Responsible Skiing

As the European ski season heads to the end of another year, it’s time for a post on the sustainability of the ski industry.  With climate change becoming an increasingly present reality, snowfall patterns are likely to change and the ski industry affected. We need to assess not only the impact of changing climates on skiing, but the skier’s impact on a changing climate. “Responsible Travel” has been a phrase used in the tourism industry for some time now. This encompasses more than just environmental responsibility, but ensuring that your travel is culturally and socially responsible too, as Responsible Travel put it; “travel like a local”. My visit to the Responsible Skiing Conference in October 2012 gave me a chance to explore this through the eyes of the ski industry.

Would it shock you if I said that nearly 75% of annual (2007) greenhouse gas emissions from Saint Martin de Belleville (Les 3 Vallées, France) came from tourists travelling to the resort? And that’s from flying. Whilst we would all assume that flying was the cheapest and quickest option, Snowcarbon would love to differ. So many people don’t even think about options aside from flying and sometimes driving. But what about the train? Not only can this compete on price, but also travel time, and you can often fit an extra days skiing in, as well as dramatically reducing your carbon footprint. Check out their most recent video for proof:

And now to the slopes. Don’t you just love those huge expanses of fresh white pistes, dotted with snow-covered trees? The environmental impacts of this are obvious; large-scale tree-felling, the loss of a natural carbon sink, machine grading of the land and all of the knock-on effects that come from the removal of trees. And then what about that continuous supply of snow that seems to appear even on those bluebird days? The long list of impacts of artificial snow-making include an excessive use of water, chemical inputs to natural ecosystems, alteration of water courses, and high energy use. With shifting climate patterns, it ensures a more reliable snow cover for the industry, and Scotland has recently dabbled in it for help. But it does still require low temperatures in order for the snow to form, so can it really work as a sustainable solution, especially with all of the impacts involved?

And then there’s your accommodation, which brings with it all the “normal” sustainability issues such as energy use, heating, food choices, water consumption, excessive laundry. . . The graph again shows that heating tourists’ accommodation is a huge chunk of the emissions within Saint Martin de Belleville. This is an area that has recently seen a shift in many European resorts. There is now much more recognition for “responsible” accommodation providers, which can be seen through companies such as Green Traveller, Responsible Travel and Much Better Adventures and cover a wide range of choices such as cross-country skiing, which places less pressure on the environment, “eco-chalets”, or staying closer to home in Scotland. If you prefer tour operators, then you can check out their sustainability policies which are usually widely available on their websites.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, there are ways to make your ski holiday guilt-free. You can make your entire resort selection based on environmental or “responsible” factors. For example, Austria has banned the use of chemicals in artificial snow-making, to maintain an organic farming area. Travel to Zermatt by train, and with cars banned in resort, look out for the silent electric buggies zooming around stacked with luggage. Or make simple choices such as eating in a locally-owned and run restaurant with local food specialities, choose not to have your towels changed every day in the hotel, or swap your skis for some snow shoes for a day to reduce your pressure on the environment.

 Obviously this doesn’t cover the whole area of Responsible Skiing, but it is possible to make some conscious decisions to make your holiday that bit more sustainable, and to give the European ski season a bit more longevity. Ultimately we need to protect the environment that we want to use.

Shona Marsh

@DuniraStrategy

February

The month of romance, apparently.

Now I know that the Great British weather doesn’t exactly lend itself to romance, but instead of the ‘classic’ Paris, or Venice, much as they are wonderful, why not try something a bit different? Glamping!

Looking out the window at the rain, sleet, ice and wind that some of us have been experiencing recently might not inspire your thoughts to the Great Outdoors, but there’s a new style of camping to be had, glamorous-camping.

                                                 

Camping seemingly no longer requires the mud, sleeping bags, and perseverance that are potentially the lasting memories for many.  Another page that is regularly is my browsing history is Canopy and Stars, whose choice of accommodation is a far cry from some of my personal camping experiences (another story, another day) with images so charming they make you drool a little. Not only is the choice of accommodation delicious, but yes, they’re as sustainable as possible too. People too often assume that glamour and sustainability don’t, or can’t, go hand-in-hand.

“We believe that you can live in a sustainable and responsible way without having to compromise on fun, excitement, or comfort” Alistair Sawday (founder)

You can take your pick on accommodation, from yurts to treehouses, and gypsy caravans to eco-pods. Most of the accommodation listed includes various “eco-friendly” components, such as composting toilets, wood-burning showers, a lack of electricity, and are often located on farms or land where you can access local produce. But my favourite might have to be the wood-fired hot tub available at several locations; it’s not eco-luxury without one surely?!

They’ve even partnered up with the wonderful Sustrans to offer a free weekend away (plus a bike and other cycling goodies) to a lucky visitor from 2012 who managed to make their holiday carbon-neutral and travelled by means other than a car. Definitely pressing all the responsible travel “buttons”!
 

“Holidays with a dash of eco-panache” – Greentraveller.com

In 2012, one lucky winner went on a whistle-stop tour of some of the offerings, which gives you a snapshot of the places to visit and activities on offer, definitely one to whet the appetite for some UK travel. And if this still leaves you stuck for ideas, their staff have even compiled a list of choices for Valentines itself.   

(This is not an endorsement, but pure unadultered lusting) 

Shona Marsh

Living the High Life: Wining and Wading at 3000m Altitude

On a recent adventure to Colombia, our travel bible, the Lonely Planet, made a brief understated reference to the small city of Sogamoso, situated in the state of Boyacá, in the Valley of the Sun. Just under three hours from Villa De Leyva, our first stop, we decided to beat our way off to the Gringo Trail and enjoy the delights of the highest lake in Colombia, Lago de Tota and some local wine production at Punta Larga, the ‘highest’ vineyard in the world. If considering something a little bit different in 2013, Colombia far exceeded expectations and Sogamoso was a gem. 

