Deer Valley’s ambitious expansion plan is undeniably impressive — new terrain, major infrastructure, workforce housing, and an all-in bet on the future of Utah skiing — but two words that never appeared are climate change. It’s striking that a resort investing hundreds of millions in s now-dependent recreation could describe bare slopes, stalled openings, and snowmaking constraints without naming the driving force reshaping winters across the West. Yes, we’ve always had fickle early seasons. Longtime skiers can recall dry Novembers followed by miracle storms. But those anecdotes now sit against unmistakable trends: warmer nights that shrink snow-making windows, more precipitation falling as rain, and shorter, less reliable winters. Utah’s ski economy — iconic “Greatest Snow on Earth” included — depends on cold, and cold is the very thing we are losing fastest. Resorts like Deer Valley are adapting admirably with improved snow-making efficiency, watershed-conscious water use, and major investments in guest experience. But adaptation alone won’t secure skiing’s future. The industry’s silence on climate risk doesn’t make it go away. It only weakens public understanding of what’s truly at stake.  Imagine the impact if Utah’s ski leaders and legislators spoke plainly that our changing climate threatens not just opening days, but the long-term viability of a multi-billion-dollar sector. Imagine pairing state-of-the-art expansions with equally bold climate advocacy for clean-energy policies and smart growth that protect both snow and community.  Karen Jackson Salt Lake City The post Losing our cold appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less