How The Summit at Snoqualmie Captures Short, Marginal Windows With Automated Snowmaking
Located at Washington’s Snoqualmie Pass and serving the greater Seattle area, The Summit at Snoqualmie is a vibrant four-mountain destination spanning nearly 2,000 skiable acres across 25 chairlifts. (The Summit at Snoqualmie).
Snoqualmie partnered with SMI Snow Makers to deploy a fully automated system of tower-mounted SMI Super PoleCat fan snowmakers powered by SmartSnow7 automation software.
The Challenge
Snoqualmie Pass is one of the most marginal snowmaking environments in North America. Maritime Pacific weather patterns bring frequent rain, and viable snowmaking windows often last only three to five hours. Under these conditions, the mountain operations team faces a tight operational margin: when the wet-bulb temperature drops, they must produce as much high-quality snow as possible, as fast as possible.
Historically, Snoqualmie relied on a mobile fleet of carriage-mounted SMI Super Polecat fan snowmakers to support priority zones like the Tubing Park and terrain park. While portable machines offer flexibility, capitalizing on brief, unpredictable cold snaps meant manually hauling, positioning, and adjusting equipment before it could make snow. In a three-hour window, that manual setup drained precious production time.
The resort needed a permanent, high-efficiency solution that could provide reliable, top-to-bottom coverage on Big Bill—one of Summit West’s signature, high-traffic trails—while freeing the mobile fleet to focus on other key areas.
The Plan
Fully Automated Tower Snowmaking on Big Bill
To capitalize instantly on cold-weather snowmaking windows, SMI Snowmakers and Snoqualmie implemented a fully automated snowmaking system.
Big Bill Snowmaking Expansion Included:
9 automated SMI Super Polecat fan guns installed on Denali towers with SMI’s marginal nozzle configuration.
9 concrete vaults allowing for better automatic drainage; main components like pedestals and hydrants are covered and housed below grade, with centralized maintenance access.
11 snowmaking hydrants allowing portable SMI Super Polecat carriage guns to be deployed where coverage is needed most.
SmartSnow7 snowmaking automation software
Top-to-bottom snowmaking coverage on Big Bill.
Integrated with SMI’s SmartSnow7 software, the system gives mountain operations instant, automated real-time control to initiate production with a single tap and continuously adjust as weather conditions shift. Paired with the Super PoleCats’ specialized marginal nozzle configuration and Denali tower mounting for extended hang time, this infrastructure allows The Summit to reliably maximize high-quality snow production during brief, near-freezing windows.
The Results
This installation was the first time Snoqualmie had dedicated, top-to-bottom automated snowmaking on an alpine trail. Big Bill now has a durable, repeatable base layer, and the resort's portable fleet can cover other high-priority areas.
The system proved its value in its first season. In 2025–26, Washington saw its third-lowest snowpack on record, with most of the Cascades at about 40% of normal. Automated snowmaking on Big Bill helped Summit West open and keep key terrain available for local passholders and guests while other areas of the mountain waited for snow. By turning brief temperature drops into sustained snow output, automation gave The Summit more certainty around opening and a scalable framework for future expansion.
New for 2026–27: All-Weather Snowmaking for Tubing
For the 2026–27 season, The Summit added two SMI Latitude 90 L60 all-weather snowmakers to its Tubing Park. The units started up on October 1 and were making snow right away. The resort aims to open tubing before Thanksgiving this year, regardless of the temperature swings that make the Pass so challenging.
Interested in Working With SMI Snowmakers?
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Step 1
Connect With Your Local SMI Representative
Discuss your mountain’s challenges, goals, existing system, and priorities with the SMI representative who serves your region.
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Step 2
Define the Right Scope
Your local SMI representative will help identify the right next step for your operation.Get focused help with pumping, automation, equipment, pipe, electrical, or retrofits—or choose a full turnkey snowmaking project.
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Step 3
Create Your Unique Solution With Us
SMI brings the right people and solutions together to build a plan around your mountain, your resources, and your goals.