{"id":9464,"date":"2016-11-03T21:34:46","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T01:34:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/intrawest-in-search-of-snow\/"},"modified":"2016-11-04T12:46:26","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T16:46:26","slug":"intrawest-in-search-of-snow","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/intrawest-in-search-of-snow\/","title":{"rendered":"Intrawest: In 性视界 of Snow"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the largest owner and operator of destination resort properties in North America, Intrawest Resorts Holdings, Inc. is very concerned about the effect of climate change on its operations.[1]<\/a> With stakes in ski resorts from Zihuatanejo, Mexico to Blue Mountain, Ontario, Intrawest faces two critical operational challenges.[2]<\/a> First, in the face of warming temperatures, is Intrawest operating the right resorts in the right places? Second, within those resorts, how much should Intrawest rely on popular, but expensive, climate change mitigation techniques like snowmaking operations?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Climate Change and the Ski Industry<\/em><\/p>\n

It is easy to see how climate change could have a significant impact on the ski resort industry: during the ski season, warmer temperatures result in shorter winters and less snow.[3]<\/a> The fewer days a resort can be operational, the greater the negative impact to Intrawest\u2019s bottom line. During the off-season, a higher frequency of extreme weather events, such as droughts and forest fires, increase the risk of costly damage to land, infrastructure, and facilities.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Operations at Steamboat Springs<\/em><\/p>\n

Operations at Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the premier property in Intrawest\u2019s portfolio, epitomize the challenges of running a large mountain resort in an era of increasingly warm average temperatures.[5]<\/a> Steamboat opens to skiers after enough snowfall has accumulated to form a sufficient \u2018base\u2019 that is further augmented by snowmaking operations to ensure accessibility from the base area to lift lines and full snow coverage of some trails.[6]<\/a> Early snowmaking efforts are focused on filling gaps in the base and safely covering natural obstacles like rocks and tree stumps.[7]<\/a><\/p>\n

Steamboat historically has achieved a sufficient base by mid-November allowing for full operation of its gondola and down-mountain lifts.[8]<\/a> As temperatures drop and snow accumulates, the resort gradually opens access to all three of its interconnected mountains, reaching full operating capacity on its 16 lift lines and 165 named trails by Christmas.[9]<\/a> Steamboat traditionally operates until late spring when the base is too depleted to support safe skiing and continued lift operations.[10]<\/a><\/p>\n

In recent years, a lack of snow has pushed the resort\u2019s opening day into late November or early December resulting in cancelled ski trips, lost revenue and significant idle time for seasonal employees.[11]<\/a> Delays in establishing a sufficient base limit snowmaking operations and delay the opening of up-mountain trails and lifts. Cascading delays in opening trails result in significant overcrowding on the accessible parts of the resort, straining the normal operations and maintenance cycle of the gondola and down-mountain lifts and trails.[12]<\/a> Increased snowmaking is required to repair overused trails, limiting snowmaking operations in other areas of the resort.[13]<\/a> Without a significant snowfall, this pattern of disrupted operations continues until the season\u2019s end.[14]<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Seeking Proactive Strategies<\/em><\/p>\n

The most ubiquitous strategy to mitigate climate change risk is increased installation of snowmaking equipment like that used in Steamboat.[15]<\/a> 95% of resorts worldwide engaged in snowmaking and snowmaking has been found to extend the average ski season by between 55-120 days.[16]<\/a> Technological advances in snowmaking have reduced labor costs by enabling resorts to purchase \u2018snow guns\u2019 that automatically adjust air and water flows and engage when weather conditions allow operation.[17]<\/a> This automation is increasingly valuable as warmer temperatures may only dip below freezing for a few hours a night.[18]<\/a><\/p>\n

However, while snowmaking offers an invaluable substitute to natural snow, the use of this technology requires significant capital investment and is operationally limited by temperature and humidity\u2014factors significantly affected by climate change.[19]<\/a> The practice of snowmaking also requires a considerable amount of water.[20]<\/a> Operations at a resort like Steamboat use millions of gallons of water each year, often at significant cost.[21]<\/a> Such operations are likely to come under increased scrutiny and regulation as fresh water lakes and reservoirs are depleted by longer, drier summers.<\/p>\n

