As climate change impacts weather patterns and snowfall becomes increasingly unpredictable, some ski resorts are stockpiling snow to spread on the slopes for the upcoming ski season.

At the start of the year, CNN.com reported that the Levi company in Finland created nine storage facilities where it collected about 200,000 cubic meters of snow. The snow mounds are covered with 70mm thick mats using Finnfoam, an insulating material used in construction. The additional waterproof sheet protects accumulated snow, which can reach temperatures of just over 2.5°C in summer.

“At the moment, under our mats in northern Finland the melting rate is less than 13%, which is very good,” said Kalle Palander, sales director at Snow Secure, the company responsible for insulation technology.

The accumulated snow can then be used for snow paving, meaning the resort can open early October ahead of the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships, which are held every November.

Levy is well versed in snow stacking and has been perfecting the technique since 2016, according to BBC.com. Other resorts in the area, such as Ruka, followed suit. Currently, Ruka contains five mounds with a volume of about 30,000 cubic meters each. By October, 80-90% of these reserves will remain, and this will be enough to cover at least three slopes and the resort's snow park.

Antti Karava, general director of the Ruka and Pyha ski resorts, said ten years ago that they can guarantee good snow cover from the beginning of December to April.

“Now, thanks to snow farming, we can guarantee good skiing conditions from the beginning of October until the second week of May,” she said she.

Although snow storage does not provide enough snow to completely cover the slopes, and is often supplemented with artificial snow from snow machines, it gives resorts the opportunity to provide visitors with skiing opportunities in the future.

Source: travelnews.co.za

Read also: How to rent a car in Cyprus