To ensure safety and access at ski resorts, facility managers are often tasked with clearing snow from emergency/service roads, parking lots, rental shop/lodge pathways, entrance/ lift/gondola zones, event spaces, and other common areas. In situations where the grounds are extensive, traffic is heavy, and prolonged access restrictions are impractical, many ski resorts choose to utilize in-house personnel for snow removal rather than relying on third-party services.
Due to the high cost of specialized snow clearing equipment, most facility managers opt to purchase snow clearing attachments compatible with existing skid steers or wheel loaders, which are also used for other tasks. Often, the initial cost for the snow plow or snow pusher is the primary driver. However, the main challenge with most fixed box snow pusher attachments is the lack of flexibility to back drag or angle. Those that offer these features tend to be bulky, restricting the skid steer’s maneuverability. Given operators may only remove snow seasonally, not to mention high turnover in these types of positions, the equipment controls should also be easy to learn and simple to use.
Considering these factors, investing in more adaptable and agile snow removal attachments may involve a slightly higher initial cost but offers significant benefits that enhance the efficiency and quality of snow clearing with reduced training.
As an example, one option from Minnesota-based SnowWolf Plows is its AutoWing QuattroPlows attachment that allows:
operators to switch between angle plowing, wide-angle plowing, pushing, and back dragging on the fly.
moving the side wings 165 degrees on the go, depending on the width of pass you wish to take, the amount of snow you wish to carry, or whether you are pushing snow forward or back dragging. This enables operators to efficiently clear wider swaths of snow without manually adjusting the plow’s position, increasing productivity and reducing the need for additional passes.
efficient operation with one hydraulic circuit. Just plug in two hoses and go. No machine set up is required, no wiring is necessary, and no specialized controls are needed. This enables operators to move the Quattro Plow from machine to machine in minutes.
angling left or right with the desired wing position obtained right from the standard auxiliary function located on your machine’s joystick. This user-friendly design greatly shortens the time required for operator training allowing them to become proficient much faster and clear more acres of snow per hour.
Snow plow attachments are also available with ActivEdge, a unique design involving multiple cutting-edge sections with individual adjustability and adaptability. The floating cutting edges allow for more precise snow removal even on varied surfaces and minimizes the need for excessive salt or deicing agents. Due to its ability to conform to surface contours, the ActivEdge more effectively clears the area, reducing the necessity for additional passes. The equipment requires almost no maintenance and is designed to withstand the rigors of commercial snow clearing.
For more information, call SnowWolf at 1-800-905-2265; email [email protected]; visit www.snowwolfplows.com.