Once buzzing with thrill-seekers, the slopes of Auli and Gulmarg have turned eerily quiet. Once-thriving ski instructors are now pivoting to the Char Dham Yatra circuit, not by choice but by sheer necessity. With snowfall declining sharply due to climate change, their livelihoods have taken a direct hit.
Ski Instructors In Auli And Gulmarg Face An Uncertain Future
According to a report by TOI (Times of India), many ski instructors are now selling their expensive imported gear to buy mules and earn a living guiding pilgrims along religious routes.
The winters that once brought hope and heavy snow have now become uncertain and short-lived. Instructors say that where 300cm of snow was once the norm, now barely 180cm is seen—and that too, it melts almost immediately.
It was shared by Santosh Panwar, a ski instructor from Auli, to TOI, that at least 20 courses were run every winter in previous years. This year, only two could be managed. It was also pointed out that the snow that used to remain for months now vanishes within days.
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In Gulmarg, it was recalled by Shafat Tantray that temperatures during peak January winters used to stay around 5°C. However, this year, they reportedly touched 15–20°C, making some tourists from Mumbai feel “right at home.”
The number of candidates enrolling in ski schools has been falling consistently, leaving instructors without work and tourism in decline.
Trading Skis For Mules On The Char Dham Trail
With income from winter sports nearly gone, instructors are resorting to drastic measures. Imported ski kits—some worth upwards of ₹2 lakh—are being sold, and the proceeds are being used to purchase mules to assist pilgrims along the Char Dham Yatra trail.
It was explained by Panwar to TOI that maintaining the gear had become unaffordable and unwise in the current climate. Selling the equipment was described as the only survival option.
Climate Change Turns Winter Hubs Into Ghost Towns
The story of ski instructors in Auli and Gulmarg is a grim reflection of climate change in action. What were once lively, snow-covered ski destinations are now being reshaped by warming winters and economic uncertainty.
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Their switch from skiing to pilgrimage guiding is not just a career shift—it’s a survival strategy. And it raises urgent questions about India’s climate preparedness and the future of mountain tourism.
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