Snow Farming at Engetal

Two snow depots are installed at Engetal every summer. At the end of June, some 95,000 cubic metres of snow are compacted in an area of around 170x40 metres and 80x40 metres respectively and heaped in a trapezoid shape about 10 metres high. The larger snow depot, holding around two-thirds of the total snow volume, is positioned at the entrance to the piste, the smaller depot slightly lower down at the lowest point of the piste.

It takes painstaking manual work to cover the upper surface with perimeter insulation boards made of rigid foam, which are then covered with foam mats which are fixed with seam sealing tape. Finally, the entire depot is covered with white glacier membranes, with the ends embedded in the ground to ensure optimum fixation.

The snow depots are uncovered at the end of October, the snow is spread out and used to make a ski piste. Given the barren, rocky nature of the terrain, 95,000 cubic metres of snow in total are needed to secure piste No. 11. The already available snow means that the winter season can get off to an early start – as early as the beginning of November. This is much appreciated by the region's ski teams, as it gives them the opportunity to train for the upcoming season without great expense or the need to travel far.

Potential alternatives to the snow farming project are installing an artificial snowmaking system or carrying out an extensive piste correction. However, these two options are less suitable than snow depots from both an environmental and landscape conservation perspective and were therefore rejected.

Sustainability impact

• Snow is recycled
• Allows for an early season start
• Training opportunities for local ski teams without the need for great expense or travel
• Environmentally friendly alternative to other snowmaking methods