Save the Snow....

[billski]

http://savesnow.com/A very intriguing report about global warming and how it's impacting our ski areas (Whistler-Blackcomb, Aspen/Snowmass, St. Moritz). Here is an audio clip presented on NPR on 12/01/06. http://www.ecoshock.org/cfro/ES_Ski_Feature.mp3

Includes a very intriguing interview with a Whistler rep who talks about how they are confronting global warming and how it is impacting their operations and their glaciers. It's not just about using energy efficient bulbs and burning less fuel in snow cats (turns out the ski industry has very little direct impact on GW.) It's interesting how they plan to deal with it over the next 20 years through a "sustainability program": a) "Flattening out the trails", such that they can open with only 10cm of snow instead of 20, b) moving more of the operations "uphill", c) snowmaking focus on the downslope/lower altitute. http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/mountain/environment/sustainability.htm They make it clear they've been working on this for a long time and it's not a trendy thing. A very well-thought-out plan, it is clear they are in it for the long-haul.

Interesting ideas. Glad to hear someone is making investments and planning ahead, instead of prostituting the lands with condos, etc. I don't hear anybody in the east talking like this.

Aspen has also initated an interesting conservation program:
http://savesnow.com/

 

[SnowRider]

Maybe if the resorts in the east started a plan like thiers we would be skiing/riding on double the amount of trails they have open right now. It it is good to finally see a ski resort looking ahead 20 to 30 years as apposed to 5 to 10 years. I definitly support what they are doing and hopefully other resorts will catch on and do the same.

 

[dmc]

voodoo science.. :roll:

 

[Big Game]

voodoo science.. :roll:

Do you agree with my far out theory that this "sun," historcially speaking has cyclical "solar energy" rhythms, of which we are in high spot and that it is this which causes the earth to warm as opposed the lil ol' CO2 from my little ol four bangin' Subey?

As I said before, no worries. We're over due for big volcanic explosion to cause us so much winter, we will all die in famine! But the powder will be superb.

 

[Marc]

As I said before, no worries. We're over due for big volcanic explosion to cause us so much winter, we will all die in famine! But the powder will be superb.

Meh. Small price to pay.

 

[askstowell]

As I said before, no worries. We're over due for big volcanic explosion to cause us so much winter, we will all die in famine! But the powder will be superb.

Nuclear winter does have its advantages.

 

[dmc]

Do you agree with my far out theory that this "sun," historcially speaking has cyclical "solar energy" rhythms, of which we are in high spot and that it is this which causes the earth to warm as opposed the lil ol' CO2 from my little ol four bangin' Subey?

As I said before, no worries. We're over due for big volcanic explosion to cause us so much winter, we will all die in famine! But the powder will be superb.

Doesn't matter what I believe or if I worry.. Cause I believe we all contribute to everything on this planet... We are all intertwined and contribute to the Earth - good and the bad.. People, the rocks, the animals and the stars all one big pulsing mass.. And sometimes the sun or earth or animals makes it warmer then were used to and sometimes colder.. Nothing we can really do about that... Natural cycles... And we probably should F with those cylces...

I also think that we accelerate the earths warming as a people making choices.. And I think it would be better if we thought more about ways to slow down our affect our choices have on natural cycles of warming.. Because we as humans can adapt to climate change WAY faster then animals using natural evolution(sorry if I pissed anyone off using the E word)

And not everyone believes what I believe and some do but don't care as I do... But what do I know - I've only been alive for 43 years and the Earth has been around for billions... I only know whats happened for the brief period of time that man has been writing stuff in books...
And I use tons of fossil fuel every year...
And throw out tons of crap that piles up in in landfills...
And eat animals that create polution on the land, sea and air and just generally cause imbalance...
And Ithe only way it really changes things is with skiing.. Cause i've never seen a polar bear or a penguin..
AND I don't even have kids so I don't have anything invested into the earth really..

So I guess that makes me a hypocrite... And basically I don't really join the debate anymore.. (I won't be posting to any responses)...

So - all that really matters is what the people in power believe..
And since I'm not in power... I just say what the people in power say: "Voodoo science"...

 

[klrskiah]

Doesn't matter what I believe or if I worry.. Cause I believe we all contribute to everything on this planet... We are all intertwined and contribute to the Earth - good and the bad.. People, the rocks, the animals and the stars all one big pulsing mass.. And sometimes the sun or earth or animals makes it warmer then were used to and sometimes colder.. Nothing we can really do about that... Natural cycles... And we probably should F with those cylces...

I also think that we accelerate the earths warming as a people making choices.. And I think it would be better if we thought more about ways to slow down our affect our choices have on natural cycles of warming.. Because we as humans can adapt to climate change WAY faster then animals using natural evolution(sorry if I pissed anyone off using the E word)

And not everyone believes what I believe and some do but don't care as I do... But what do I know - I've only been alive for 43 years and the Earth has been around for billions... I only know whats happened for the brief period of time that man has been writing stuff in books...
And I use tons of fossil fuel every year...
And throw out tons of crap that piles up in in landfills...
And eat animals that create polution on the land, sea and air and just generally cause imbalance...
And Ithe only way it really changes things is with skiing.. Cause i've never seen a polar bear or a penguin..
AND I don't even have kids so I don't have anything invested into the earth really..

So I guess that makes me a hypocrite... And basically I don't really join the debate anymore.. (I won't be posting to any responses)...

So - all that really matters is what the people in power believe..
And since I'm not in power... I just say what the people in power say: "Voodoo science"...

Good post.

All i gotta say is that regardless whether you believe that this current burst of global warming is caused directly by humans, or by some unknown factor (unlikely). If you look at how we as humans have changed the physical landscape of the planet in only 100 years, and imagine that with the skyrocketing population and ever increasing reliance on fuels, and material goods, what will this place look like 50, 100 years from now??? it's a downright frightening thought as far as i'm concerned. But hey, some may see it as "progress" and unfortunately most of us have little control of the overall scheme of things, but i just don't buy it when people say that they can't make a difference.