In winter, many people go on a skiing holiday. Skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing on the slopes is fun, but usually not particularly sustainable. Because artificial snow, full pistes and modern infrastructure leave their mark – on nature, the climate and wild animals. Can winter holidays be different? How can it be designed so that nature and the environment are not unduly burdened?
Winter attracts many people to the mountains – for skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, tobogganing or simply to enjoy the snowy landscape. But the conditions in the Alps and low mountain ranges are changing. A key factor: winter holiday regions are growing and hosting more and more tourists. However, the infrastructure and the heavy visitor activity that comes with it year after year interfere with the natural habitats of the mountains and harm nature.
Animal disturbance of the peace
Winter mountain landscapes appear calm and untouched. For many animals, this time of year is a time of energy conservation and survival. Red deer, chamois and mountain hares reduce their activity to a minimum in order to make do with scarce resources. If they are surprised by skiers, snowshoe hikers or ski tourers, such encounters often trigger a flight reaction. This costs valuable energy that the animals can hardly replace in winter. Species that require protected retreat areas, such as grouse such as black grouse or ptarmigan, react particularly sensitively. They often spend the day in hollows of snow just below the surface on seemingly lonely slopes. If these retreats are disturbed or overrun, it can be life-threatening for the animals.
In order to protect the animals, winter vacationers should stay on designated slopes, paths and ascent routes and not come too close to forest edges, thickets and trees. You should also avoid winter sports at dusk and at night, as lights on the equipment and slopes disturb the animals. Many alpine clubs now offer tours that avoid sensitive habitats.
But even if winter sports enthusiasts adhere to these rules, their recreational fun has a deep impact on the mountain world. Because before the (artificial) snow arrives, many ski areas have already undergone significant changes: To ensure that slopes are wide and evenly skiable, slopes are leveled and forests are cleared. This compacts the soil so much that it can hardly absorb water. Rain flows downslope, taking soil with it and promoting erosion, mud flow and, in winter, a higher risk of avalanches.
Environmentally harmful artificial snow
Another problem: natural snow is becoming rarer. Due to rising temperatures as a result of climate change, winters with little snow are no longer the exception. That’s why many winter holiday regions use artificial snow to compensate for the lack of snow. According to Statista, for example, in the winter of 2023/24, 90 percent of the Italian ski slopes in the Alpine region were already covered in artificial snow.
However, snow cannons are not sustainable because they require large amounts of water and energy: around one million liters of water are used per hectare of slopes every year. This corresponds to the needs of a large city like Hamburg. Due to the removal of water, some rivers in the Alps already carry up to 70 percent less water than before artificial snowmaking. In addition, the storage ponds, pumping stations and pipelines required for this interfere with nature.
Artificial snow is also denser, heavier and lasts longer than natural snow. This shortens the regeneration time of the meadows and plants enter the growth phase later. Damage to vegetation is therefore much more common on artificial snow slopes. Sustainable alternatives to artificial snow are currently rare. Ski vacationers can avoid areas covered in artificial snow to make their trip more sustainable.
Travel more sustainably
In addition to the infrastructure and artificial snow, what also makes winter holidays unsustainable is the arrival and departure of tourists: most holidaymakers arrive by car and only stay a few days. Of the 45 to 50 million tourists in the Alps, only around five percent travel by train. Deutsche Bahn offers a combination ticket with a ski pass for some ski areas. In addition to arrival and departure, there are also hotels that attach great importance to sustainability in their operations. It doesn’t always have to be a ski holiday in a well-known region. Smaller places away from the large ski areas, which are easier to reach and have less impact on nature, also offer enough activities between snow and ice.