I was surprised to find this pile of snow guns, methodically cut up into small pieces. They are snow logic tower guns, so they're not even that old.
My theory is that these guns were traded in under Vermont's efficiency program for snowmaking. As it is a scrappage program, it requires the old equipment to be destroyed, so it can never be used again. Think of it as cash for clunkers, but for snow guns.
Now, one may think that it makes no sense to scrap relatively new low-e guns, rather than 40+ year old K3000 air hogs, but I also have a theory for that. The efficiency program might not specify what type of guns need to be destroyed, so the resort would be able to pick whatever they want, as long as it is replaced by new low-e guns. The snow logic guns are known to be of poor quality, and because the manufacturer is out of business, there is no way to get spare parts. So it makes sense to break some up and part them out to keep the rest going. Killington still has snow logic guns on several trails, and they work ok in cold temps, so I imagine they'll still be used when it makes sense.
Also, North Ridge is set up for snowmaking.
www.killington.com
