Thanks to a colder-than-average March and early April, Wachusett Mountain Ski Area officially wrapped up its 2016-17 winter season on April 9, extending its season nearly 2 weeks longer than average.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em>The biggest story of the 2016-17 season was the impact of Wachusett\u2019s expanded snowmaking system. Thanks to last summer\u2019s $2 million snowmaking improvements (which doubled the mountain\u2019s pumping capacity from 4,000 to 8,000 gallons per minute), snowmakers made more snow in less hours than ever before.\u00a0 Season-long snowmaking operations yielded an 11% increase in machine-made snow produced (from the previous high), covering trails in up to 5 feet of base.\u00a0 This was achieved in only 570 hours, nearly a 20% decrease (from the previous high).<\/p>\n \u201cWe made more snow more energy efficiently than ever before in our history,\u201d said Wachusett President Jeff Crowley.<\/p>\n In fact, thanks to cold temperatures in early March and its newly expanded snowmaking system, Wachusett also made snow later in the season than ever before.\u00a0 That, combined with a well-timed mid-March snowstorm, allowed for some of the best snow conditions of the season right through into early April.\u00a0\u00a0 In fact, there is still so much snow on the mountain, Wachusett will be holding its annual Cinco De Mayo Celebration (on Saturday, May 6ta <\/sup>\u00a0– Sexto De Mayo!) with a slopestyle competition for snowboarders and freeride skiers and a deck party with live music and outdoor barbecue.<\/p>\n This season by the numbers:<\/p>\n