations go on all night, every night, all season long, manicuring the snow into fresh corduroy for skiers every morning.
The green groomer is called the E+ because it makes its own electricity. That electricity powers its work-horse equipment including its tank-like tracks and its huge corduroy-making tiller. It’s a hybrid! It’s the world’s first diesel-electric snow groomer.
Alta got one of the very first PistenBully 600 E+ in the country. “The 600 E+ is a step towards the future just as we are seeing with electric cars,” said Buck Boley, Alta’s Director of Equipment Operations. “It’s a great snowcat, and we are happy to have one.”
Other resorts that have a 600 E+ include: Bromley, Cranmore, Jiminy Peak, Park City, Heavenly, Alpine Valley, WI, and Crystal Mountain, WA.
The groomer has joystick and lots of knobs and dials. A steep learning curve. Credit: Harriet Wallis
Taking a snow groomer for a test drive and getting it delivered is more complicated than buying a new car. Alta’s came from Peterson Equipment, the regional, Utah-based PistonBully dealer that’s been in the groomer business for nearly 60 years and was named the top snow groomer dealer in North America. Alta, now in its 82nd year, has earned many awards for its environmental commitment and leadership, so its 600E+ fits right in as a strategy to reduce environmental impact.
Looking to the future, total electric groomers are being tested, but they’re not yet ready for production, said Eric Kircher, a PistenBully Trainer and Technical Advisor. Kircher is an expert who travels to resorts to teach the fine points of groomer operation.
Nitty Gritty Specs About The PistenBully 600 E+
Where Manufactured: Germany
Engine: 6-cylinder, in-line Mercedes Benz
Fuel and Tank: 73 gallons, diesel
Speed: 12 mph, continuously variable depending on the work it’s doing
Torque: Its electric motors have full torque as soon as they start to turn at very low engine rpm.
Turning Radius: On the spot
Weight: About 10 tons
Cost: About the same as a large house.
Mystery Glimpse: From The Air
What Are We Looking At?
Thanks to a friendly aviator, we have this magnificent, recent (last week) view of a most formidable mountain resort. How’s your pattern recognition? Can tell us where it is? Major hint: That wide trail to the right is used for racing team practice.
Last Week
Yes, Lucille Ball visiting the Mittersill Alpine Resort in Franconia, NH, probably in the early-mid 60s. The man on the left is Gary Morton, her second husband, not her “I Love Lucy” husband-partner Desi Arnaz.
She and Desi can be credited with creating the sitcom format. Among her many other achievements was becoming the first female head of a major television-film production company, Desilu Productions. Her biography doesn’t reveal her attraction to snow country, however.
We can only guess she was a guest of Baron Hubert von Pantz, Mittersill’s founder and aristocratic host.
Desi, Jr., down in front looks like he could use a hot chocolate.
This photo is currently on display in the lobby of the Mittersill Alpine Resort along with other momentos of the hotel’s history. Among those is a page from the hotel registry featuring the signature of Princess Elizabeth, soon to be Queen, on a stop over trip during her tour of Canada.
Incidents & Accidents: 9
Funneled With No Place To Go.
Who: Randall White
Where: Mt St Louis, Ontario, Canada, near Toronto
What Happened: Skier-snowboarder collision at convergence and crossover of blue ski runs. These were moderate to high speed runs without any warning signs, and it was a crowded day. See recorded GoPro video for a detailed visual account of the accident, and thoughts on improvements.
Role of Ski Patrol: Neither person was seriously injured or required transport, so Patrol not called. The protocol at this ski area is for Patrol to take a “not injured statement and signature” from people. That is for relief of liability.
Lessons Learned: Read maps carefully, ski off to the side of the run in busy intersections, go slow, and watch out for fast skiers behind you. Runs with funnel points should be avoided or approached with caution.
Advice: Wear a flashing red bicycle light on your helmet aimed behind you. Choose one of very high lumens for daylight visibility. That may help reduce the probability of rear end collisions.
Action: Make a report to the manager of Ski Patrol, or the GM of the ski area for such hazardous conditions. Suggest that they install metering chicanes in such locations to slow skiers down and allow for safer crossovers and merges. See video.
For Prevention: Stay away from overcrowded ski slopes that are too close to large metropolitan areas. There are inherent hazards/accidents that while preventable, are unlikely to be corrected by the ski area operators.
CLICK BELOW TO SEE RANDALL’S STORY AND ANALYSIS OF THE CAUSE.
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