The ski industry is facing an existential crisis as warmer winters disrupt operations, even with increasing reliance on artificial snow. Companies like Aspen One acknowledge that snowmaking and glacier covers are temporary fixes, not solutions to the underlying climate issues.
The Shrinking Winter Season
Rapid global warming is directly eroding the foundation of winter tourism by shortening ski seasons, diminishing natural snowfall, and making snow conditions increasingly unreliable. This is not just about inconvenience; it’s about economic viability for resorts and related businesses. The unpredictability makes long-term planning and investment much riskier.
The Energy Paradox of Artificial Snow
While artificial snow helps maintain some level of operation, Aspen One’s sustainability VP, Chris Miller, points out a critical flaw: snowmaking is energy-intensive. The reliance on artificial snow doesn’t address climate change; it simply shifts the problem to higher energy consumption. This highlights the broader tension between adaptation measures and systemic solutions.
Aspen One’s Approach: Electrification and Clean Energy
Unlike some resorts that double down on artificial snow, Aspen One is investing heavily in sustainability as a long-term strategy. Its recent property, Limelight Mammoth, is fully electric with heat pumps for heating and EV charging stations for guests. The company believes that tackling the root causes of climate change is more sustainable than simply adapting within resort boundaries.
The Bigger Picture
The ski industry’s struggle is a microcosm of broader climate risks. While businesses can invest in adaptation measures, the long-term viability of winter tourism depends on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and slowing global warming. The industry is at a crossroads: adapt or advocate for systemic change. The coming decades will determine whether ski resorts can remain a viable economic force, or whether they become relics of a colder past.
The situation underscores that technological fixes alone won’t solve the problem. A fundamental shift toward sustainable energy and climate action is essential for the future of winter sports.
