If you’ve ever skied at Nakiska, you know that we strive for great, dependable snow conditions all season long. But have you ever wondered how we manage to keep our slopes so smooth?

Snowmaking is an important component of our operations, ensuring consistent and high-quality skiing conditions throughout the season, in addition to all the snow Mother Nature provides.

We recognize that providing great skiing and riding conditions goes hand in hand with responsible water use. We have invested in technology and adopted practices that allow us to produce consistent, quality snow while being mindful of our water usage and energy consumption.

Making Every Drop Count

Water is a vital resource in snowmaking, and efficient use lets you produce more with less. By investing in current snow-making technology, we’re consuming water responsibly while still delivering exceptional ski surfaces on our slopes.

Nakiska has made significant upgrades to its snowmaking system, adding machines that dramatically improve efficiency and allowing us to produce more snow per gallon of water, making the process more sustainable. Our system is designed to cool compressed air effectively without using water, before we pipe it up the mountain for use in snowmaking, ensuring optimal snow coverage for our slopes while minimizing both water and energy use.

In addition to water conservation, maintaining Nakiska’s exceptional skiing conditions is equally important. By using technology that adjusts to temperature fluctuations, we can ensure that the right amount of snow is produced without excess water or energy usage.”

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Nakiska’s fleet of Tier 4 and Tier 5 snow grooming machines plays a vital role in providing a great skiing and riding surface. These eco-friendly machines groom the slopes efficiently, using less fuel and requiring fewer passes on the mountain, which makes our corduroy even smoother. By focusing on precision in both snow production and slope grooming, we provide excellent skiing terrain all while using a newer, energy-efficient fleet.

By starting to introduce Tier 5 grooming machines to our fleet, our new machines now meet the highest emission standards as the cleanest snow groomers in their class, playing a key role in our sustainability efforts.

Our Commitment to Sustainability

Nakiska’s approach to snowmaking is part of our broader commitment to sustainability and land stewardship. We are proud of the progress we’ve made and remain dedicated to continuously improving our practices. As we look to the future, we will continue investing in technologies that conserve water and energy. As snowmaking remains vital to our operations, we remain focused on executing it efficiently and sustainability.

At Nakiska, we’re committed to providing an exceptional recreational experience while also taking steps to best manage our stunning environment. As a longtime local operator with deep roots in the area, we understand the importance of balancing recreation with responsible and sustainable practices. We are always seeking new ways to minimize our footprint so that future generations can continue to enjoy Nakiska’s slopes.

While skiing is at the heart of what we do, we are mindful of environmental responsibility in our operations. Nakiska has implemented a range of initiatives that help minimize erosion, manage water use and decrease overall consumption of materials and fuels.

Reducing Our Footprint

Energy efficiency is a key area of focus across the ski area. Over the past several years we have made changes to reduce electricity use, particularly in heating systems (HVAC), lighting, and appliances. When it comes to our vehicles and equipment, we prioritize fuel reduction and extending the life of our machines through good maintenance practices. We also recycle oils, rubber, and metals from our fleet, ensuring that every aspect of our operations is aligned with our sustainability goals.

One of our recent efforts is waste reduction through a comprehensive recycling program. Plastics, cardboard, paper, aluminum and even cooking oils are all recycled at Nakiska. In our food operations, we are working to reduce the use of single-use items across Nakiska and aim to completely transition to fully recyclable and compostable products.

Our dedication to sustainability includes thoughtful management of our slopes, with responsible tree felling playing a key role in ensuring our on-slope work doesn’t impact wildlife. We carefully time this process to avoid disrupting migratory bird nesting patterns. By selectively removing only necessary trees, we create glades that maintain skiable terrain while leaving behind a natural layer of mulch. This mulch helps prevent soil erosion, supports healthy regrowth, and reduces the risk of invasive species. It enriches the soil with organic material, promoting ecosystem vitality while striking a balance between improving safety and protecting the natural environment.

Powering Our Slopes Sustainably

Water is critical for snowmaking, and we’re committed to using it wisely and sustainably. Nakiska has invested in highly efficient snowmaking systems to conserve water and reduce energy consumption. By regularly upgrading, maintaining, and fine-tuning our equipment and snowmaking process, we can provide top-quality skiing conditions while ensuring we are doing so in an environmentally responsible way.

For example, our fleet of Tier 4 snow grooming machines plays a big role in our sustainability efforts. They’re designed to burn less fuel and groom the slopes more efficiently, which not only saves energy but also reduces our impact on the mountain ecosystem itself. We also maintain our equipment to the highest standards, ensuring that it runs efficiently and produces fewer emissions.

An Eco-Friendly Future

We believe that the joy of skiing comes with the responsibility of sustainability. Our ongoing use of environmentally conscious practices reflects our desire to protect our slopes. By continually investing in new technologies, water conservation, and reducing waste, we are constantly evolving our approach. Our commitment to minimizing our environmental impact ensures that we can continue to provide outdoor adventures in a way that respects our natural surroundings.