After Lake Titicaca in Bolivia/Peru and at a lofty 3015m, Lago de Tota is the second highest navigable lake in South America. The freshwater beach of Playa Blanca charms you into believing you are lying on the shores of the Maldives or Mauritius with its white sands, watersports, jet skis and tempting oceanic water. Of course, we were frozen back to reality when we waded into the roughly 8°C water and very swiftly back out. Whilst it is a tourist hot spot for Colombians, who bravely endure the icy waves to enjoy a swim, it remains largely unexplored by international tourists. Maybe the less than desirable swimming conditions are a deterrent but it is relaxing and hot, with a cool refreshing breeze and at that altitude you are basically next-door to the sun so tanning conditions are ideal. 

Punta Larga is another highlight of Sogamoso. As soon as we arrived at vineyard we were introduced to the chief wine-maker/owner who is Colombian-born and German-bred and was delighted to host international tourists. He explained his operations and how he aimed to whisk European Viticulture traditions with Southern American flavours into his wine making mix. Imported Pinot Grigio and Riesling grape varieties among a few that came from the French Beaujolais region are harvested on site, with additional varieties purchased from growers in the surrounding villages who provide the Colombian twist and support local economies. 

 Allegedly this tropical wine production is at the highest altitude in the world and you are certainly convinced of this due to the panoramic views of valleys offered in every direction.  Numerous sources, however, dispute this fact quoting that there are higher production points in regions of Argentina but the owner blew these off as ‘fake’ and argued that their rivals were not a true vineyard – they only produced the wine and did not cultivate and harvest the grapes at the high altitudes. Wining at 3000m in such exquisite sunny surroundings was a pleasure! The wine unfortunately is not yet at a stage where it can compete with Chilean competitors or with their dear friends in Argentina but hopefully in the next few years the Euro-Colombia fusion can find its balance so the wine will be well-matched to the experience.

During our stay in Sogamoso the charming Finca san Pedro was the chosen place to rest our heads – family-run, authentic and recommended. It is a shame time did not grant us the pleasure of staying more than one evening as numerous other unique activities are offered in the area including hikes to Salto de Candelas Waterfall (second highest in Colombia), Páramo de Oceta and Siscunsi Páramo – which are practically unknown to the traditional tourist, horse riding, fishing or even a game of tejo which is Colombia’s somewhat unconventional national sport. 

 

 Well worth a spot on the 2013 bucket list!

Georgina Jamieson

@GeorginaJam

New Year's Resolutions

With the New Year of 2013 duly upon us, and having not been wiped out by the Mayan apocalypse I guess it’s that time of year when we have to look at the successes and shortcomings of the previous year and plan to make this year more successful than the last! 

So for Dunira, you can see that we are resolving to resurrect our blog and fill it with more snapshots of the travel and tourism industry. 

I know that my resolutions always revolve around travel and adventures, so one month at a time, a little more frivolous than usual, I want to explore some alternative and unconventional travel opportunities and maybe inspire a holiday of a different kind. One of my favourite pastimes is to browse travel blogs for inspiration and advice on travel planning, many of which are run by eternal travellers who have lots of experience under their belt. So if you, like me, are making travel resolutions, each post will include some of my favourite ideas for travel inspirations for a whole calendar of adventures for a new year!

January

Why not start the year with something a bit crazy - The Rickshaw Run

It’s hard to describe exactly what this is, but its creators The Adventurists describe it as:

“A 3,500km pan-Indian adventure in a 7 horsepower glorified lawnmower, the Rickshaw Run is easily the least sensible thing to do with two weeks.”

  

They are 10 days in to the current run, but you can sign up to take part in September 2013 or April 2014. Definitely one for the list if you’re keen for an adventure and something different, you’ll definitely have lots of tales to tell by the end of it for sure. In particular, I’ve been following Rickshaw Run Diaries for the account of three independent female travel bloggers who have united to take part, and their experience of this unique event. Good old social media is used by most teams to document their eventful journeys.

  

The event aims to raise lots of money for charities at the same time, with the entry requirements being that you raise at least £1,000 for charity, £500 of which goes to their official charity Cool Earth, who work with local rainforest communities to protect rainforests from being cut down.

For me, my environmental conscience hits in however - the long haul flight(s) to India, and the 3,500km overland journey in a rickshaw?! If I was to do it, I would personally choose another environmental charity ideally involved in carbon offsetting, then I'd be able to race around on my rickshaw guilt-free. Well, almost.

 

Ideally, you could combine the start and end dates of the ‘race’ with extra travel in India. And whilst the January “unroute”, as they’re known, is in the West of India, each is different and so each ‘race’ would give different travel opportunities; maybe the Taj Mahal, or heading out to Nepal, or maybe you could check out some work that Dunira has been carrying out at the same time with co-operative travel through Edge of India, which offers homestays and tours in West Bengal and Uttarakhand, run by the local community working towards a sustainable tourism network.

Importantly, travel responsibly. Make sure that your adventure doesn’t jeopardise local businesses –try delicious food of the region in local restaurants, stay in local guest houses or homestays with an Indian family. Responsible travel is about experiencing authenticity, support the local communities along your route and this will be more than just a journey of a lifetime, it will be an experience of a lifetime.

A bit of an ambitious one for the start of the year, but if you’re keen for adventure and always want to do something a bit different, then this is brilliant. And The Adventurists haven’t stopped there, with several other crazy Adventures if you want something different. Motorcycling 2,500km across a frozen Siberia? Maybe 2014...

Shona Marsh