Glacier Wakes Up from Hibernation at Swiss Ski Resort

In Switzerland, it’s time for the big reveal. A crew at Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis is removing an enormous snow cover from a glacier. The practice protects snow from the sun’s glare during the warmer months.

The resort is able to typically open in late October or early November thanks to the preserved base of snow. Several resorts worldwide employ similar techniques, hiding snow beneath large tarps. Trollhaugen Ski Area, Wisconsin, squirrels away its stash at the end of the season. When October arrives, the crew unwraps the snow to host Open Haugen, a pre-season rail jam. One summer, Trollhaugen also used the snow for a Red Bull competition called Bonus Track , which saw the creation of an unseasonal terrain park in June.

The Finns are in on the action, too. Levi Ski Resort opened on October 6th last year thanks to preserved snow. The resort started the preservation program in 2016 to ensure the Levi World Cup racers had enough snow to ski—it worked swimmingly. These days, the resort has the process down pat, making the snow mid-season when temperatures are cold and pushing it into compact piles with snowcats after the ski season ends. The piles are covered with Finnfoam mats, a material used in the construction industry.

“Of course, snow is the most critical element in this skiing business, it’s our gold, so we save the gold by storing it and using the snow to help start the season,” Marko Mustonen, commercial director of Levi, told CNN .

While fun and quirky, snow preservation techniques hint at something less exciting. It’s no secret that climate change and skiing are an unfortunate pairing. Ski resorts, of course, need snow to run. For the ski industry, preserving snow is a potential band-aid—not cure—for the looming threat of warmer global temperatures.

A recent study found that, after surveying 226 ski areas across the U.S., regional ski seasons could shorten between 14–33 days and 27–62 days by the 2050s, depending on the level of emissions. The price tag associated with lost skier visits and increased snowmaking costs is significant: the study estimates that $252 million is lost annually. “The economic damage already done is clear and the extent of future damages is dependent on the success of [the] Paris Climate Agreement,” a statement from the abstract reads. Bummer, I know.

Does that mean we’ll see more ski resorts start saving leftover snow? Your guess is as good as mine. But when money—and skiing—are on the line, you can bet that resorts will get creative. I just hope I’m not spending every winter weekend skiing inside a fridge when I’m 90—it’s supposed to be an outdoor sport.

Related: Here’s How We Tested Next Year’s Best Gear

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