As another winter ski season winds down, it must be said that things aren’t looking too good for the next generation of snow birds. According to climate-change specialists, many of the world’s most popular ski slopes could be bereft of snow in the next 25 years. Among the most endangered species are 40 percent of Alpine resorts and favorite low-altitude Canadian spots such as Whistler.

The fact is between the artificial snowmakers and the fuel required to run everything from chairlifts and trail groomers to the heaters in those high-ceilinged Alpine lodges, ski resorts have traditionally been the most energy-intensive of vacation destinations. Factor in the diversion of water, not to mention those nasty chemicals, used to make artificial snow, the erosion that results from clearing trees for trails, and the destruction of natural habitats due to human encroachment, and it’s no wonder that the color least frequently associated with ski resorts is green. (more…)