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<\/p>\nEndangered rivers, rain in February above 8,000 ft., glacier-less icefields. The once unimaginable is now the norm.\u00a0 No matter where you live or how old you are climate change is unavoidable, suffocating us as we encourage its continual destruction.\u00a0 As skiers, we are used to putting on goggles to shield our eyes from the unwanted.\u00a0 Unfortunately, there are no goggles dark enough to blind us from the effects of climate change.\u00a0 As skiers, we are also used to seeking powder days.\u00a0 OpenSnow is our speed dial.\u00a0 Unfortunately, powder days still exist but are no doubt dwindling, especially at resorts which sit at lower elevations.\u00a0 As skiers, we have seen first-hand the detrimental effects of global warming, not only on our one true love: skiing; but also on its impact to the environment and the economy.<\/p>\n
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According to the Protect Our Winters Climate Impacts on the Winter Tourism Economy in the United States Report<\/em>, 14 of the 15 hottest years have occurred since 2000.\u00a0 By the end of the century, should we remain in our current high emissions state, the temperature will increase by 4\u00b0F to 6\u00b0F and 25%-100% of snow depth in the Western U.S. will be lost.\u00a0 What does this mean for ski season? Possibly a season that will be shortened by nearly 50%. Many resorts have already been forced to postpone opening dates, some lower elevation resorts, particularly in the Northeast have even had to close their doors.\u00a0 Although some of the most drastic effects are seen in lower elevation areas, climate change is taking a toll on resorts throughout the world.\u00a0 As noted in Powder<\/em> magazine\u2019s article \u201cDeep: The Future of Skiing in America,\u201d the Northern Hemisphere has lost one million square miles of spring snowpack since 1970.\u00a0 20% of this has occurred in the Rockies, while 30% has taken place in the Cascades.\u00a0 To put matters into perspective even more, consider that at high emissions, Park City will lose all snowpack by the end of the century and Aspen Mountain\u2019s snowpack will only remain on the top quarter of the mountain (Burakowski and Magnusson).\u00a0 Additionally, snow depth in Big Sky Country would be 50% less by 2100.\u00a0 On the topic of bad news, 97% of climatologists agree with scientific findings that in the next 75 years skiing will be no longer (Fox).\u00a0 As skiers, that is a pill we aren\u2019t quite ready to swallow.<\/p>\n Documentation of the warming trend.<\/p>\n Aside from climate change\u2019s direct impact on our sport, it also affects the community around us.\u00a0 The ski industry and winter tourism have a remarkable impact on the economy, roughly 12.2 billion dollars (Burakowski and Magnusson).\u00a0 On low snowfall years, Colorado, the state with the greatest number of skier visits, loses around 154 million dollars a year in ski resort revenue.\u00a0 Nationwide, low snowfall years contribute to 152 million fewer skier visits.\u00a0 This equates to 1.07 billion dollars that would\u2019ve been possible ski resort revenue during high snowfall, nearly 13,000 fewer jobs, and roughly 810 million dollars less value added to the U.S. economy.\u00a0 Should this all too likely prediction become reality, in the Northeast, where several\u00a0resorts have already closed their doors, only 4 of 14 major resorts would stay profitable by 2100.\u00a0 Resorts have already had to diversify to maintain profits.\u00a0 This is most commonly seen by making ski resorts year-round destinations through the implementation of activities, such as mountain biking or ziplining.\u00a0 While this practice may be a solution for larger resorts and conglomerates, that is not always the case for your local ski hill.\u00a0 What about snowmaking you ask?\u00a0 Aside from the fact that snowmaking is not always the most green practice, constituting nearly 50% of the resort\u2019s energy costs, it is also absurdly costly, averaging $500k per resort, per year.\u00a0 Cost factor aside, snowmaking isn\u2019t even successful when temperatures are often too warm to put the machines to use (Burakowski and Magnusson).<\/p>\n To draw the point home, as if you haven\u2019t heard enough depressing news for the day, climate change impacts us on a day to day scale.\u00a0 According to Powder <\/em>magazine\u2019s article \u201cDeeper: The Future of Snow in America,\u201d people that live downstream of mountain ranges are in direct danger of losing water supply.\u00a0 As Fox states, \u201cSnow and ice are the largest reservoir of fresh water on the planet, with a billion people depending on snowmelt for drinking water, farming, and hydroelectricity.\u201d\u00a0 Stop thinking you have it worse than everyone else; climate change is not only<\/strong> affecting skiers.<\/p>\n The good news is that skiers have in fact been actively combating climate change. \u00a0Protect Our Winters has \u00a0been extremely active in not only spreading the word, but also in holding events accessible to nearly anyone. \u00a0The events range from carpool days at resorts where those who choose to share or chose alternative transportation are rewarded with front row parking, sponsor prizes, or raffle tickets, educating our future generations through school assembly’s with the Hot Planet Cool Athletes organization, and a personal favorite, partnering with New Belgium and Ben & Jerry’s in the 100 Days to Change Our Ways campaign which melds beer tastings with athletes in efforts to sign letters of advocacy. \u00a0Aside, from POW there are numerous other positive initiatives being taken. \u00a0The National Ski Areas Association currently has 36 resorts participating in their Climate Challenge. \u00a0This is a voluntary program which recognizes areas who will adhere to their “Sustainable Slopes” program and actively reduce greenhouse gases. \u00a0Of the participating resorts, a particularly active area is Aspen. \u00a0Aspen now runs 100% of electrical utility with renewable energy forms, they actively take action by educating and volunteering in the community, along with reaching out to senators. \u00a0Furthermore, employees have the opportunity to donate to the Environmental Foundation, which has donated over $3 million to local projects. \u00a0Although, these are certainly steps in the right direction, the most drastic measures must come from Congress.<\/p>\n With the Climate Change March quickly approaching, we encourage you to take a stand, raise up the goggles, face the harsh reality, and go be as determined to fight climate change as you are to hit up those life-changing powder days. \u00a0And if it happens to cross your mind that your energy would be spent better skiing than walking, please think again! \u00a0Remember that there is power in numbers. \u00a0In the past the marches have not only raised awareness, but actively influenced congress. \u00a0Although, there is no guarantee that policies will change, there is a guarantee that you will make an impact. \u00a0A guarantee, that your energy will be well spent. \u00a0Please take your energy off the slopes and let your voice be heard, whether it be this Saturday or any other day of the year. \u00a0Let\u2019s band together, not only as skiers, but as citizens of the world, preservationists of the environment, and fighters.\u00a0 Yes, fighters.<\/p>\n This Weekend’s Events:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you can’t make the march in D.C., there are many local opportunities no matter where you live. Protect Our Winters has compiled a list of marches on 4\/29 all over the world<\/a>. \u00a0For Denver locals, we hope to see you at Civic Center Park this Saturday<\/a>, and make sure you stop by and say hi to any of us in Powder7 gear!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.powder7.com\/ski-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/climate-change-pic-1-300x213.gif\")
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