French Ski Resort Of Hautacam Closes - A “Victim” Of Climate Change

The French ski resort of Hautacam is to close it's ski area. For skiing and snowboarding, there were 20 km of slopes available. 7 lifts transported  guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,494 and 1,733 m.

In a statement they say:

"Three years ago, the Hautacam Joint Syndicate, with financial assistance from the Pyrénées Vallées des Gaves Community of Communes and the Lourdes Town Hall, supported by Europe, the State, the Region and the Department, undertook a "4 season" development, as part of a strategy to diversify the offering and to strengthen year-round attractiveness.

At the same time, the resort has just endured its third winter with a serious lack of snow, which has had a direct and significant negative financial impact on its accounts.
A balanced budget has not been achieved.

The Hautacam Joint Syndicate is forced to make significant requests to the two supporting communities for €1,440,000 to cover the accumulated deficits, instead of the €630,000 of
previous years.

It is not possible for elected officials to ignore the growing difficulties linked to ski management on the one hand (with a significant regulatory system), and on the other hand an average altitude and an exposure of the snow front particularly sensitive to climatic variations. Like many mid-altitude resorts, the Hautacam site is dependent on global warming.

Is it normal to continue operating winter skiing, with the significant financial risks inherent?  Is it consistent to continue offering skiing for first-time beginners, without being able to provide
any guarantees? Even though the main ski clubs and schools have long since deserted the Hautacam slopes due to this very uncertainty.

Aware of the difficulties, or even the impossibility, for local authorities to finance the Hautacam resort to such an extent, the Joint Syndicate has decided to continue adapting the site to these new circumstances.

The abandonment of skiing across the entire area was approved by the Joint Syndicate Council, jointly with the two sponsoring authorities.

The site will remain open year-round, offering a range of leisure and dining activities. We are already working on the necessary adaptations by including a ski initiation area that will be in place during snowfall

We are aware of the challenges for Hautacam, as well as for the region, and of the deep attachment of our residents, our employees and our visitors to this remarkable and emblematic site.

Together, we are building a new Hautacam whose face will change!

Together, we are investing to ensure that this magnificent belvedere remains vibrant and that it continues to serve as an accessible, fun and welcoming family space for everyone."