An Investigation into the Effects of Climate Change on Mountain Guides in British Columbia.
Date
2023-03-27
Authors
Sherkat, Tosh
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Abstract
An Investigation into the Effects of Climate Change on Mountain Guides in British Columbia yielded one very clear result: climate change is and will continue to affect the safety of people living and working in the mountains of British Columbia. While the experiences and situations of the three guides I interviewed varied in location, vocation, and disaster, they were all connected by one outstanding factor. Safety in the mountains, the number one concern of guides in British Columbia, is compromised due to the increased variability of risk. Where before guides were able to predict safety and risk with testing and historical data, that historical data is now becoming less and less reliable due to climate change. This effect is represented in increasing variability in snow instability, financial insecurity, insecurity of services and clientele, higher emissions, and a greater stress toll on the guides and the people they work with.
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Keywords
climate change, environment, industry, snowpack, mountains, guiding