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Let’s face it: Wintertime in Maine is not what it used to be.
As an avid skier and this year’s John Bapst Alpine Ski Team captain, I have experienced firsthand the effects of our decreasing snowfall. Races and practices push further back into the season. Outdoor recreational sites in the Bangor area, such as Hermon Mountain, struggle to open before late January and often close shortly after that. I remember a time when we had severe snowstorms before Thanksgiving, and I’m only seventeen. Now, the most we get before the holiday season is a light dusting of snow, which will likely melt or be washed away by rain the following day.
We have rehashed the issue of climate change countless times. But this topic never seems to be seriously addressed. Organizations have only told us that someday, our decreased carbon emissions will make a difference. But I have to ask, when is that someday?
Our planet is not the only thing impacted by climate change. It’s us, the people. And more specifically, our income. In 2022, Maine’s outdoor recreation industry comprised 3.9 percent of the state’s economy. And if you think you’ve seen enough Massachusetts plates during the leaf-peeping season to last you a lifetime — 3.5 million tourists visited Maine during the winter months in 2022 and nearly 4 million in 2023. Those numbers alone hold our tourism industry together until the summertime migration to Bar Harbor.
Let’s work to save our winters and our livelihoods.
Sophia Soucy
Hermon
