Global warming ‘could close half of Alpine ski resorts by 2050’
By Graham Tibbetts12:00AM GMT 03 Dec 2003More than half of all ski resorts in the Alps could be forced out of business in the next 50 years by rising temperatures, according to research published yesterday.
Low-lying slopes such as Kitzbuhel in Austria and Oberstdorf in Germany may receive so little snow over the next 30 to 50 years that skiing, snowboarding and toboganning cease to be viable winter industries. The warning comes in a study by the University of Zurich for the United Nations Environment Programme.
Meanwhile, back in the real world….
KEYSTONE, Colo. — Arapahoe Basin officials say they will decide Saturday whether to keep the ski resort open until July 4.
The ski area on the Continental Divide has been running its lifts Friday through Sunday since ending daily ski operations June 5.
A-Basin has said it would consider offering weekend skiing through July 4 if the snow was still good. The resort hasn’t had any new snow in the last three days, but it still had a 62-inch base Monday.
Arapahoe Basin has offered skiing on July 4 four times, most recently in 1997.
Elsewhere, Snowbird in Utah and Mammoth, Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley and Sugar Bowl in California are among ski areas offering skiing on the July 4 weekend. Timberline in Oregon regularly offers summer skiing.
Record Snowfall – Mt. Bachelor open for skiing on 4th of July – With a record 650 inches of snowfall this past season, management at Oregon’s Mt. Bachelor ski area announced today that they are opening for skiing over the 4th of July weekend.