Buried In Snow!

Perhaps all of you out there have come to expect my yearly snowmaking posts, so here goes.  We have enjoyed a solid week of Arctic cold here in Rhode Island.  We've been waiting all year for that in the Costantino household.

A huge snowmaking mound atop

the hill.  Waiting for the groomer! Me with

a shovel!

While most families cringe when temps go below freezing, we rejoice!  There isn't a whole lot to do here in Rhode Island in the winter.  We are a family of skiers, but we still need something to do on the off weekends and weeknights.  Of course the only solution to this boring existence is to cut a sledding trail on the little hill in our back yard, and make snow like Snow Miser!

Snow Art - You can only
 do this with a snowmaker!

I have enjoyed snowmaking as a hobby since I was 12-13 years old, back before internet plans and instructions.  With my father's support I tinkered my way to an operable snowmaker.  Over the years I have improved my little snowmaking operation, and have it pretty much perfected at this point.  I've been running solid since last Sunday.  Almost a week and never shut down.  I have to applaud my bride Cathy for putting up with my obsession. 

Snowgun blazing!

You see snowmaking doesn't come very quietly.  We have had a 2 stage, 18 CFM air compressor running in our basement for almost 6 days solid.  It pretty-much sounds like an Amtrak train running through the cellar!  I know for a fact that most wives would not put up with the kind of shenanigans that I pull, but Cathy gets right into it, and we all really enjoy sledding on our little "Brook Hill" with our friends and family.

Brook Hill, named after the brook in our yard.  The kids came up with that name.

 Usually a long snowmaking run like this will end with a "sledding party".  The impromptu invites (tough to plan because of weather) go out by email, Facebook, texts, etc, and we basically have a block party out in the back yard with sledding as the focal point.  It is just pure fun.  Watching everyone from toddlers to my 68 year old father riding the hill is just a blast. Check out our video from a couple of years back.

Look for a post soon with photos and videos of this years party!  Today I'm posting a few photos of what I consider to be the beauty of snowmaking.  Happy winter and enjoy!

Happily Snowbound,

Wacky Dad