Climate change makes the future of Nordic skiing uncertain

WINTHROP, Wash. — For the first time in 32 years, organizers of the Rendezvous Cross Country Ski Festival in West Yellowstone, Montana, had to cancel November’s traditional start-of-the-ski-season event due to a lack of snow.

Some 300 miles away, Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Utah offered skiing in November by building an elaborate snow-making system while a small operation in Vermont was able to double its ski days after laying new pipe to feed the water-hungry snow-blowers. That wouldn’t work at Methow Trails in northern Washington, which can’t possibly cover its 124 miles of ski tracks with artificial snow; instead, they do snow dances and work on plans to move trails to higher elevation if needed.