What Is Snow Farming? How One Ski Resort Saved Winter for Fall

It may seem early, but skiers and snowboarders have already hit the slopes in Colorado for some winter sports fun. While this part of the Rockies has picked up trace amounts of snow already this year, it is not the current weather that is providing the snowpack. Instead, it is an innovative practice known as snow farming. Here is a look at how this practice could replace snowmaking and give ski resorts a much-needed boost as global warming deepens.

Insulated Snow Covers Show Great Promise in Preserving Snow

The ski industry is being forced to adapt to a rapidly warming planet. Last year's snow season was sparse across much of the western U.S., resulting in many ski resorts having to close their doors early. The situation on the slopes did not improve, as places such as Colorado recorded their hottest summer on record.

So how have these winter sports enthusiasts already returned to the slopes? The answer lies in the leftover snow from last winter that was carefully preserved for almost five months so that it would be readily accessible once the temperature started to fall again.

The snow was kept cold and intact under enormous insulated blankets. The experiment has been so successful that Colorado's Aspen Snowmass resort area has already purchased more of the special blankets for next year. Now other resorts may be looking to Aspen as the guinea pig for what could be the saving grace for an industry grappling with climate change and the resulting strain on energy resources.