WHO’S DOING THE RIGHT THING?

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Today I went snowboarding in the Monte Rosa ski area. Three valleys connected with (only a few) state of the art lifts systems (the majorities are old, decrepit and slow)! 

The sceneries were breathtaking..probably the most beautiful 4000mt peaks I have ever seen..a multitude of south facing glaciers cascading to the valleys floor..incredible valleys, crests and other things..

My first time back on the slopes on a daily paid ski pass (20% discount for been a “seasonaire” in the area..not bad, I’ll take that..) in more than 15-16 months.

The most beautiful views from Passo dei Salati at almost 3000mt..I was able to see into the pianura Padana completely covered in a blanket of clouds / fog..

Never seen anything like this before..wow! Immense.

The lack of snow was shocking. The high temp was shocking too..at 3000mt was barely cold..more than a month of high pressure - good weather is causing the snow on every south facing slope even above 3000mt to basically my and expose the rocks and grass..and I’ve seen a lot of exposed areas. Way too many.

To be lifted comfortably from a tiny deserted village to 3000mt is quite something..it’s amazing..not many people get to experience that during their life time. I feel lucky and privileged. To be able to sit at a “bar” right off the chairlift at 3000mt, been welcomed by loud trashy “modern” music played on a radio station by a loud outdoor speaker isn’t my thing anymore..it was my thing when I worked seasons in the Alps and apres ski was “fun”..

It made me realise how we brought to these almost sacred places our bad taste in architecture, music, food, drink and behaviour. And for what? For fun? To have good time with our mates? To party like animals? 

I thought a year of forced ski lifts closure would have thought us all a lesson. A lesson in doing the right thing. A lesson in re evaluating what we’ve been doing to our mountains for so many decades. A lesson in humility. Instead..we learned fuck all. 

Who ever said it is “cool” to witness a “cool” bar in a tiny village at 1800mt at the very end of an alpine valley playing full blast ‘80’s music to no customers (I saw only 1 standing at the bar). Why this has become the normality in a place where there should be respect for first of all the environment and secondly everything else? Why is that?

Maybe this way of doing things isn’t working anymore..maybe it’s time to change. To turn the music down (and play something with a bit more class..) or even off. Maybe it’s time to envisage a log term strategy and a more gentle type of of ski tourism for the mountains. 


Valle Maira did just that. Maybe it’s time to follow their example..


#dotherightthing # #sustainable #tourism #network #farming #sustainabletourism #experience #respect #change #environment #food #strategy #people

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