BRETT FRENCH
After 47 years as a ski area owner, George Willett sold Showdown Montana to his daughter, Katie Boedecker, in September.
âIâm looking forward to Kate having a great experience here and continuing to enjoy what sheâs doing,â Willett said.
Boedecker could not be reached for comment. But during Willettâs ownership she has worked a variety of jobs at the Little Belt Mountains ski hill. These include director of marketing and advertising, prep work in the kitchen, busing tables, operating the ski lifts, teaching skiing and overseeing guest services. In 2001 she became the ski hillâs operations manager.
KEY CONCEPTS
While there is significant year-to-year variability in ice coverage, trends show that annual maximum ice coverage on each of the Great Lakes has declined over time. Across all the Great Lakes, the annual maximum ice cover is, on average, 22% lower than it was a half-century ago. Furthermore, ice coverage is becoming less reliable, with more frequent years of extremely low ice coverage (like this year).
The decline in lake ice coverage is driven by warming air and water temperatures due to climate change. The lake ice season is also contracting in many cases, with lakes now tending to freeze over later and thaw out sooner.
Rosemary O’Hagan skins up Tiehack in the later afternoon in Aspen on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. O’Hagan moved here for the winter season and works remotely. She explained that her husband is a deployed Marine and she moved from California. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
A skier climbs uphill using the designated route on Tiehack in Aspen on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
Aspen Skiing Co. is trying to learn more about the habits of “uphillers” and whether they would be willing to pay to play in the future.
Skico invited people on its “uphill update” email list last week to fill out a 24-question online survey. Skico asked people which ski areas they visit, how often, at what times and which routes. The email list was compiled at the beginning of this season.
EarthTalk Q&A: Ski Industry & Global Warming el-observador.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from el-observador.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Published Tuesday, January 12, 2021
by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss
Dear EarthTalk
:
Given the existential threat to their industry, what are ski resorts, gear makers and professional skiers and snowboarders doing to fight global warming?
J. Simms, Rutland, VT
It s undeniable that climate change has been affecting and continues to threaten the winter sports and tourism industries. Colder regions around the world are experiencing a steady decline in snowfall and snowy months. In the classic tale of Frosty the Snowman, Frosty promises to come back next winter when the cold returns. But as global average temperatures continue to climb, will Frosty keep coming back?