Industry News
Two New Hampshire ski resorts are getting some upgrades this summer.
Located just 16 miles apart from each other, Wildcat Mountain and Attitash Mountain are getting significant upgrades to their snowmaking systems to improve early-season snowmaking capabilities and overall system performance. The upgrades will reduce air constraints during minimal temperature windows, helping the resorts open key terrain in the early-season weeks.
“These upgrades will allow us to make stronger, more consistent snow earlier in the season,” Pat Hogan, Director of Mountain Operations at Attitash and Wildcat, said in a press release. “By modernizing our system and optimizing equipment placement, we’re setting ourselves up for a more dependable start to winter and better snow quality throughout the season.”
According to Ski New Hampshire, the planned upgrades at Wildcat and Attitash include:
- Installation of a new air transducer to increase efficiency, accuracy, and responsiveness within Wildcat’s air system.
- Replacement of key snowmaking pipes at both resorts, improving reliability and system performance.
- Strategic relocation of existing snowguns at both resorts to optimize terrain progression and ensure snowmaking resources are deployed where they deliver the greatest early‑season impact.
- Integration of new‑to‑Wildcat equipment, expanding the resort’s snowmaking abilities and boosting output potential.
- Installing new low-energy snowguns on Saco Trail at Attitash Mountain.
A Strong 2025
With the new upgrades, Wildcat and Attitash owner Vail Resorts aims to build upon last season’s strong start in the Northeast. In 2025, Attitash’s opening day featured top-to-bottom terrain, getting skiers on many runs across the resort. Consistent snowmaking, temperatures and heavy early-season snowfall led Attitash to a successful opening. With the upgrades, the parent company plans to carry that momentum into 2026.
Snowmaking for the upcoming season will focus on Wildcat’s iconic Lynx Trail and expanding snowmaking capabilities at Attitash. The hope is that with better snowmaking systems, the resorts can “deliver earlier openings, more consistent conditions, and memorable experiences for skiers and riders all season long,” according to the release.
- Related: Snow Storage Offers Alternative To Snowmaking, Grows In Popularity Among North American Ski Areas
An Increased Reliance on Snowmaking
If there’s anything to be known about skiing, it is that no two seasons are the same. While 2025-26 may have brought early cold temperatures and snow to the Northeast, 2026-27 could bring something completely different. Because of this, ski resorts across the region are heavily investing in modernizing their snowmaking infrastructure.
As the climate continues to change, ski resorts find themselves with shorter early-season snowmaking windows. With more efficient snowmaking systems, resorts can churn out more snow when temperatures are favorable to open as much early-season terrain as possible.
With 2026-27 expected to be a strong El Niño year, temperatures throughout the winter are expected to be warmer than normal. While El Niño warmth is usually more exaggerated in the West and Midwest, it can bring fluctuating temperatures to the East Coast with a mix of rain and ice in the early season. With their new snowmaking upgrades, Wildcat Mountain and Attitash Mountain hope to capitalize on the first ideal snowmaking temperature, whenever it may come.
