U.S. ski resorts becoming less skiable.
What the Worst Winter in 60 Years Did to Ski Resorts
2018 was one of the driest seasons on record. How many resorts can survive another like it?
https://www.outsideonline.com/2310791/winter-really-was-bad-everyone-thought
“We are the people who can bring attention to this problem and help solve it,” Schendler says. “The outdoor industry is huge, bigger than Big Pharma, and we have wielded absolutely no power. What are you if you have the ability to solve a problem and choose not to? The outdoor industry and the ski industry can be the NRA on climate. We have to be.”
Not sure who these people are, but they are definitely feeding misinformation. They are comparing this winter to last year's record high snowfall totals. Better to compare to average snowfall: Squaw Valley averages 450", and has received (so far) 367", 18% below average. Crested Buttes averages 217", and has received 145", 33% below average. Telluride averages 309", and has received 159", almost half of the average. Vail averages 184", and has received 171", 7% below average. That is just 27% below average for the four ski resorts (could not find a Taos average). Not too bad, especially compared to the drought years. In the winter or 2014-15, Squaw Valley received 235", and only 180" in 2012-13.
The article conveniently left out those resort that experienced abundant snowfall. Resorts further north had banner years. Wyoming's Jackson Hole, Idaho's Schweitzer, Montana's Whitefish, and Whistler all had high snowfall totals, and had record seasons. Ski resorts out east also had a banner year, thanks to multiple heavy snows.
It is no surprise that the listed resorts experienced a drop in skiers this past winter, the skiers will travel to where the snow is best, and this year, it was not the resorts listed. Last season was different, as they all experienced abundant snowfall. As the article states, a single down season is not rare. However, that does not mean that this is a sign of things to come. Very poor and misleading article.