Snow, Science, and Solutions: FWSA Panel Tackles Climate Change and the Future of Snowsports

What happens when some of the sharpest minds in climate science, sustainability, and winter recreation gather in one room? At the 2025 Far West Ski Association Convention, attendees found out.

In a powerful and timely session titled “Climate Change and the Future of Snow Sports,” FWSA Environment Chair Dave Tragethon brought together an extraordinary group of experts for a panel that was both sobering and solution-focused.

A Call to Action for the Industry

The session began with opening remarks from Auden Schendler, long-time sustainability leader and former VP at Aspen Snowmass. Although unable to attend in person, Schendler delivered a pre-recorded message that challenged the snowsports industry to lead on climate.

Schendler, a past recipient of the FWSA Environmental Award, and the author of “Terrible Beauty”, reminded attendees that the snowsports industry is already experiencing the impacts of a warming planet, and that taking bold, systemic action isn’t just an environmental imperative—it’s a business one.

Science Speaks: The Future of Snowpack

Dr. Erica Fleishman, Director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute and professor at Oregon State University, joined the panel remotely. She presented the latest scientific modeling on mountain snowpack—data that was both compelling and concerning.

According to Fleishman, declining snowpacks aren’t projections for the distant future—they are already underway. Many western mountain ranges are seeing a shift in snow-to-rain ratios, earlier melt-offs, and greater unpredictability in seasonal snowfall. These changes affect not only recreation but also water supplies and ecosystem dynamics.

Understanding the Data

No climate conversation is complete without examining the historical record—and Tony Crocker has spent decades doing just that. A statistician and longtime snow data analyst, Crocker reviewed snowpack trends dating back to the 1970s, drawing comparisons across regions and ski areas.

His takeaway? While Rocky Mountain and higher elevation Pacific State ski resorts show no change in snowfall over the past 50 years, lower elevations in the Pacific States and in the Northeast are impacted by an average rise of 500 feet in the rain/snow line during that time.

“I’m generally skeptical of whether models can project changes in weather patterns… But my gut feeling is that this is real. The Southern California mountains are downwind from an urban heat island with 15 million people in it—and I just suspect that’s not good.”

But Crocker’s message wasn’t without optimism. He highlighted how some resorts are adapting with better snowmaking, diversified business models, and community engagement around sustainability.

He compared snowpack records from California to Chile, demonstrating both variability and disturbing trends. Yet he concluded with a measured sense of continuity:

“In the case of the Western United States, I push back and say strongly—our children and grandchildren are going to be enjoying these same ski areas with, overall, not very different conditions than we’ve seen in our times.”

A Wildcat Solution to a Potent Problem

One of the session’s most inspiring segments came from Curtis Shuck, founder of the Well Done Foundation. Shuck’s organization identifies and caps orphaned oil wells—many of which leak methane, a greenhouse gas over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.

Shuck shared how his team physically locates these wells, measures emissions, and secures the funding to plug them—often turning polluted land back into usable, healthy ground. One of those projects inspired the children’s book Willow’s Second Chance, written by session host Dave Tragethon.

“We’re in the get-sht-done business,”* Shuck said. “We talk about the issue, but we also go out and show that we can get the work done.”

The work is dirty, as he pointed out, and not what most skiers picture when they think of sustainability. But the results are tangible and immediate.

“Each one of these projects is a huge victory,” he explained. “It’s very impactful… We’ve proven here with our one-well-at-a-time approach that this really is meaningful.”

Wind Power and the Role of Clean Energy

Rounding out the panel was Thomas Spiglanin, representing the Palm Springs Windmill Tours. He provided an overview of the region’s renewable energy transition, using the iconic wind turbines of Palm Springs as a symbol of what's possible when communities embrace sustainability.

“They are machines that actually make electricity that goes directly to your homes. So if they are spinning, they're making electricity… there's a generator inside, the wind blows the blades around, and the electricity flows.”

Spiglanin’s presentation emphasized how clean energy not only supports decarbonization goals but also represents a practical and profitable path forward for energy independence and economic resilience.

“In the San Gorgonio Pass, [we have] only about 650 little wind turbines. It's really a small wind farm. Across the State of California, we make 7.7% of our electricity from wind.”

A Moment of Reflection—and Momentum

The panel concluded with a reminder: the climate crisis isn’t tomorrow’s problem. It’s here. But so are the tools to address it—science, community, technology, and willpower.