How is anthropogenic climate change impacting those who recreate in the mountains?
It is having an impact in several ways. First and most importantly, there are more forest fires. These impact access, one’s ability to breathe and can even create physical danger.
Lower snowfall is impacting skiing and ski resorts. Less snowfall also increases fire activity.
The loss of snow on glaciers and the recession of glacier ice both create hazards for climbers and mountaineers. Everything is more dangerous without snow.
Hot summers are impacting mountains throughout the world. Rock and icefall is more prevalent.
Climate change is real and it’s having a real impact on outdoor recreation. But this is only one piece of the puzzle. Outdoor recreation is important to many people, but it is not a matter of life or death. Many parts of the climate crisis are life or death…