 Poster: A snowHead
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Steamboat in Colorado is planning a geothermal and gas-heated system to melt snow on a new promenade linking its accommodation, restaurants and shopping. The multi-million dollar system will extract heat from the earth, supplemented by a gas boiler.
These reports from The Steamboat Pilot: 26 April ... 14 May
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| Several council members expressed concern upon hearing $11.2 million would not be enough to fund a snowmelt system for the promenade. With that in mind, they asked URAAC to return May 5 with a bond scenario that would raise something less than an additional $5 million and include more work. Although it comes with a sizable carbon footprint, we agree a snowmelt system, perhaps with the ability to convert to alternative energy sources in the future, carefully should be considered up front. |
This is the first I've ever heard of a ski resort artificially melting snow in this way with a heating system. Anyone know of a precedent? Ever noticed paved areas which are magically free of snow?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Tignes (Val Claret) do it much cheaper, the top end of the town has the sewers running just below the paved area outside the shops which melts the snow. How clever is that (good planning)
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Many resort (and non-resort) town in Japan uses their abundent hot spring supply by simply spraying the hot water on the pavement to melt the snow away, saving the trouble of having to use snow plow to push the snow to the side.
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abc, Doesn't that just leave them with really icy pavements???
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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No.
Not icy. Just wet all the time.
[EDIT] I see, you're probably thinking "it'll turn to a sheet of ice once they turn the water off". But they don't "turn off" the water at all, since the hot water come from hotsprings that runs all the time and goes to waste anyway. They merely divert the hot spring onto the pavement before they go back to whereever...
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abc, Ah, Got ya.
Sounds good. I don't suppose the other resorts have the luxury of divertable (Is that even a word???) hot springs though.
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Yup, IIRC the road up the hill to the 'village' in Snowmass is called Snowmelt Road - it steams gently 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| fastandicy wrote: |
abc, Ah, Got ya.
Sounds good. I don't suppose the other resorts have the luxury of divertable (Is that even a word???) hot springs though. |
Well, I'm guessing the village of "Colorado Springs" is call that for a reason? 
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abc, Colorado Springs is around 2.5 hours from the closest ski resort though (unless they re-open the one on Pikes Peak).... so a fair way to divert any springs...
Manitou Springs is marginally closer...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Checked.... looks like in Colorado either Steamboat Springs or Salida would win
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| David Goldsmith wrote: |
| This is the first I've ever heard of a ski resort artificially melting snow in this way with a heating system. Anyone know of a precedent? Ever noticed paved areas which are magically free of snow? |
In my experience, small areas of heated pavements are actually quite common in North American ski resorts. It's also very common for private homes to have heated driveways over there - it really wouldn't do for the SUV to get stuck in snow, would it?
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THe pedestrianised centre of Meribel was suspiciously clear of snow. But I have only been there one week. THe sewers under he paths idea is a good one - moving water(!) releases potential energy (or somthing) so dosn't freeze - many rivers through frozen ski resort towns clearly show this.
(I assume mostly sun melted snow, but it dosnt refreeze when it gets moving even is the shade temperatures are below freezing)
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You know it makes sense.
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Even Australian ski resorts often have areas of the main traffic areas heated to keep ice free....
The main steps from the Thredbo shops to the bus stop are heated - never snow or ice on them... not sure about elsewhere... but do remember the steps as I always made sure to use that set not the unheated set...
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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This idea of locating sewer pipes under pavements intrigues me. I guess there's a risk that if temps go really low the ground beneath the pavement freezes, along with the sewer (but I wouldn't claim to be a sewer specialist). Sir Joseph Bazalgette (founder of the London sewer system) would have some interesting comments on this, but unfortunately he died in 1891.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| little tiger wrote: |
abc, Colorado Springs is around 2.5 hours from the closest ski resort though (unless they re-open the one on Pikes Peak).... so a fair way to divert any springs...
Manitou Springs is marginally closer... |
Sorry, I meant to say "Steamboat Springs". Senior moment. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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David Goldsmith, quite common on ramps down to garages, and at drop-off points/stairs into buildings.
If the hotel at the S5BB had had this arrangement it would have saved the owner a broken set of chains. Or he could have given his wife some common sense and some driving lessons....
If the energy is geothermal - I don't have a problem with it.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| lampbus wrote: |
THe pedestrianised centre of Meribel was suspiciously clear of snow. But I have only been there one week. THe sewers under he paths idea is a good one - moving water(!) releases potential energy (or somthing) so dosn't freeze - many rivers through frozen ski resort towns clearly show this.
(I assume mostly sun melted snow, but it dosnt refreeze when it gets moving even is the shade temperatures are below freezing) |
I would think the main reason the sewers under the paths melt the snow on the ground above is that the sewers also receive a fair amount of waste warm water from domestic hot water systems (showers, baths,washing machines etc), so that the temperature of the sewer "contents  " is well above freezing.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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If all this magic about sewers is true, how come Steamboat want to spend $15 million on geothermal technology? Should we be exporting European sewer science to America?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Maybe it the 2nd sewer of an MP, after the cash has been spent (or the Penny) they will switch back to the other sewer. The system allows them to have 2 sewer due to the large amount of BS they generate
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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David Goldsmith, Steamboat has a very nice geothermal open air baths quite close to the main commercial street. Worth a visit.
If you mean Europe leads the world in producing sh** you might be right. There are certain french resorts where they probably could power the ski lifts with Chalet-cooking and water-supply induced diarrhoea...
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| abc wrote: |
David Goldsmith, are you being antigonistic or just ignorant?  |
Can you offer any other options?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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[Thank you very much, Hurtle, but I've promised my employers not to touch the Steinway. Yes, am on that shift. Go up to someone with a radio and they should be able to find me (I won't be wearing a snowHeads hat). But you're not obliged to find me if you'd prefer an uncomplicated evening!]
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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David Goldsmith, [Will be with people, and have to go backstage afterwards. But look forward to meeting you on the 6th.] Apologies for thread hijack.
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