SPECIAL EDITION: The SnowSports Industry And Climate Change.

A 12 acre solar farm at Jiminy Peak, MA, generates power for lifts, lodge and snowmaking.
Credit: Jiminy Peak

As we write this in early August, the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for most of the West Coast.  Seattle is poised to entertain temperatures near 100 degrees, Reno 110, Portland 106. Meanwhile, we hear of a massive snowfall in New Zealand’s Mt. Hutt, bringing 26 foot snow drifts over the weekend of July 22-23.  Here’s some video shot from a helicopter, thanks to Snowbrains.com.

We’ve seen reports from Portillo, Chile, with similar reports of gargantuan snowfalls in the Andes. Short duration, big depths.  Clearly, the atmosphere is reacting to an increase in global temperatures.

So this week, we will devote our issue to climate change and the ski business.  Obviously, there is a link and a concern. We hear from three reports from SeniorsSkiing.com correspondents Rose Marie Cleese and Roger Lohr on how the ski industry is embracing sustainable energy, conservation policies and practices, and new technologies that save money and reduce fossil-fuel consumption and carbon dioxide footprints.

In How The Ski Industry Is Fighting Climate Change, Rose Marie Cleese provides a broad look at how the industry is preparing and responding to a future with potentially less cold weather.  She reports on NSAA, a non-profit called Protect Our Winters, and two major resort operators’ efforts to deal with a game-changing threat to the business and the environment.  Rose Marie also provides links to other resources to check out where you can become more informed about the industry’s response.

In Jiminy Peak: How To Be A Sustainable Resort and At Killington, The Sun And Cows Power Lifts And Lodges,  Roger Lohr presents two case studies of how very practical resort owners have committed to alternative energy sources and conservation business practices, saving money and natural resources.  Find out how the cows play a role in fighting climate change.

On we go into the summer.  Mammoth Mountain finally ended the 2016-17 season by closing down on August 1.  Click below for an intrepid final run over snow and pumice on the final day, again thanks to Snowbrains.com.

We’ll be back later in August.  Meanwhile, summer on.  Remember, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

 

One Comment

  1. Larry Burstein says:

    Please stop using the term “Climate Change”.

    IT`S GLOBAL WARMING.

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