Paradox

Life in a ski town / Death of Winter 

I live in a land of paradoxes. It is a land of high alpine semi-arid wetlands. The population here is equally extreme. Hyper athletes who are ultra-lazy at times. Parents at my child’s preschool/after school program just got the third reminder: Don’t park in the crosswalk. They are going to start ticketing (because the extra 20’ walk is a pain). These are folks who will only do the hardest work, for the least pay. Others do almost no work, for 6-7 figures.

A photo from January, after last year's season was also delayed. (Carl Marcus)

I wake this morning to the coldest day of ‘winter’ so far. Low single digits, nearly zero degrees (F) down by the river. This is the result of our last weather system. A wind front, followed by flurries and cold. This too is our problem, and surely someone else’s fault. This year we blame a baby girl. La niña spells warmer, and (usually) dryer weather for our part of the world. Indeed, in the decade plus I have lived in the region more than 12” of snow has usually fallen by early December. This leaves us staring at brown grassy hillsides and rocky, dusted peaks.

On my drive in to work, I saw a woman taking her skis for a walk. It makes sense, they want to be out in the fresh air too. In reality she was likely taking them in to ‘work.’ Our mountain will open for skiing tomorrow (after they delayed the delayed opening). Welcome to what Coloradan’s know as the ‘White Ribbon of Death.’ Filled with thousands of over eager out of practice amateurs, opening day on the Death Ribbon may be the single most dangerous day on the mountain. Again, a paradox since you would think severe avalanche danger on steep and extreme terrain would pose danger. Not nearly that of trying to avoid a line of never-ever power-wedgers on rock hard manmade with a two dozen 20 somethings spinning, weaving and jumping through traffic. It’s enough to make me want to wear a helmet writing about it.

I won’t say this bad winter is the direct result of Climate Change. Nor will I say it is the result of a self-fulfilling prophecy. I used to make snow for our mountain. As we burn through the kilowatt hours, we would always joke (observe?) that the heated pavers at the base of the lift created a sizeable heat bubble, making progress more difficult. The ski industry in general is energy intensive. Snowmaking, lifts, grooming. Even living in a rural area (like all us folks who provide goods and services do) raises our carbon footprint substantially. Not to mention the private jets that bring in our clientele. The industry preaches to Save Our Winters (#SOW). I agree. Are wind credits enough?

A look across the valley to our Ski Area early December 2017

I provide environmental services to our region now. Our facility is one of the most energy intensive parts of municipal operations. State regulators are increasing the strictness of regulations forcing us to expand, build, and likely increase our carbon footprint. Every time I try to love nature, I end up with a black foot. Snowmaking was a fun job that got me out into the mountains, and provides a place for others to do the same, play and love nature. Now I help to keep pollutants out of the environment, and we will be required to put more (unregulated) carbon into the environment. Truly a land of paradox.