Another threat to the ski industry: the pine beetle.

[saratogahalfday]

I remember seeing the results of their destruction the last time I was in Colorado. They'll be here in force soon enough.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-p...n-and-is-as-destructive-as-wildfires?ref=home

 

[Flying Z]

Brian Head was one of the first ski areas to get hit, the damage is incredible, not really any large trees left between runs, they cut down all the dead ones. I was at wolf creek 2 years ago and that whole area was full of dead pines. Some areas, like Great Divide,MT have been selectivity cutting to improve pine stand growth.

 

[Benny Profane]

That article is a bit alarmist and not written by a skier. Colorado has been doing just fine since the initial stages of that infestation, which is now about a decade along. Yeah, brown, dead trees aren't pretty, but at the same time, more opportunities to thin and cut down trees for runs. And, in some places, the views are opened up for the scenery gapers (of which, I am one.). Get back to me about ticket sales and traffic over the last decade before telling me that skiers and ski resorts are freaking.

Benny even has a pair of skis made with Colorado beetle kill wood. Meier skis, Gleenwood Springs, Co. Excellent skis. The Doc, 174. My Eastern tree/pow ski.

 

[marcski]

Seems as though another result of global warming.

Benny...talking about yourself in the 3rd person...We should just call you Jimmy.

 

[Benny Profane]

This is what they were saying. The winters weren't cold enough to thin the beetle population. Who knows.

You'd be surprised how many backcountry skiers get happy about some of these fires. Suddenly there are some fun slopes half opened up with burnt sticks sticking out. Safer Avi territory, I'm told.


Call me Scott. Scott Atlas. Guy may be a jerk, but, the coolest name in politics.

 

[Endoftheline]

Pine Beetle is nothing new in Colorado, my roommate worked for Boulder County in the late 70's and they were working on cutting down the dead pines at that time to help try to stop the spread. Obviously that didn't work so well.

 

[raisingarizona]

That article is a bit alarmist and not written by a skier. Colorado has been doing just fine since the initial stages of that infestation, which is now about a decade along. Yeah, brown, dead trees aren't pretty, but at the same time, more opportunities to thin and cut down trees for runs. And, in some places, the views are opened up for the scenery gapers (of which, I am one.). Get back to me about ticket sales and traffic over the last decade before telling me that skiers and ski resorts are freaking.

Benny even has a pair of skis made with Colorado beetle kill wood. Meier skis, Gleenwood Springs, Co. Excellent skis. The Doc, 174. My Eastern tree/pow ski.

I don’t know Benny, have you been watching the news on this years fire season in Colorado?

 

[Benny Profane]

The fires weren't in Summit. But, I was told some time ago that Beetle kill can actually serve as a fire break. Intense, accelerating pine forest fires need fresh, standing trees with plenty of sap that literally explodes up above and spreads in those little explosions with wind. The kill burns, but not as intensely.
I'm not a botanist, but I play one on the internet.