Transcript Vail Ski Resort

VAIL CLIMATE CHANGE RISK
ASSEMENT
Mckenzie Harris
VAIL MOUNTAIN
o 3RD largest single mountain resort in the
United States
oThe most visited ski resort in the US
oOwned by Vail Resorts which also owns
Breckenridge, Keystone, and Beaver
Creek in Colorado, Heavenly and
Northstar in California, and Park City
Mountain Resort in Utah
oThe most popular ski resorts in Colorado
and brings in many international tourism
CLIMATE HAZARDS
oAverage annual temperature is 2 degrees higher than three decades ago and
scientists say it will increase by 2.5 – 6.5 degrees by 2050, wildfires and heatwaves
are more common
oWarmer fall temps cause delayed openings of Vail and other major ski resorts
oIn 2014, The temperature in the fall was 4 degrees higher than average which
meant they could use snow making machines. This delayed the opening dates from
October 31st to Thanksgiving weekend
oThe warmer temperature means snow is melting faster which is a threat to spring
skiing
oSnow is melting 15-30 days earlier than 25 years ago
o“I think it’s time for the ski industry to shift the season from October to April to
something that makes more sense, like December through May,” said Dillon resident
Chuck Savall.
VULNERABILITIES
oVail Valley relies heavily on the ski season starting in the fall and ending in the
spring
oThis effects local restaurants, ski and snowboard rentals, lodging and other local
businesses
oThe resort itself spends a lot of money to try to open when scheduled including more
staff and more equipment.
oBecause Vail and surrounding towns, as well as Colorado as a whole, is so reliant on
the revenue from snow-based recreation, the risk is especially high.
ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
oRight now the only thing Vail is doing to adapt to warmer temperatures is to spend
more money trying to make snow than deal with the problem.
oVail needs to focus more on mitigation than adaptation.
o“Ski resort CEOs and trade groups leaders have a fiscal responsibility to both
understand climate change and respond at scale. That should be the industry’s highest
priority,” said Schendler.
oParticipate the National Ski Area Association report on sustainable slopes in
Colorado and join their Climate challenge.
oNSAA’s climate challenge is a program designed to help ski areas set goals for
carbon reduction and measure the success in reducing their carbon footprint.
CAPACITY TO CHANGE
oSet up skier transportation programs- encourage skiers to carpool especially skiers
from Boulder and Denver
oSkier education and communication- Vail is the largest and most visited ski resort in
the US, Approx. 1,634,250 annually, if they implemented green practices it would
have a very large effect.
o Comprehensive reduction planning- need a climate action plan and integrate it into
planning and budget activities. The resort and town should link up when creating a
plan to be more green.
oImplement greener practices in all resorts owned by Vail Resorts
RESOURCES
http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2014/08/05/new-report-highlights-howclimate-change-may-affect-water-colorado
http://cwcb.state.co.us/environment/climatechange/Documents/COClimateReportOnePager.pdf
http://www.coloradoindependent.com/150106/global-warming-takes-bite-out-ofcolorado-ski-season
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/us/climate-change-threatens-ski-industryslivelihood.html?_r=0
http://www.aspentimes.com/news/regional/9485049-113/climate-ski-resorts-winter
http://www.nsaa.org/media/210657/SSAR_2014.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vail_Ski_Resort#1970.27s