Does climate change mean the end for skiing holidays?

This winter season has already shown us how a changing climate can have devastating effects on the way we live. We only have to look to the indiscriminate wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles, or the floods deriving from erratic storms that have hit parts of Britain, to see how increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather is contributing to local and global devastation.

Even our favourite winter destinations have been significantly affected. Warmer winters mean steady snowfall has been replaced by rain, with ski regions struggling to maintain snow cover for prolonged periods of time. Increasingly volatile weather patterns mean the abundant snowfall that typically comes in early winter and lasts throughout the season is no longer a guarantee.

’Those that have built their economy on winter sports like skiing [and snowboarding], and don’t have reliable snowfall anymore, are struggling,’ admits Dr. Susanne Etti, the Global Environmental Impact Manager at Intrepid Travel. ’Some resorts are no longer seeing snow at Christmas, [which has always been] a popular time for skiing holidays.’

Last year, we reported how Alpe du Grande Serre – a much-loved family resort located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France – closed its doors following dwindling snow and a lack of available funds to offer year-round activities. Sadly, it hasn’t been the only resort to stop operating due to the changing climate; France’s La Sambuy also closed its slopes forever after only managing to open for four weeks in the 2022/2023 season.

Keeping up with the climate

Sara Burden, General Manager at Montagne Verte – a Swiss non-profit organisation based in Morzine that addresses sustainability within the region – agrees that warmer winters with less snowfall and the greater unpredictability of weather patterns are becoming more frequent.

In fact, the unpredictability of the weather is setting the precedent in Morzine’s mid-altitude slopes, which have recently experienced more snowfall later in the season. It’s a sign that traditional peak ski times may not only be contracting but shifting, too. As a result, the region might see an uptick in bookings at Easter – but this is likely to change year on year, depending on the weather.

Traditional peak ski times may not only be contracting but shifting, too

According to Burden, skiers are factoring in the unpredictability of snow into their holiday planning, too, with more and more people booking at the last minute in the hope of coinciding their trip with fresh snowfall. Some who book in advance are swapping mid-altitude resorts for higher altitudes, with the assumption that a higher elevation will likely see reliable snowfall. 

However, Burden says this isn’t necessarily a dependable option. Higher-elevation resorts tend to be more exposed to strong winds that can cause lift closures and limit slope activity. ’For most of the winter, the slopes are still skiable… Pistes can stay in good condition even when there is no snow on the ground in the village,’ she adds, referring to the use of artificial snow to maintain cover.

According to a 2023 study, the demand for artificial snow will increase between 55 percent and 97 percent by 2050. For those already battling with a dramatic reduction in natural snowfall, operational transformations are inevitable. 

According to a recent study, the demand for artificial snow will increase between 55 percent and 97 percent by 2050

‘We’ve adapted by using snow cannons powered entirely by renewable energy to maintain a good range of slopes,’ explains Reto Fry, Head of the Greenstyle Sustainability Project at LAAX mountain resort in Switzerland’s Graubünden canton.

Snow cannons producing artificial snow from air and water have long been used to even out snowfall and prevent large amounts of snow build-up that can cause avalanches. Now, they are increasingly being used to maintain a healthy snow depth across slopes at all altitudes. The use of LAAX’s snow cannons enables between 80 to 130km of slopes to remain open throughout the season. 

‘However, while [this] can support ski resorts for the time being, this is just a plaster on a much larger problem,’ acknowledges Fry.

Activities beyond winter

In addition to the traditional ski season, many villages are recognising the importance in diversifying activities away from the slopes. It’s a necessary process for communities to build resilience in the face of climate change. Hiking, mountain biking, zip-lining and even paragliding are now increasingly available throughout the shoulder and summer months. 

In LAAX, visitors can enjoy year-round panoramic views while tramping the Rhine Gorge or taking a 1.5km-long family-friendly canopy boardwalk over the pine trees. In Morzine, Montagne Verte organises regular foraging trails for locals and tourists to learn about the unique alpine ecology. Intrepid Travel, meanwhile, reports a growth in travellers interested in hiking adventures to the Dolomites and Mont Blanc during the shoulder months.

Destinations that begin investing and adapting now will be future-proofing their businesses as temperatures continue to rise

‘Diversifying offering does come with its challenges,’ explains Dr. Etti. ‘As ski resorts are often seasonal work, locals often want a break and close their businesses over summer and workers move on or go home. However, destinations that begin investing and adapting now will be future-proofing their business as temperatures continue to rise.’

A greener alternative

Inevitably, being exposed to the effects of climate change has not only forced ski regions to adapt their operations, but also encouraged many resorts to actively reduce their contribution to the causes of climate change. Many, including Fry, remain realistic about the challenge that lies ahead. 

’Unless we all make real commitments to cutting our carbon output, it’s unlikely that skiing in the Alps will be able to continue for many generations to come,’ he says.

With a sustainability strategy in place, the team at LAAX strive to eliminate all fossil fuel use across the resort by 2030. The Riders Hotel, for example, already operates on 100% renewable energy through the use of vertical solar panels. 

In Morzine, Montagne Verte has introduced a variety of sustainability measures. These include transforming food waste from local restaurants, chalets and hotels into biogas for local use, running a second-hand store to prevent clothing going to landfill – and even launching the AlpinExpress travel pass, which offers accommodation, food, ski hire and lift discounts to visitors who opt for train travel over flying. 

Away from the traditional resorts, dry-slope skiing is seeing a resurgence. Innovative projects – such as Copenhagen’s signature landmark CopenHill – are ensuring skiers and snowboarders have somewhere to go even if the snow doesn’t come. Imitating the qualities of packed snow, this 400m-long green piste, made from a synthetic material called Neveplast, is estimated to welcome 10,000 skiers each year. 

Thanks to impressive technology and the adaptations being made by resorts and local initiatives, skiing and snowboarding are likely to be a part of our travel plans for many more years to come. In the long term, however, their survival depends on all of us to lower emissions and tackle the root causes of climate change.