S(no)pack
The travel section of the Sunday New York Times featured a story entitled "In Taos Ski Valley, No Frills, Just Thrills". No snow is more like it, as no ski areas in New Mexico, including Taos, are operating on natural snow this season. (see USA Today: "Parched New Mexico gets taste of climate change".) The implications of that fact go far beyond winter recreation, as the state, like most of the West, relies on its snowpack for much of its water supply.
The gravity of the situation is not lost on Governor Bill Richardson, who has enrolled his state in the Chicago Climate Exchange while setting both short- and long-term emissions reductions targets. Another item in USA Today ("The West takes lead on climate change") cites half a dozen western governors who, facing serious climate crises and impatient with a lack of federal leadership on the issue, are now taking the initiative.
As Richardson tells the paper, "Under the Bush administration, the United States is ignoring the world's best scientists on climate change. The real action ... is at the state and local level."
The gravity of the situation is not lost on Governor Bill Richardson, who has enrolled his state in the Chicago Climate Exchange while setting both short- and long-term emissions reductions targets. Another item in USA Today ("The West takes lead on climate change") cites half a dozen western governors who, facing serious climate crises and impatient with a lack of federal leadership on the issue, are now taking the initiative.
As Richardson tells the paper, "Under the Bush administration, the United States is ignoring the world's best scientists on climate change. The real action ... is at the state and local level."
3 Comments:
The Town of Taos is dry indeed, but the Skiing is not bad at all.... I know firsthand because I live here in Taos.
Hey, thanks for the comment. I checked the snow depths at Taos Ski Valley before posting just to be sure I wasn't passing off bad info. According to the resort, there's currently a 62 inch base. But 38 inches are man-made and only 24 inches are natural. 24 isn't enough to open, so while the skiing may be good, it's still dependant on snow-making.
While I'm happy to hear the skiing's good, the increasing reliance on snow-making (not only in NM, but across the West and in Europe) is environmentally problematic. Not only is there the draw on water supplies, but there are also the diesel fumes from generators used to power the blowers. Ironically, this contributes to the very greenhouse gas emissions that lead to warming.
All that said, it should be noted that Ski Area Citizens gave Taos Ski Valley an A grade on its environmental report card.
Happy skiing. Thanks again for the comment.
Sorry I live here too and Taos pretty much sucked this winter.
Post a Comment
<< Compass Main