![]() MARTÍNEZ: Now, just to be clear, I think, probably for - a lot of people think, well, it's the amount of snow. So it's still going to decline, but at least our colder days for preserving the snow cover either that we make using snow machines or that comes naturally from Mother Nature, those below-freezing temperatures are going to help preserve it at higher latitudes. And if we limit emissions of greenhouse gases that trap heat, we could reduce that to a 10% - to a 30% decline instead. I mean, at the current pace, by mid-century, the ski resorts in North America, in Northeastern North America, they're going to face about 50% decline in the days when conditions will be favorable to make snow. MARTÍNEZ: Is there any kind of, maybe, quantifiable number or some kind of stat to be able to put this in perspective in our listeners' heads?īURAKOWSKI: Absolutely. And it's something to be concerned about, especially as we make choices moving forward on how we're going to address climate change. ![]() But that doesn't mean there's not a warming trend. ![]() Some places in the southernmost part of the Northeastern United States - so down in West Virginia, North Carolina area - they're losing snow a lot faster than places up North. It depends on where you are on the most southern to northern latitudes and also your elevation. ![]() How much of a decline are we talking about?ĮLIZABETH BURAKOWSKI: Well, we're - a historical period. East Coast see a decline in natural snowfall. Now, we just heard that ski resorts all over the U.S. Now, for more, we turn to Elizabeth Burakowski, research assistant professor at the University of New Hampshire. But, Wobus says, there's still time to make those changes. MAI: This includes reducing energy use and waste, as well as a focus on electrifying transportation. But to make sure skiing will still be possible in the Northeast by the end of this century, more mitigation efforts are needed and not just from within the ski industry, says Boulder-based scientist Cameron Wobus.ĬAMERON WOBUS: If we're not doing more then, yeah, ski seasons might go away for a good chunk of the Northeast. All its lifts are now powered by solar energy. Killington ski resort in Vermont, which is owned by POWDR, has invested in renewable energy sources. MAI: To make sure this engine keeps running, North America's four largest ski resort operators joined forces last year to combat climate change. KUSTER: Ski resorts are, honestly, the economic engine of New Hampshire's rural economy. economy each year, according to researchers. MAI: Snow sports tourism contributes about $20 billion to the U.S. And without coordinated climate action, it still might not be enough, says New Hampshire Congresswoman Annie Kuster.ĪNNIE KUSTER: We're very worried about the long-term impact of climate change, truly an existential threat to the sport of skiing and other snow sports as well. ski resorts invested nearly $100 million on snowmaking infrastructure during the last winter season, making it the largest capital expenditure within the industry. MAI: Due to advancements in snowmaking technology, most East Coast ski resorts have been able to compensate for the lack of natural snow. And I think over the last five, six years, it's been more like 130, so pretty big drop there. SHAWN CASSELL: We used to have an average of about 180 inches of snow every year. And it has seen its snowfall amounts slashed in recent years, according to Shawn Cassell, the resort's PR and marketing manager. Snowshoe is the biggest ski resort in West Virginia. And climate change is only accelerating the problem. MAI: Many other skiers in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic grapple with similar issues. HESS: We have never been able to have much of a ski season here without snowmaking. He says the lack of natural snowfall has always been a challenge for Massanutten. MAI: Kenny Hess serves as the resort's director of sports and risk management. KENNY HESS: Being in the Southeast, you know, we've always kind of been on the fringe of whether we're viable to be a ski area or not. But whether skiing will be part of the next 50 years remains to be seen. The resort is celebrating its 50th anniversary. I'm at Massanutten Resort in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, a roughly 2 1/2-hour drive from Washington, D.C. And despite low-hanging clouds, the visibility is good. H J MAI, BYLINE: It's snowing, with temperatures hovering around freezing. ski resorts are prepping for a similar scenario, as changing climate is contributing to less natural snowfall and warmer temperatures. The Beijing Winter Olympics gave us a glimpse of what the sport of skiing might look like in the future because they were the first Winter Games that relied almost entirely on manufactured snow.
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