JAY — Five snow guns were in operation Wednesday near the base of Spruce Mountain Ski Slope, the first day of snowmaking.

The effort will continue through Thursday and possibly Friday, weather permitting, said Rick Couture of Jay, member of the Spruce Mountain Ski Club.

The mountain will open for skiing Sunday, Dec. 26, club President Ken Jacques said.

Couture checked out the snow guns and chipped ice off one of three, tower guns. Two smaller air water guns also sprayed snow onto the Bunny Trail.

The fans that blow the snow sat idle on the sideline.

The club’s new $30,000, 480-volt, diesel generator is scheduled to arrive next week, Jacques of Livermore Falls said. The new generator will power the towrope lifts and the lights, he said.

Last year, it was unknown if the slope would be able to open since Wausau Paper closed. It used to supply the three-phase power to the ski area. The new owners of the mill complex allowed the club to use the power at the mill with an agreement with Central Maine Power Co. to meter it. That option was not available this year.

A study found that it was more cost effective to buy a generator to run the lights and towropes, Jacques said. The generator is expected to be paid off in three years.

A lot of money was raised for electricity purposes last year and that gave the club a down payment for the generator, he said.

It would have cost more than $120,000 to run three-phase power to the mountain from the Route 4 bridge over the Androscoggin River, he said.

The electricity cost about $10,000 last ski season, he said.

Once the generator is paid off, it is expected that electricity will cost half of what it did last year, Jacques said.

The Bunny Trail and the Barn Trail are expected to be open for skiing and snowboarding the day after Christmas and through vacation, he said. More trails could open if more snow falls.

The club’s meeting, race and first-aid center, garage and lodge were all connected to run off regular CMP power last spring.

A crew from Johnny Castonguay Logging volunteered to trim back every trail, and tow and power line, Jacques said.

It allowed for the Wall Trail to be reopened after years of being closed, he said.

It also doubled the size of the Junior Trail and added 2 or 3 acres of glade skiing, which is skiing among trees, Jacques said.

Next year, the National Guard will do some work at the mountain to improve drainage. That will make it easier for snowmaking and it is going to create a top-to-bottom race trail, he said.

Currently, junior races are held at the mountain but with planned improvements, high school ski teams will also be able to race there, Jacques said.

Ware-Butler Inc., Mike’s Stump Grinding and Fabian Oil have also donated either supplies and/or labor to improve the mountain, along with volunteers. The property is owned jointly by Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls. The club owns the equipment and operates the ski slope.

Spruce Mountain Ski Club memberships are on sale at a discounted rate until Dec. 23 at Ski-Depot on Riley Road in Jay. If people want their memberships to arrive by Christmas, they should order early or plan on picking them up, Jacques, a co-owner of the store, said.

“We’re looking forward to a great season,” Jacques said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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