“As if winter hadn’t even arrived”: snow crisis in popular Italian ski resort

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White bands on bare, green-brown hills. While skiers and snowboarders from all over Italy would normally compete, there is currently despair. The Campo Felice ski area in the Italian Apennines, popular with families, is experiencing uncertain snow conditions. Instead of skiers, there are hikers on the ski lifts. Of the fourteen facilities, only four are open. There are individual ‘tongues’ of snow, but in drone footage the panorama of the plateau looks more autumnal than wintry.

Ski resort operator Andrea Lallini said in a CNN investigation: “It’s as if winter hasn’t arrived at all this year. The problem this year is that there was no precipitation and it never got cold.” It is practically impossible for Lallini, who manages the facilities together with his brother, to produce artificial snow.

Due to the high temperatures and dry weather, no snow falls and the production of artificial snow does not really get going. Because: Artificial snow consists of water. This comes from meltwater streams or from artificial reservoirs. If the drought is severe, there will also be a shortage of these resources.

Just too hot and too dry

“We were actually supposed to open in December.” But this was not possible until mid-January, says Lallini. It was just too hot and there was no water.

Once artificial snow is made, it doesn’t mean it stays put. Artificial snow only sticks when the temperature is around freezing. Adding chemicals that cause the water to freeze even at plus temperatures is only permitted under very specific circumstances.

There is a risk of a premature end to the season

If things continue like this, the Lallinis will have to close a month early. His fear: If there are more seasons like this, at some point the business will no longer be sustainable for him and his brother. This season’s figures speak volumes: on a normal Sunday in February, around 6,000 ski tourists usually travel to the Lallini ski area. “We don’t even have 500 in a whole weekend this year.”

The mayor of Rocca di Cambio, the highest town in the Apennines, also explains that the lack of snow will have far-reaching consequences. Every village in the region is heavily dependent on ski tourism. Jobs would be lost if things don’t turn around. “For us who have been working here for a long time, it is heartbreaking to see how nature is being destroyed.” (An)

Source: Blick