Intrawest has also sought to reduce the challenges caused by climate change by implementing night skiing at Steamboat, spreading some of the demand from skiers across increased operational hours.[22]<\/a> While effective at reducing long daytime waits at lifts and overcrowding on trails, night skiing presents its own operational challenges as snowmaking equipment cannot be operated, lift maintenance cannot be performed and trails cannot be repaired while skiers are on the mountain.[23]<\/a><\/p>\n

With operational challenges like those at Steamboat becoming the new normal, Intrawest must consider whether it is operating resorts in the right locations. Delayed autumn snowfall and earlier spring snowmelt are projected to decrease snowpacks and snow accumulation in much of North America over the next 30 years.[24]<\/a> However, in certain regions of Alaska and Canada, winter precipitation is projected to increase and the additional snowfall could make up for a shorter snow season.[25]<\/a> Given the expense and problems associated with its current strategies to combat climate change, Intrawest should consider investing in new resorts in areas less vulnerable to climate change and divesting resorts with major climate-related operational challenges.[26]<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Word Count (800)<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> “Intrawest – A Leader in Experiential Destination Resorts.”\u00a0Intrawest – A Leader in Experiential Destination Resorts<\/em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> McGill, Daniel D.D.\u00a0The Impact of Climate Change on Ski Resort Operations and Development: Opportunities and Threats<\/em>. Department of Urban Studies and Planning, M.I.T. Sept, 2007. Pg 5.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> McGill, Daniel D.D.\u00a0The Impact of Climate Change on Ski Resort Operations and Development: Opportunities and Threats<\/em>. Department of Urban Studies and Planning, M.I.T. Sept, 2007. Pg 5-6<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> “Intrawest – A Leader in Experiential Destination Resorts.”\u00a0Intrawest – A Leader in Experiential Destination Resorts<\/em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> “Steamboat Mountain Stats.”\u00a0Steamboat Mountain Information<\/em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> \u201cSteamboat Mountain Stats.”\u00a0Steamboat Mountain Information<\/em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.<\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> \u201cSteamboat Mountain Stats.”\u00a0Steamboat Mountain Information<\/em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.<\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

[13]<\/a> \u201cSteamboat Mountain Stats.”\u00a0Steamboat Mountain Information<\/em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.<\/p>\n

[14]<\/a> McGill, Daniel D.D.\u00a0The Impact of Climate Change on Ski Resort Operations and Development: Opportunities and Threats<\/em>. Department of Urban Studies and Planning, M.I.T. Sept, 2007. Pg. 49.<\/p>\n

[15]<\/a> McGill, Daniel D.D.\u00a0The Impact of Climate Change on Ski Resort Operations and Development: Opportunities and Threats<\/em>. Department of Urban Studies and Planning, M.I.T. Sept, 2007. Pg. 49.<\/p>\n

[16]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

[17]<\/a> Ibid. Pg. 50.<\/p>\n

[18]<\/a> Ibid. Pg. 50.<\/p>\n

[19]<\/a> Ibid. Pg. 49.<\/p>\n

[20]<\/a> Ibid. Pg. 49.<\/p>\n

[21]<\/a> “Intrawest – A Leader in Experiential Destination Resorts.”\u00a0Intrawest – A Leader in Experiential Destination Resorts<\/em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.<\/p>\n

[22]<\/a> \u201cSteamboat Mountain Stats.”\u00a0Steamboat Mountain Information<\/em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.<\/p>\n

[23]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

[24]<\/a> McGill, Daniel D.D.\u00a0The Impact of Climate Change on Ski Resort Operations and Development: Opportunities and Threats<\/em>. Department of Urban Studies and Planning, M.I.T. Sept, 2007. Pg. 49.<\/p>\n

[25]<\/a> McGill, Daniel D.D.\u00a0The Impact of Climate Change on Ski Resort Operations and Development: Opportunities and Threats<\/em>. Department of Urban Studies and Planning, M.I.T. Sept, 2007. Pg. 43.<\/p>\n

[26]<\/a> Ibid. Pg. 9.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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