Installation on a slope
In snow storage, many variables influence the optimal outcome, so the locations and shape of snow pile used for snow storage must be carefully planned. Snow Secure provides customers example plans for snow pile shaping prior to storage and assists in planning if needed.
For clean snow storage, extra snow is made during the peak winter frosts. Final shaping, insulating and protection is done during the spring time. In autumn once the snow storage pile is opened, an approximately one-metre-thick snow layer is spread onto the slope.
In the spring, when collecting snow for storage, it is also possible to scrape along the ground, in which case some of the snow will be dirty. In this case, the dirty snow will be used to create the bottom layer and, at the beginning of the season, covered with a fresh layer of snow made using a snow cannon.
Zagreb/Slejme, Croatia. Snow scraped from the slope. A pile of dirty snow will soon be insulated and stored until the autumn. The snow was spread in the early winter to form a base layer, and new clean snow was made using a snow cannon once the temperature dropped below zero. This was done to ensure that there would be snow for the FIS World Cup 50th Anniversary. On the right side: Clean, stored snow is being moved to the slope in Ruka in 2016.
Piles of storaged clean spring snow can be used to open the desired number of slopes normally about one month earlier than only with new fresh artifial snow. With the combination of dirty snow and new artificial snow, more slopes can be opened very quickly as soon as the temperature falls.
Snow can be stored either on gently sloping skiing slopes, next to a slope or on flat areas nearby. Depending on the amount of snow needed, piles of up to 20 000 m3 can be created. In a ski slope, snow is piled up and insulated at the end of the season. Storage piles located next to a slope can be insulated at any time during the winter.
Snow Secure’s system for insulating snow storage piles and handling the folding insulation covers is really simple and fast. The film that is installed on top of the insulation covers prevents water vapour and rainwater from entering the snow, and the plastic also acts as a storm shield. Instead of PE film, thick geotextiles can also be used as protection. Snow Secure's own upcoming waterproof surface cover is in the testing phase.
If necessary, a Snow Secure representative will guide you through the insulation installation and disassembly process.