Ski resorts to invest in ‘Hi-Glo' snow system

Following trials in the US at CopperBeech Mountain resort, French ski resorts are looking into investing in a system to colour the snow as it falls, making it easier for skiers and pisteurs alike, called HiGloSno.

The system, which claims to be entirely organic and biodegradable, uses launchers similar to those used to launch avalanche detonators, to disperse colour capsules into the atmosphere that then colour snowflakes as they fall. Pisteurs will activate the capsules when snow is forecast.

As the snow will then fall with a tint of a colour and each snowfall will be represented by a different colour, there are many advantages for the ski resort, such as tourists being able ski more easily in poor visibility and pisteurs being able to detect and study the different layers of snow to predict avalanches.

The first resort considering investing in the system is Chamonix. A source told us that the guns are due to be installed over the summer on the Combe de Lachenal in the Flegere ski area, one of the areas most prone to avalanches after heavy snowfalls. If it's a success, the system is expected to be rolled out across the Alpes and Swiss resorts such as Verbier and St Moritz.

Photo credit : Agence poisson rouge copperbeech mountain resort a HiGloSno capsule gun in resort