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Comment by samwillis | Hacker News Reader

This isn't a new phenomenon or something restricted to "exclusive" resorts. I have seen this happen in other alpine ski areas over the last 5-10 years when there has been particularly bad snow. Normally in places that are of high importance and traffic, such as at the top of main lifts.

Ski resorts use helicopters for many logistical activities, if it keeps the area open they will do it. This year the Alps are having a particularly bad January, and with it only being four weeks till the traditional February rolling school holidays for family skiing trips, they are very concerned about keeping the areas open.

That's not to say there isn't a level of absurdity to the whole thing!

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Another trick that some resorts that have big competitions (world cup etc) early in the year now do is store snow at the end the year under some insulated plastic and/or saw dust. They can spread that to the slope and guarantee conditions for the big event.

Obviously if it is really warm it will melt away in a few days after that but at least they can have their event.

Maybe they could do the same for these important spots around lifts etc.

To be fair, "last 5-10 years" is pretty new. I doubt such measures were needed even a few decades ago.

I started skiing in the 80s, and even then they had snow machines to make snow when it was lean times. Seems much more practical than using helicopters.

Sure. But presumably they're using a helicopter now to patch up spots where the use of snow cannons is not feasible.

Article mentioned that “snow cannons” weren’t working and the helicopter didn’t work either

Snow cannons are much cheaper, but don't work when temperature is above 0 °C; helicopters can still fly and carry snow.

I've got to say, "ski resort that already has a helicopter uses it to move snow from one part of the resort to another, to patch a few high-traffic areas" makes more sense to me than "snow flown in" as in my country, having something 'flown in' usually implies transporting it several hundred miles.

Check forecast, in few days there may be up to 1m of additional snow cover. Places like Chamonix should be fine even in lower parts

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