Climate Change Hammers Outdoor Recreation

You may not have really noticed the impact of overheating on outdoor recreation – like the frog doesn’t notice the water in the pot slowly getting warmer. But if you play outdoors the impact on your fun is obvious.

Increasing temperatures cause by climate change is creating new challenges for the look and playability of golf courses, including heat and drought stress, access to irrigation water, damage from storms, flooding, and increasing pest and disease pressures. Outdoor football, baseball, softball, and soccer fields are having to convert from grass to synthetic turf because of heat and drought, raising safety questions.

Physical exercise and high output activities such as fitness walking, trail running and cycling when the temperature is 100 degrees or higher are not as enjoyable or safe as in moderate temperatures. This has caused cyclists to take refuge in the cooler parts of the day, reducing the overall time outdoor cycling sports can be enjoyed.

Certain types of outdoor recreation, such as whitewater rafting, kayaking and other water-dependent activities, are already facing a high likelihood of disruption. For much of the year water levels may be too low to kayak, raft or canoe, or alternatively, the places to do so might have been damaged by storms and flooding.

Snow sports are some of the recreation activities most affected by climate change. Snow seasons are shrinking and there are many more lost days in peak seasons because of highly unpredictable weather and shorter shoulder seasons. During the 23-24 winter, West Virginia snowfall was down 20%. Almost all U.S. ski resorts could see a 50 percent shorter season by 2050, and up to 80 percent by 2090.

Climate change not only interrupts our outdoor fun, large industries depend on the spending by outdoor recreation enthusiasts to remain healthy and continue to employ thousands of people. If you are one of those employed in the outdoor recreation industry, you have a greater stake than most in getting climate change under control.

It is time we Fix It.