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Show P.C. Resort Begins Making Snow If weather conditions are agreeable in the days ahead, snowmaking operations at Park City Resort will begin soon, even this week. "As long as the temperatures are cold, the whole run of Payday will be open by Thanksgiving," said the Resort's Marketing Director, Craig Badami. The snowmaking equipment is ready to go and Resort President, Ray Johnson, said the man-made snow will first be sprayed over lower Payday, then First Time and Nastar runs. The 4 Hedco snowmaking machines are being tested this week and will be put into action on certain areas of the mountain as soon as temperatures temperatur-es remain at 32 degrees. Ray Johnson said snow would be made over high traffic areas to insure top quality conditions for skiing this year. "We expect to start making snow tonight, if the cold front moves in," Johnson said earlier this week. All of the snowmaking equipment equip-ment is brand new. Johnson said the cost was around $350,000 including installation. Each of the 4 snowmaking machines costs $32,000 each. The system also has approximately approxi-mately 3 to 4 miles of pipe through which water will run from the golf course. A snowmaking crew has been formed which will employ anywhere any-where from 3 to 8 people, depending on the amount of skiers. Joe Molino will be in charge of the crew. He has been in the business of producing man-made snow for 15 years, mainly in resorts back east. This is Molino's first year at Park City Resort. "We'll always have some skiing," smiled Ray Johnson as he peered outside at one of the snowmaking machines. He added that snowmaking will be expanded in the future to cover more area of the mountain. Next year, a 500 gallon water tank will be installed on the top of Thaynes which could be used for Prospector Prospec-tor and King Kong runs. Water pipes will continue to be spread around, although Johnson said the expansion is expensive. The objective is to maintain good skiing on more areas of the mountain. Each machine sits on a skid and can be moved around by attaching it to a snow cat. With the addition of Park City's new snowmaking operation, Ray Johnson said "It'll definately be better this year." He added, "We're very happy and excited about getting it started." The President of the Resort said the ideal time to open would be the weekend before Thanksgiving. Thanks-giving. The ski season here did not begin last year until January 4. Whether it snows or not, if the temperatures are right, skiing in Park City could begin very soon. : : . f ' T ; ' , , - : - - i . . 4 7 - ' ' . i i i :" ,:tt ' .- tfcs .s - Ulsv'. n r - ' - - C ' : , '- -,: '-if, Two of the four Hedco snowmaWng machines recently purchased by Park City Resort. |