Squaw Valley / Alpine Meadows have investted $1.4 million in snow surface enhancements for the 2016-17 season. Alpine Meadows improves the snowmaking infrastructure on Kangaroo Run, whilst Squaw Valley investments include three new SMI fan guns, 12 HKD low energy guns, replacement of air and water pipelines and upgrades to 102 automatic snowmaking hydrants, allowing the system to go online at high speeds. These enhancements reduce the communication time from the hydrant to the snowmaking pump house from minutes to seconds, increasing the ability to operate more snow guns simultaneously.

Squaw Valley I Alpine Meadows perfects trail surfaces with two new PistenBully 600 Winch Cats designed for grooming steep slopes. These powerhouse machines allow for maximum ground coverage and high angle grooming while providing fuel savings over current machines. A PistenBully 100 and a PistenBully ParkPro also join the fleet at Alpine Meadows, with the ParkPro dedicated to precision shaping in the terrain parks.

An additional $1.5 million in snow removal equipment at both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows improves ease and timeliness to lift access on big snow days. www.squawalpine.com

Mt. Rose has also investted heavily with Trail Improvements & Snowmaking Upgrades. Previously requiring significant natural snowfall in order to be constructed from the unload of the Blazing Zephyr 6 chairlift to the upper section of the Northwest Passage trail on the north side of the mountain, the Main Lodge return trail is now graded and contoured into a more productive, functional ski trail. As a result of these improvements and requiring only minimal snowmaking, the Slide Bowl side of the resort is now expected to be accessible much earlier in the season than ever before.

System improvements more than double the amount of snow that can be produced, allowing the resort to make snow more efficiently and offer expanded areas of terrain. http://skirose.com

Homewood Snowcat Adventures Begin there First Full Season, Following the successful launch of Homewood Snowcat Adventures during the last half of the 2015-16 winter season, the resort again offers snowcat accessed backcountry skiing and riding during the 2016-17 season. Groups of up to 10 advanced level skiers and riders can enjoy guided access to over 750 acres of tree runs, steeps, glades, backcountry bowls and untouched powder. All day packages include lift access at Homewood, the snowcat tour, backcountry gear and professional instruction related to mountain safety practices. www.skihomewood.com/snowcat