Running Water

With the likelihood that catastrophic weather events will continue to increase in frequency and intensity, climate change is at the forefront of many ski industry minds. Take Nevada’s Lee Canyon, for example, where Tropical Storm Hilary dumped nearly 10 inches of rain Aug. 19-20, causing unprecedented flash flooding and landslides that resulted in significant damage to trails, lifts, and the resort’s access road, and forced an end to summer operations. Or look to Vermont, where two days of torrential rain in early July submerged cities and damaged infrastructure at several ski areas, including Stratton, Okemo, and to a lesser extent, Sugarbush. 

Removing the massive amount of material that flowed into the base area at Lee Canyon, Nev., in the wake of Tropical Storm Hilary.