Snow Blankets...

Aspen and other Colorado resorts are experimenting with a protective blanket that preserves snow from one season to the next.

Switzerland-based Eiger International is promoting the blanket, called the Ice Protector Optiforce.

It's designed for relatively small areas where snowmaking systems can't be used and snowcats can't push snow.

The Aspen resort tested the blanket this summer to see if it will help preserve terrain park features such as half-pipes and jumps.

The blanket preserved a mound of snow about 75 feet long, 50 feet wide and 20 feet deep.

Resort officials say they don't know yet whether the holdover snow will be soft enough for them to work with.

Speaking of snow blankets...

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