At first glance, skiing sounds like a perfectly eco-friendly winter activity: you’re out all day on a pristine mountain top, appreciating the natural world and breathing in the clean air. But sadly it’s not always as green as you might think. First there’s the piste-making process, which can turn thriving eco-systems into uniform monocultures by removing indigenous trees and shrubs. Then there’s the carbon footprint of the ski lifts and the artificial snow machines, more common now that European winters are milder (so skiers must either trundle higher on lifts or resort to skiing on fake snow).
But it’s not all bad news. Mountain lovers can still enjoy a winter wonderland, all the better, in fact, for adjusting their habits to include sustainable activities. This could mean staying at a high-tech camp in the Swiss Alps, trying out an eco-friendly sport such as snowshoeing, or simply finding out a bit more about the credentials of your resort. Whatever you choose to do, you'll be helping to preserve the mountains for future generations.
Snowshoeing
It might conjure images of marching up and down mountains with clunky tennis racquets attached to your feet, but modern snowshoes are oval-shaped paddles that you clip onto normal walking shoes. They are light, flexible and not much harder to walk in than a pair of oversized flip-flops. Downhill is most fun as you take great springing leaps, digging in your heels so you don’t slip. The benefit, compared to skiing, is that there’s lots of time to take in your surroundings, you can snowshoe in remote areas, and your footprints can be used by animals such as hares, foxes and wild cats to pass through areas of deep snow to look for food. Even better, if the snow is patchy you can whip off your snowshoes and continue in your boots. For snowshoeing breaks in the Pyrenees, as well as walking holidays and other winter packages, visit jonathanstours.com
Mountain retreats
Proof that winter sports aficionados need not sacrifice style for eco credentials is Whitepod, a cluster of nine low-impact but luxurious dome tents high above the Swiss village of Les Cerniers. With sheepskin throws, huge double beds, lamps (but no electricity) and wood-burning stoves, guests stay toasty while also managing to be immersed in nature, and all without leaving a heavy footprint on the environment. During the day you can choose between snowshoeing, winter wildlife walks and dog-sledging, as well as mainstream activities such as skiing and snowboarding. As well as the tents — or pods, as they are known — last year Whitepod introduced a refuge with rooms in dorms, which are an affordable £35 a night. whitepod.com
Cross country skiing
As well as being fantastic exercise, cross country skiing can be done anywhere, so long as the ground is snow-covered. The idea is that you propel yourself across the ground using poles and skis. This means no lifts, fewer people and much less damage to the environment. Stay at the stylish Chic Chocs Mountain Lodge in Eastern Canada, just outside the Matane Wildlife Reserve, and you can ski directly from your room. Instead of crowds clustering by the chair lift, you’re more likely to see white-tailed deer and moose. Look up and you might spot eagles, falcons and buzzards (sepaq.com). Alternatively, to shorten your journey, Autrans, near Grenoble, in South East France, is the capital of French cross-country skiing. To find accommodation and more info on its cross country packages, see autrans.com
Dog sledding
Why do all the work yourself on skis, when you can draw on the substantial energy of a pack of huskies? Exploiting the hard work of dogs reduces your carbon footprint (no petrol required) and it’s a quieter, less invasive way of getting around. So sit back on your sledge and enjoy the ride. The leading destination for husky safaris is Norway. Online eco agent Responsible Travel offers a ‘Norway dog sledding holiday’ based on a five-day trip to the remote glaciers between Norway and the North Pole. As well as spending a night at a hotel made of driftwood and another in a converted ship frozen in the middle of a fjord, you’ll be visiting polar bear country. Don’t wander around without an armed guard, warns the literature. To find out more, visit responsibletravel.com
Skiing in the UK
For winter sports closer to home, Scotland is your best bet. Of its five leading resorts, CairnGorm is the most popular with over 30 kilometres of runs (cairngormmountain.co.uk). In 2008, due to heavy snowfall, it experienced a bumper season. Yes, this is small-scale skiing, but it means there is less damage to the flora and fauna, plus special efforts are made to alert tourists to good practice.
How Green Are My Wellies by Anna Shepard is published by Transworld (£7.99)
