Powder Ridge Ski Area made a decision in the Spring of 1990: demand in that section of central Minnesota dictated they expand, so they came up with an aggressive three-year plan that featured, among other things, adding 40 vertical feet to the top of the hill. This would result in adding between 100 and 275 feet to the skiable lengths of the six trails.
By the time the expansion is completed this Fall, not only will 200,000 cubic yard of earth have been moved (6,850 yards per day are hauled up the hill), but a 3 million gallon snowmaking pond excavated, a new Riblet quad erected, the existing chair relocated and an addition made to the base lodge.
Earth moving stated in 1991, with 80,000 yards moved. In 1992, starting on May 5 as the last of the snow melted away, three Terex earth movers started work, hauling 20 yards per load. In June a fourth earth mover was added.
The snowmaking pond and new pumps doubled the area’s capacity to 1,200 GPM. this system, which uses Snomax, uses principally SMI equipment cover 100 percent of the ski terrain.
The addition of the 1,325-ft. Riblet quad doubled the area’s lift capacity. Jerry Whalin, general manager of Powder Ridge, is proud of what the three-year expansion has produced. “Adding 40 feet of vertical may not seem like a big deal to a Rocky Mountain resort, but to our skiers it will make a big difference. You’ve got to look at it in perspective: after all, if Jackson Hole wanted to do the equivalent for its skiers they would have to haul enough dirt to add 414 feet of vertical”
