It’s January and a forlorn ribbon of artificial snow, flanked by verdant pastureland, is all that links the Swiss village of Gstaad, altitude 1,050 meters, with the ski resort’s uppermost reaches. Les Contamines, a French resort overlooking Mont-Blanc, just canceled this weekend’s World Cup telemark ski race because of a lack of snow. Only weeks into the season, some lower-altitude, lower-budget destinations are closed. Europe’s iconic mountain range offers a front-row seat to the unfolding effects of climate change, which is melting ancient glaciers at an unprecedented rate, uncovering old plane wrecks and the bodies of long-lost mountaineers. Warming temperatures mean the vast majority of the world’s ski resorts already rely on artificial snow to boost snowpack and prolong the season, but a record run of mild weather in late December means even snowmaking is no longer possible in some areas. By the end of this century, only resorts above 2,500 meters will get enough natural snow to stay in business, warns the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research. It’s a trend that threatens to put skiing, already a costly pursuit, out of reach for those who can’t afford the prestigious high-altitude resorts. “It's hard to picture such truly unprecedented winter warmth across Europe outside of a human-altered climate,” said Bob Henson, a meteorologist with Yale Climate Connections and author of "The Thinking Person's Guide to Climate Change." Swipe left to see more photos capturing the reality facing European ski slopes and read more at the link in our bio or visit: bloomberg.com/green 📷: Francois Henry/REA/Redux 📷: Laurent Gillieron/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 📷: Sven Hoppe/Picture Alliance/Getty Images 📷: Daniel Liebl/AFP/Getty Images 📷: Daniel Karmann/Picture Alliance/Getty Images 📷: Daniel Karmann/Picture Alliance/Getty Images 📷: Jan Woitas/Picture Alliance/Getty Images