'Greenpiste' - Mountain Environmental Concerns

For many of the European Alpine resorts, winter is an important source of income and snow is heavily relied upon for related sports such as skiing, snowboarding, telemarking, hiking and ice-climbing. However, when we drive or fly to our favorite ski resorts, climb on the brand new six-seated chairlift through the trees; toss our cigarette butts in the snow, chuck our orange peel from the chairlift targeting a skier/boarder below; few of us ever really stop to consider the impact the sport is having on the mountain and its eco-system. For example, did you know the following facts:

orange peel takes up to two years to break down;cigarette butts will remain on the hillside for up to 5 years before the atmosphere breaks them down (which we hear on the alpine grapevine is contributing to 'alleged' increases in lung cancer amongst marmottes and chamoiswhen skiing through trees, you can damage them by knocking off branches and killing young shoots underneath;your snotty tissues and plastic sweet wrappers will still be on the mountain there when you’re back at work dreaming of your next winter holiday! ... see "Environmental Impact of Skiing" for more

It has been well documented recently that following a cycle of hot summers and mild winters European glaciers are slowly retreating back up the mountain. Scientists often consider natural phenomenon such as glaciers to be amongst the best indicator of climate change so rapidily shrinking glaciers and glacial tongue retreats are good indicators of atmospheric warming conditions. Are we experiencing a predictable climate change? Or is the human activity in our planet impacting on our global climate? Who knows, present indicators could suggest both argurments but something is sure, our glaciers are disappearing and only time will reveal if they will disappear forever. ... see "Glacial Meltdown" for more

• Be aware of your environmental impact as skiers and boarders. Educate yourself about your environmental impact on the mountains, and what you can do to minimise it
• Do not leave litter on the slopes. When the snow melts at then end of the season, litter left behind by skiers and boarders will still be there. Bin it or take it home with you. Did you know it takes up to two years for an Orange peel skin to be absorbed by the earth; and a cigarette butt takes up to five years!! If you find litter on the slopes, be responsible and do the right thing - pick it up!
• Do your bit to reduce global warming on holiday and at home. In hotels, re-use your towels each day, and where possible re-cycle your household waste. Many french ski resorts now have excellent recylcing facilities for plastics, cans and paper; glass and other waste. Additionally, if you're not in your chalet or hotel room, switch off electrical appliances when not in use. A TV that is viewed for less than one hour a day can actually use more energy when left on standby than it does during the time is being watched!
• Encourage tour operators to adopt green policies. Find out if your tour operator offers train travel as an alternative to flying, if they use paper from sustainable forests for their brochures, if they use, for example, low-wattage light bulbs in their chalets and bio-degradable detergents
• Investigate whether your chosen resort uses environmentally friendly practices. Many resorts now use bio-diesel fuel in piste-bashers, solar panels for heating, hydro-electricity/wind energy for power and a host of other initiatives. Some resorts use the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 14001 as a mark of their environmental credentials
• Reduce CO2 emissions. By flying fewer miles, or switching from air to rail, you can help reduce the volume of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. When possible, use your bike instead of your car
• Respect the natural habitat of mountain animals and plants. If you ski through trees, you can damage them by knocking off branches and killing young shoots under the snow. Take care. Many areas are out of bounds to protect the natural habitat of animals and plants - not just safety reasons