Mother Nature gets a little help

Expecting temperatures in the lower 20s over the next few nights, Boreal Mountain Resort is putting its new fully automated snowmaking system to good use.

Catching the coldest temperatures of the night, the Boreal snowmaking crew will be running six to eight of their new 25 Snow Machine Incorporate fan guns from midnight to just after sunrise.

A $1.2 million snowmaking improvement, Boreal's new automated fan snowmaking system boasts high output capacity and energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions by more than 300 tons according to Boreal's Web site.

"It's an electric fan system instead of an on hill compressed air system," says Mountain Manager Shaydar Edelmann, adding that the new system's energy efficiency comes from not having to use 25,000 gallons of diesel fuel, a problem with the antiquated compressed air system.

In preparation for the fourth annual Jibassic Pro Invitational rail jam on Oct. 25, Boreal will be concentrating on blowing snow outside its main lodge. The new Castle Peak Quad lift will also be a target for Boreal's high tech snow fans.

According to the National Weather Service, a cold low pressure system dropping out of western Canada will bring gusty winds and much cooler weather to the Northern Sierra over the weekend. Edelmann and the snowmaking crew plan to be busy for the next few nights.

In addition to the man-made snow, Mother Nature will lend a helping hand over the weekend with a light dusting of snow above 4,000 feet.

While Boreal's opening day is still at the mercy of cooler temperatures, Edelmann hopes to get the mountain open soon.

"I can't say for sure when we are going to open," says Edelmann, "but we're targeting late October, early November."

Boreal has been the first resort open in the Tahoe area for the past decade.