LIFE AT LOW ALTITUDE

As the climate warms, we look at the impact on low-altitude ski resorts, many of which are reinventing themselves in the face of an uncertain future

Our planet’s warming climate is driving skiers higher up the mountains to find reliable snow conditions. Green fields in February, slush in March and double-figure temperatures come Easter — the white winter wonderland of the Alps is becoming something of a fantasy below the 6,500ft mark. And small resorts below 4,920ft have been hardest hit, with unpredictable snow and shrinking winter seasons battering local economies and, in the worst cases, forcing resorts into debt and closure.

How much is the snow line rising? The Alpine climate has changed radically over the past century, with temperatures rising by 2C, twice the global average. Snowfall is erratic below 6,500ft. According to a recent study by Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, the number of snowy days in the Alps will halve by 2100 if current greenhouse emissions remain as they are, leaving elevations of 8,200ft and above with three months’ less snowfall. The study eagerly points out, however, that emissions cuts in line with the Paris Agreement would save more than 80% of snow.

Where are resorts closing? Southern Alpine regions are bearing the brunt. For example, at the end of the last winter season, Piedmont in Italy had received just a third of its usual snow. Meagre snowfall has dealt a hammer blow to small ski villages. France is seeing a steady decline in small, low-altitude resorts, each year bringing fresh closures in the wake of warm winters, like Le Mont-Dore in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Céüze in the Hautes-Alpes and, most recently, Schnepfenried in Alsace. Some have been abandoned due to dwindling visitor numbers; others are operating a skeletal service. According to a University of Grenoble study, almost half of the 169 ski resorts that have closed since 1951 were due to a lack of snow.

Is artificial snow the solution? Relying on snow cannons has its downsides — they’re expensive energy guzzlers and have a considerable environmental cost. But as resorts wise up to the impact of a warming planet, sustainability becomes key, from Söll (2,306ft) in Austria’s Tyrol, with its biomassfuelled lift stations and fleet of energy-efficient piste bashers, to Whistler (base elevation of 2,198ft), whose eco snow cannons operate on hydroelectric power.

Is there life still at low altitude? Absolutely, if you choose wisely. Look for environmentally responsible resorts offering varied, and non-snow related activities. And remember, height isn’t always a direct indication of snowfall. “Altitude is always relative,” says Janine Graf, PR Manager of SkiWelt, one of Austria’s largest interconnected ski regions. “Our ski area is located on Alpine meadows, tended by farmers in the summer as they always have been. Therefore, we don’t need nearly as much snow as high-altitude ski areas set on rocky terrain.” Those who struggle with maintaining snow cover are becoming masters of reinvention. Many are ditching the ski-only model, rebranding as year-round mountain resorts, with spas and low-impact activities from hiking and biking to sledding, snowshoeing and ice climbing.

The path to sustainability

The message is clear: ski resorts need to be greener and many are getting there. “For more than 20 years, the entire SkiWelt region has run on 100% green electricity provided by Tyrolean hydropower,” says Graf. “In 2008, we built the world’s first solar lift. We also use the return heat from our mountain railways in restaurants.”