Lack of snow forces rethink at German ski resorts
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Loading... - Zada Adami
- 16 Jan 2023
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Unusually mild temperatures have left many German ski slopes snowless, hurting the tourist trade. Ski regions might need to reinvent what they have to offer tourists.
"It isn't uncommon for things to get going in late January," said Rene Lötzsch, who owns the Fichtelberg cable car service in eastern Saxony. He's trying to remain optimistic.
Ordinarily, at this time of year, the lift would be shuttling scores of winters sports enthusiasts up to the top of Fichtelberg, eastern Germany's tallest mountain. But due to this year's mild temperatures the snow-free slopes are deserted. That said, Lötzsch still hopes "things will pick up eventually."
Skiing is out of the question
For weeks, temperatures in this part of Germany have been unusually balmy. The little snow that did fall has melted away. "It was extreme," said Lötzsch. "We kicked off the season on December 16 when it was minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 Fahrenheit), but on Christmas Eve, it was plus 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit)," he told DW. This was accompanied by heavy rainfall, making skiing and snowboarding impossible. Read More…
