Alpine Ski Resorts Hope Petting Zoos Will Make Up for Lack of Snow
- Animal parks, paragliding, mountain hikes replace schussing
- More of the same in coming years as temperatures keep rising
Northeast Ski Resorts Beg for Snow
The town of Chamonix, France, opened a petting zoo to entertain children deprived of skiing. In Laax, Switzerland, operators raised lift prices, to keep out skiers from lower altitudes. Helicopters are carrying snow to Meribel, and in Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, the mayor asked locals to eschew the slopes.
It’s all a response to what’s shaping up to be the worst December in memory for snowless European ski resorts, the vacation destinations for movie stars and schoolchildren alike. On a continent where ski holidays are de rigueur, the mountain meltdown is putting a crimp in local economies that could be hurt more if bookings don’t improve. More slushy ski seasons may be in store, said Daniel Goetz, a meteorologist and snow researcher at the French weather service.