Student Snowmakers Beat a Heatwave to Keep Their College Graduation on the Slopes

"The tradition, unique to the CMC Leadville campus, calls for graduating students to ski down Dutch Henry Hill in their caps and gowns while family and friends look on. This year the ceremony was in serious jeopardy, as the snowpack built up through November and December had largely melted by spring and organizers had already begun warning students the ski-down would not be happening."

"Students in the ski area operations program identified four consecutive nights with favorable snowmaking conditions and got to work. One student developed a detailed Excel spreadsheet analyzing temperature forecasts, wind direction, and optimal production windows. Over 50.5 total hours, the crew generated approximately one acre-foot of snow on the hill."

"That effort turned out to be enough, allowing graduates to make their commencement turns down the slope in academic regalia before the largest graduating class in Colorado Mountain College history. The college also awarded more degrees this year than at any point in its past."

"The snow held through the ceremony, though conditions thinned considerably near the base of the hill by the time the event wrapped. For a program that trains students to manage and maintain ski areas professionally, the last-minute snowmaking operation served as something of a capstone project executed under real pressure with real results."

Colorado Mountain College Leadville nearly canceled its tradition of graduates skiing down Dutch Henry Hill in caps and gowns. Warm, dry weather left the snowpack largely melted by spring, and organizers warned students the ski-down might not occur. Ski area operations students identified four consecutive nights with favorable snowmaking conditions and produced snow using a data-driven approach. One student created an Excel spreadsheet analyzing temperature forecasts, wind direction, and optimal production windows. Over 50.5 total hours, the crew generated about one acre-foot of snow on the hill. The snow remained through commencement, enabling the largest graduating class in the college’s history to complete the ceremony turns in academic regalia.

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