Ski Resorts Stockpiling Snow as Resistance Against Global Warming
Ski resorts combatting global warming by stockpiling snow year-round, securing their ability to operate amidst the increasing scarcity of this vital resource
Ski resorts rely on snow, often referred to as "white gold," to ensure their success. However, the availability of snow has become increasingly scarce, making it a precious commodity. Whether it comes from natural snowfall or from snow cannons commonly found on ski runs, resorts depend on snow to sustain their operations.
With climate change impacting snow conditions in mountainous areas, many resorts, especially those at lower altitudes, are turning to an additional method to ensure enough snow coverage and draw in visitors at the beginning of the season. This method, known as snow farming, involves collecting and storing snow from the previous season under insulated mats, then redistributing it the following winter - similar to rolling up and reusing a red carpet at the Oscars.
Levi in the far north of Finland is leading the way in using farmed snow to open the resort in early October and ensure the early-season World Cup ski races can take place in November. This approach eliminates the need to rely on nature's bounty and the use of snow cannons in less-than optimal conditions, resulting in significant savings in electricity and water.
Skiing through powder at Whitewater Ski Resort
Kari Medig/Destination BC
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"Snow is crucial in the skiing business - it's like gold to us. We store it and use it to kickstart the season," explained Marko Mustonen, the commercial director of Levi.
"Sometimes it's challenging, as the seasons aren't consistently great, and the snow in winter arrives at varying times. But that's just part of the job."
As winter begins, we experience fluctuating temperatures and precipitation, but fortunately, we have a reliable layer of snow already in place. With the use of automatic snow cannon systems, we can optimize the skiing conditions. Producing snow at -10C rather than -1C or 0C results in nearly 10 times better efficiency.
Levi in Finland stockpiled 200,000 cubic meters over the summer to keep slopes covered when ski season rolled around.
Oy Levi Ski Resort Ltd.
Learning curve
In Levi, there are nine strategically located storage areas for the accumulated snow, which this year totaled 200,000 cubic meters. All the snow heaps are covered with 70 millimeter (2.8-inch) thick insulated mats made of Finnfoam, a material commonly used in the construction industry, and then topped with a waterproof sheet.
Kalle Palander, a retired Finnish ski racing champion and sales director for Snow Secure, the company responsible for the insulation, stated, "Currently, in the northern part of Finland, the melting rate under our mats is below 13%, which is relatively high."
"We continue to learn and improve every year."
Since its small-scale beginnings in 2016 to address the frequent cancellations of the World Cup slalom races on the Levi Black slope, the operation has expanded to include the preparation of multiple ski runs for visitors, such as the new Levi Glacier run. Additionally, cross-country tracks are now being preserved under a layer of sawdust or woodchips.
Panorama on Lake Como, with the ski lifts closed, present on Monte San Primo.
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"It's crucial for the ski resort from an economic standpoint," Mustonen emphasizes. "Opening the first lift brings in visitors and keeps us thriving."
Snow farming may be a small aspect of Levi's snow production and management, but it aligns with the resort's goal of decreasing carbon emissions and working towards achieving net zero carbon status by 2050, or even sooner."
Levi, having transitioned to renewable electricity in 2020, has now converted its fleet of snow grooming machines to biofuel for the 2023-24 season, further enhancing the environmentally-friendly nature of snow farming as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
Rising temperatures as a result of global warming has led to declining snowfalls around the world.
Christophe Ena/AP
Olympic solution
According to Mustonen, machine-made snow has been a staple in creating high-quality ski racing tracks for a long time, and skiing on snow from the previous year is just as good as skiing on fresh snow.
"It might even hold better and is very effective for skiing," he mentioned.
As early as 2014, the organizers of the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia had stored approximately 800,000 cubic meters of snow to supplement the natural and artificial supplies. This was to ensure that the alpine events could proceed, considering the unpredictable conditions at the Rosa Khutor venue and the lack of snow at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. A similar process was also carried out for the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
This summer in Cervinia, Italy, five impressive mounds covered in white matting were used to store snow in preparation for the new World Cup downhill ski run. The course starts high up on the Theodul Glacier above Zermatt in Switzerland, then crosses the border and descends to a finish line on the Italian side, with the imposing pyramid of the Matterhorn overseeing the event.
In Davos, snow farming is used to create a four-kilometer cross-country ski trail that is open by the end of October.
Marcel Giger/Destination Davos Klosters
Kitzbuhel, Austria, known for hosting the challenging Hahnenkamm downhill ski race, has been utilizing snow farming since 2015 to prepare piste No. 71 (Resterkogel) for early-season skiing. The snow depot, located directly on the sheltered piste, contains approximately 30,000 cubic meters of snow, stored under insulated covers to minimize transportation.
In Davos, Switzerland, snow farming is employed to create a four-kilometer (2.5-mile) cross-country ski trail that opens by the end of October. Around 20,000 cubic meters of machine-made snow, which is denser and more durable than natural snow, is produced in the previous December or January when the weather is at its coldest. The snow is then covered in wood chippings and spread out in the fall, with about 80% remaining. The trail is accessible to both professional and amateur skiers, with bookable time slots available.
Samuel Rosenast, head of communications for Davos, stated, "It's extremely popular among professional cross-country skiers, and we have skiers from approximately 12 nations who come here for early training."
Swiss resort Laax uses snow farming to protect its endangered Vorab Glacier. —
Nicholas Iliano/Flims Laax Falera
Saving glaciers
In North America, ski resorts like Banff Sunshine in Canada and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado utilize a system of fences to capture wind-blown snow for redistribution throughout the ski area. However, they are currently relying on the snow collected from previous years, which eventually melts back into the watershed during the summer.
Laax, another Swiss resort, employs snow farming to safeguard the endangered Vorab Glacier, which could vanish within the next 30-35 years if manmade global warming persists at its current pace. In May, snow is carefully distributed onto the glacier and insulated until September to mitigate ice melt and maintain the integrity of the drag lift infrastructure for the ski runs.
La Sambuy's chair lift, pictured here during warmer months.
Colin Michael Baker/Alamy Stock Photo
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According to a spokesperson for Laax, covering parts of the glacier with snow in spring allows for the opening of the glacier for winter sports earlier in autumn.
In a 2017 pilot study, glaciologists Felix Keller and Johannes Oerlemans found that covering part of the rapidly retreating Morteratsch Glacier with machine-made snow could potentially slow down its melting and even contribute to its growth within 10 years under the right conditions. This was supported by subsequent computer modeling.
A network of sprinklers, inspired by snow cannons, will cover one square kilometer of the most vulnerable melting ice, continuously spraying sustainably produced artificial snow. The project, MortAlive, was initiated in February 2021 and is currently in the stage of fundraising and development. However, some critics argue that it is merely a temporary solution and that the real solution lies in addressing human-induced climate change.
