Arapahoe Basin, CO – In an annual procedure that some ski industry types call “blowing out the mice,” Arapahoe Basin snowmakers fired up the snow guns this morning to get ready for the Colorado ski season ahead.

Arapahoe Basin traditionally begins making snow around this time of year, in preparation for an October opening in competition with nearby Loveland Ski Area for the title of first to spin lifts. In today’s test, however, despite recent dustings of snow along the Continental Divide, it wasn’t cold enough to get snow from a gun.

“The crew did fire up the system (but) it’s not cold enough to make snow,” mountain COO Alan Henceroth blogged this morning. “It was a combination of staff training and refreshing, and looking for those last-minute glitches.

“This is the first time that the reservoir, pumps, water lines, power lines and fan guns have all been on together since last December.”

With the snowmaking test behind them, A-Basin snowmakers are now ready to make the white stuff once temperatures allow.

“The objective today is to be absolutely ready to go when the temps get below 28 degrees F for an extended time,” Henceroth said.