Climate Change Forces Closure of La Sambuy Ski Resort

Climate Change Forces Closure of La Sambuy Ski Resort

Climate Change’s Heavy Toll on Ski Resorts

La Sambuy, a family-run ski resort located near Mont Blanc in the French Alps, has been forced to close its ski lifts due to the harsh realities of global warming. The ski season has been significantly shortened to a mere few weeks, making it financially unviable to keep the lifts operational. Last winter, the resort experienced just four weeks of snowfall, and even then, the snow cover was insufficient, resulting in rocks and stones quickly appearing on the ski slopes. Jacques Dalex, the Mayor of La Sambuy, disclosed that the resort, which could only open for less than five weeks during January and February, confronted an annual operating loss of about €500,000. The maintenance of the ski lifts alone amounted to €80,000 per year.

The Draw of La Sambuy

While not a large resort, La Sambuy had its unique appeal. With only three lifts and a few slopes reaching a maximum altitude of 1,850 meters, it offered a range of slopes from “black” for experts to “green” for beginners. The relatively cheap ski passes made it popular among families seeking a more laid-back Alpine experience than larger, higher-altitude destinations offer. Despite its modest size, the resort was a cherished destination for many.

Resort Closure and the Future

However, the grim reality of climate change has forced the resort to take drastic steps. The resort’s future now lies in transitioning into a place for “discovery and protection of nature, walking and sports, if possible.” This aligns with its prior marketing as a summer hiking and outdoor activity destination. Unfortunately, La Sambuy is not the only French ski resort grappling with the unforeseen repercussions of climate change. Last year, Sen-Firmin, another petite Alpine ski destination, decided to remove its ski lift due to a shrinking winter season, a situation also attributed to climate change.

The Impending Crisis for European Ski Resorts

According to a report published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change, a staggering 53% of the 2,234 ski resorts surveyed in Europe are likely to face a “very high risk of snow supply” in the event of global warming by 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, without the use of artificial snow. Another report in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” suggested a “significant likelihood” that global temperature rise will cross this 2-degree Celsius threshold by mid-century. This poses a considerable threat to the future of skiing in Europe.

Community Efforts to Keep the Resort Open

Despite the challenges, the spirit of resilience is strong in La Sambuy. An association named “All Together for La Sambuy” launched a petition this year, urging the resort, and others like it, to remain open by adopting a new, more “resilient” model. This primarily involves operating the chair lift in the summer to transport visitors. The community’s fight to preserve the resort underscores the profound impact of the resort’s closure on the local economy and underscores the broader implications of climate change on businesses and livelihoods worldwide.