It’s January and a forlorn ribbon of artificial snow, flanked by verdant pastureland, is all that links the Swiss village of Gstaad, altitude 1050 meters, with the ski resort’s uppermost reaches.
Les Contamines, a French resort overlooking Mont-Blanc, just cancelled this weekend’s World Cup telemark ski race because of a lack of snow. Only weeks into the season, some lower-altitude, lower-budget destinations are closed.
