Ski resorts close in uphill battle against snowless slopes caused by climate change
One of France’s oldest winter sports centres goes into administration after warmest winter on record
ONE of the oldest ski resorts in France has gone into administration as climate change casts a dark cloud over the future of skiing in Europe.
Two to three French resorts are being driven out of business every year, with many operators struggling to adapt to increasingly mild winters.
Sparse snowfall during Europe’s warmest winter on record forced Le Mont-dore, in France’s Massif Central mountains, to go into administration this week with losses of nearly €2million (£1.73million). It had to close two thirds of its 33 ski runs for much of the season. The resort is staying open, however, with managers still hoping to balance the books.
Céüze, in the Alps, closed down last month.
“Things became difficult because of the changing climate,” said Jean-marie Bernard, the resort’s chairman. “There wasn’t enough investment to buy snow guns and produce artificial snow.”
At Le Mont-dore, skiers were disappointed by what they found on arrival in the mountains. Instead of a blanket of powdery snow, Pierre Robert found many of the slopes bare or mottled, with treacherous-looking dark patches.
“There was just enough snow for my children to get a taste of skiing,” said Mr Robert, from Paris. “We came to visit the area and see friends as well, so we found other things to do, but if you were here just to ski, it would have been a bit of a disaster.”
Only high-altitude resorts above 4,900ft can still rely on getting enough snow for skiing, compared with 3,900ft in 1960. But even the highest ski stations now have to use snow guns to augment natural snowfall.
The cost of artificial snow has also made skiing more expensive, while mild winters have shortened ski seasons by several weeks since the Seventies. Many young people can no longer afford skiing holidays, tour operators say.
Some ski areas have developed “snow farming” techniques to preserve snow from one winter to the next by storing it under an insulating layer of sawdust, but losses can be as high as 50 per cent. Mont-dore is at medium altitude, with slopes from 3,900ft to 6,000ft. Temperatures in the town of Clermont-ferrand, only 20 miles away, hit 21C (70F) in February, driving home the message that the resort must adapt or die. Luc Stelly, head of the local tourism office, said: “We can’t rely solely on skiing any more. That means providing other holiday activities like hiking, cycling, even visits to historic sites in the area, which can be done all year round. A few years ago we did everything we could to make sure we had snow. The difference now is that we’re trying to survive even without snow, but we know it’s going to be tough.”
Two French resorts airlifted snow by helicopter to make their lower slopes fit for skiing last month in an environmentally-unfriendly move that angered the government.
France’s €9 billion (£7.5 billion) ski industry employs 120,000 people and the environment minister has now promised to help mountain resorts develop alternative activities.
Even high-altitude destinations, less affected by diminishing snowfall, are planning for a future in which skiing may be severely restricted and summer activities such as hiking, cycling, swimming and toboggan rides on rails become more important.
Studies suggest that skiing will remain viable at resorts of 5,900ft and higher until 2050. That provides some comfort for residents of Les Trois Vallées, the world’s largest ski area, home to high-altitude French resorts including Val Thorens, Méribel, Courchevel and Les Menuires.
However, Marlène Giacometti, director of the tourism office at the highaltitude resort of Les Menuires, said change was inevitable. “Our local community is 100 per cent dependent on tourism and at the moment that means skiing.
“To avoid an exodus to cities that will leave our valley empty in the future, we are working on a strategy to develop summer tourism.”
‘A few years ago we did everything to make sure we had snow. The difference now is that we’re trying to survive even without snow’