Two new Snow Cat ski-run grooming machines joined Sun Peaks’ fleet Tuesday.

As snow blanketed the mountain’s slopes, the machines — each worth about $350,000 — arrived at the resort on flat-deck trucks, said Brandi Schier, the resort’s media and marketing co-ordinator.

Soon, they will be roaming the resort’s slopes, giving the hillside the distinctive corduroy look and feel some skiers prefer, she said.

“We have quite a large fleet, this is part of our ongoing renewal,” she said. “They are an integral part of the resort. We have an excellent reputation for grooming and this is a big part of the reason why.”

The Snow Cats are distinctive. They are large and feature a moving track that both drives the unit and grooms the snow. A plow on the front can move snow around with ease, allowing operators to level off the runs.

One of the machines also has a cable-winch system. The cable serves as an anchor, keeping the machine from flipping over when working steep slopes.

Schier said those who want to see the mountain through the unique windshield of a Snow Cat can book a trip through guest services. The machines operate only at night and provide a unique kind of thrill.

“The guys who drive them are incredibly skilled,” Schier said.

Sun Peaks is scheduled to open this year on Nov. 17.