How climate change is transforming Colorado's ski industry

Drew Van Patter’s Epic Local Pass isn’t getting much air time this season.

Van Patter, a 32-year-old Fort Collins snowboarder who moved to Colorado five years ago but has frequented the state's ski areas since he was 10 years old, hit the slopes for the fourth time this season in early January.

Like most ski areas in Colorado this season, the runs were icy. Throughout the state, a day of skiing this season has often meant a day spent dodging the grass and rocks peeking from a threadbare blanket of snow.

“It was probably the worst day I’ve had since I lived in Colorado,” Van Patter said of his runs at Breckenridge Ski Resort.

Recent storms offered life support to many of the state's snow-starved ski areas, but as of early January, Colorado's snowpack was lower than it had been in 30 years. Last year was the state’s second-warmest year ever.