For starters, new cats are the luxury models. They comes with expensive body-fitting seats, stereo systems, and even satellite radios in the new models, heated windshields and mirrors, and two-way radios for direct communications with other drivers and managers.

There is an adjustable blade in the front of the cat that cuts down and reshapes the surface.

In the back of the cat is one of two types of implements — a tiller or a compactor bar.

The tiller is a little wider than the width of the track and has an axle that spins the round tiller up to 1,550 revolutions per minute. It picks up three to four inches of surface snow into the tiller, spins it into a powder and then puts it back down. A comb on the rear of the tiller gives the surface the smooth, corduroy top skiers look for.

"When the snow comes out of the tiller," explained England, "it is very soft. Before it can be skied it needs to set up. At first it's like walking in wet sand. Once it sets up it becomes that firm corduroy surface skiers want."

The compactor bar is similar to the tiller, but is intended for use on new snow, where the tiller is more suited for refurbishing an existing surface.

Another snowcat model is called a "wench cat."

Deer Valley has two. The wench cats are used to groom steep slopes. The cat is connected to a solid anchor at the top of the run. The wench then safely lifts and lowers the cat over the run.

England said that with the wench cats ski runs expert or black diamond runs can be smoothed.

Another part of a snowcat's responsibilities involves moving snow.

When skiers ski a run, they will actually push the show off to the sides of the run. The blade on the cat allows the operator to move it back to the center where it can be groomed.

Also, said England, "The snowcats are interactive with our snowmaking. We make snow in piles, let it cure to let out the excess water for 48 hours and then use the cats to move the snow to where it's needed."

The cats will also pull snow from inside the tree line and deposit it on runs to be groomed.

Deer Valley runs its cats in two shifts — from 4 p.m. to midnight, and from midnight to 8 a.m.

England said the first shift knocks down the moguls, grades and refurbishes the runs. The second shift puts on the finishing touches.

Runs are regroomed, especially the beginner runs, when two inches or more of new snow has fallen on a run already groomed. More advanced skiers seek out the deep powder, where new skiers struggle and find powder tiring.

The number of runs that can be groomed in a night depends on weather and snow conditions.

"One thing we do is let our drivers know that they are empowered to groom a run until it's done right. There are no quotas. Depending on conditions, one run may take longer than another. We want it done right," said England.

Which, of course, is why the resort is constantly ranked No. 1 among North American resorts in grooming in the annual SKI magazine ratings.

And why, added England, drivers will often step out of their snowcats and into a pair of ski bindings after work to sample their work, "and make sure it's up to their liking."

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