Sense of Place: Living Snow - Mysterious Pink Snow and the Future of Our Alpine Ecosystems

Have you seen Pink Snow?
In the spring and summer, melting snowpack may turn pink, this phenomenon is caused by a diverse community of microbes (algae, bacteria, and fungi) specifically adapted to live in the snow.

These snow algae blooms are completely natural, but what triggers them is not yet well understood. What is known, is that these algae blooms can have a dramatic effect on snowmelt dynamics.
So what can Pink Snow tell us about the future of our alpine ecosystems and why do these blooms occur?

No historical records exist for blooms of algae on any mountain range, but Robin Kodner, along with the Living Snow Project’s unique team of backcountry enthusiasts, are out to change that by heading high into the mountains to study this natural phenomenon and discover the real story behind Pink Snow.