It is no secret that climate change is already beginning to have profound effects on the ski industry. Just in the past decade, we are seeing winters that occur with multiple extremes, such as this year’s record-breaking snows followed by a record-breaking dry spell. (And we are all wary of this cycle leading to another record-breaking fire season.) Thankfully, at Palisades Tahoe, we are currently in the middle of a late-April storm that is bringing some much-needed moisture to the region.
In our efforts as a company to mitigate the effects of climate change, we have largely focused on transportation-related initiatives that reduce reliance on individual vehicles. Additionally, we are also a partner of Protect Our Winters, a non-profit organization led by pro snowboarder and Palisades Tahoe athlete Jeremy Jones which spearheads action campaigns to influence government policy. In 2020, we were awarded the Climate Advocacy Achievement and the Climate Action Achievement from the National Ski Areas Association’s Sustainable Slopes program.
Despite these achievements, we know we have a lot more to do, and we’d love for you to join us in our efforts. In partnership with UC Davis Environmental Research Center, we’ve created an exciting social media contest where you can be entered to win weekly ski tickets or a season pass to our resort. Between now and April 23rd, help start the conversation about climate change and support the #SaveOurSnow campaign using UC Davis’ “Degrees of Difference” Augmented Reality Instagram Filter. More details on how to enter can be found here.
In addition to starting the conversation, you can join our efforts when you participate in one of the following:
Use Public Transportation Instead Of Your Car
At Palisades Tahoe, we have a number of FREE, convenient public transportation options. Most notable of these is our Mountaineer shuttle service. Since its launch in 2019, Mountaineer has eliminated nearly 20,000 vehicle trips from mountain access roads annually.
Carpool
Jump in the car with friends or family & you get to park in our free, premium carpool parking lot. Our Protect Our Winters Carpool Parking lot has taken 25,000 cars off the road annually, preventing greenhouse gas emissions equal to 67,000 trips around Lake Tahoe.
Bikes & Electric Cars
Reduce your reliance on fuel-based methods of transportation. We have bike paths and bike rentals here at Palisades Tahoe, and in 2019 we funded 127 new bike racks in the Tahoe basin with our $5 Fridays program. We also have 4 free electric vehicle charging stations in our Far East lot.
Say No To Plastic
Carry reusable water bottles, straws, and utensils with you. You can fill up at one of the many Elkay stations in The Village at Palisades Tahoe or in the Alpine Lodge. And when you’re here, don’t forget to recycle any plastic you do happen to obtain, and compost any food waste in the designated bins. Both recycling & composting options are available at nearly all of our base area food & beverage outlets.
Educate Yourself On How Sierra Snow Will Be Affected
It is important for all of us to know the ways in which our climate is changing in order to better prepare for the future. You can learn more about the climate change impacts on the Sierra Nevada range from UC Davis Environmental Research Center’s Changing Winters webpage. It can be a scary outlook, but if we band together, we can make a difference.
Vote For Policies That Will Save Our Snow
Every election cycle, Protect Our Winters can help you make decisions on who you want to vote for. They are very much an across-the-aisle organization that focuses on getting everybody, regardless of party affiliation, to support sustainable policies that uphold cutting carbon emissions & protecting our natural resources.
Support Organizations That Will Save Our Snow
Your monetary support can go a long way. Donations of any size make a difference at organizations like Protect Our Winters, Citizen’s Climate Lobby, Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resource Defense Council, RepublicENs, and Sierra Club.
Take The Pledge With Us
Take the pledge to cut your carbon emissions by 1 ton per year. You can do this using the #SaveOurSnow filter on Instagram, and then by using UC Davis Environmental Research Center’s carbon reduction calculator. Everything we do in our day-to-day actions – driving a car, using a computer, eating a meal – contributes to our overall carbon footprint. Have fun figuring out how you can make an impact!
We want you to know that this issue is extremely important to us. It has major impacts on our livelihood and we don’t ever want to see the end of the snowsports we all love. We plan to continue to ramp up our sustainability efforts, and we will keep you informed along the way.
