Snowmaking is not for the weak. It’s often a roller coaster ride full of twists and turns that keeps everyone guessing about what’s around the corner and how and when the crazy ride is going to end.
Over the past several days we’ve managed to make some big piles of snow but not without experiencing quite a few challenges. We discovered several of the bolts that hold the drive sprocket on our newest groomer were broken so before we had major problems, we parked it and are waiting on parts that are being overnighted. While that sits, we are down to one groomer that is limping along with a coolant leak out of the radiator.
Sunday night after we closed, we experienced an unexpected power outage that forced our guys to have to shut down snow making in the dark where they had to deal with the bitter temps, lots of frozen guns, frozen hoses, etc. With those complications we lost a compressor on one of our snow guns which forced us to bring it to the shop and swap it with a spare (thankfully we had one!). We had a flat tire on the groomer, a burned up electrical outlet to be changed, and a sick snowmaker (which a friend pitched in last minute and bailed us out). We had a snowmaking pipe that froze and burst, and a frozen water line in one of our buildings. There is probably more that I can’t think of at the moment but I think you get the picture.
The good news is that we haven’t thrown in the towel and will continue to fight to keep going until we can’t!
So, on one hand the last several days have been hard and super frustrating. But you know what else? It was awesome. We had some amazing clutch experiences by our staff. We had new and old employees and friends step up in ways you could never experience if you didn’t lay it all on the line and keep pressing forward.
Don’t give up. What we do is not glamorous…really what anyone does in the day to day doldrums of life is less than glamorous, but showing up and giving 100% matters – not just for yourself, but for everyone. Put one foot in front of the other…the sun will rise and things will get better. Have a good day friends and if you get a chance thank a snowmaker!
