All That Glitters Is Not Snow: How Ski Resorts Are Replicating Reality | The Walrus

"Snowmaking in ski resorts involves spraying water and pressurized air through specialized cannons to create artificial snow when there isn't enough natural snowfall. The Laurentians' Mont Tremblant Ski Resort, the largest in the province with its 102 slopes, uses 1.3 million cubic metres of water annually to produce artificial snow—that's about 520 Olympic-size swimming pools."

"Critics accuse the industry of clinging to an outdated model, of using too much energy for lifts, gondolas, grooming fleets, and too much water for snowmaking for something that isn't exactly necessary. And as winters are getting shorter and the planet is warming, the industry's having to churn out more and more fake snow."

Over six years living in three Canadian winter sports towns, the author observed that most snow at ski resorts is artificially produced rather than naturally fallen. Snowmaking involves spraying water and pressurized air through specialized cannons when conditions permit. Major resorts like Mont Tremblant use enormous quantities of resources—1.3 million cubic meters of water annually, equivalent to 520 Olympic pools—and consume energy comparable to thousands of homes yearly. Critics argue the industry clings to an outdated model, consuming excessive resources for lifts, gondolas, and grooming while producing artificial snow for a non-essential activity. As winters shorten and global temperatures rise, resorts must produce increasingly more artificial snow, making the sport feel ecologically harmful and unsustainable.

Read at The Walrus