With the future of California's Sierra Nevada snowpack more uncertain than once thought, many ski resorts are changing their business models to adapt to the realities of climate change.
Many resorts have taken steps to become more resilient amid warming temperatures over the last decade.
Matt Peterson, Vice President of Boreal Mountain Resort near Lake Tahoe, said the resort has boosted its off-season offerings to include indoor action sports, mountain biking and hiking. They have also tapped into technology, using snowmaking for an environmental advantage.
"Instead of seeing a lot of snow melt all happening at once, or a lot of rain can't capture downstream, snowmaking actually acts as a water storage system," Peterson told KCBS Radio.
Michael Reitzell, President of Ski California, said many resorts have turned to snowmaking to help out when the climate isn’t corporative.
"Our snowmaking systems have become so efficient, no problems to make snow," he explained. "As soon as those temperatures get to what they need to be, our resort can turn things on."
Reitzell said Boreal isn't alone in expanding to other seasons, so many are making more efforts to become destinations outside of the winter.
"Because of that they have definitely strengthen themselves beyond the ski season," he said. "But you know, frankly, the bread and butter is still the ski season, and that’s what our resorts are focused on and making that a great experience."
Snowmaking has been many resorts' best defense for battling warmer, drier conditions. Reitzell said adapting to climate change is nothing new for these resorts, as each passing year brings increasing uncertainty when the ski season will start and end.
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