The Technoalpin Snowfactory snowmaking machine shoots out snow at the Mount Van Hoevenberg Nordic Center earlier this month. With the United States Paralympic Nordic team scheduled to begin their training on Oct. 24, the state-owned nordic center is planning its earliest-ever opening to the public, on Saturday, Oct. 28, and this snowmaking machine the state-owned Olympic Regional Development Authority leases on an annual basis will help make that happen. The Snowfactory is in its second year providing snow at Mount Van Hoevenberg, as it creates thin ice flakes that are delivered to a conveyor belt that sprays snow from the system. (Enterprise photo — Andy Flynn)