Skimo and Mountain Goats: Alpine Science on Science Friday

Science Friday host Flora Lichtman guides a conversation about ski mountaineering, or skimo, explaining uphill climbs with skins, sprinting in boots, and fast descents in a looping Olympic relay. Mountaineering historian Dr. Peter Hansen traces skimo to 18th and 19th century scientific endeavors and imperial ambitions, showing how climbing grew from exploration to a laboratory on the slopes. Wildlife ecologist Dr. Kevin White introduces mountain goats, detailing their hoof adaptations, balance, and fearless navigation, and explains how avalanches shape their survival. The episode ties sport, history, and ecology to climate change and alpine life, inviting listeners to watch the Olympics and reflect on humanity’s relationship with mountains.

Overview

Science Friday hosts Flora Lichtman and two guests, mountaineering historian Peter Hansen and wildlife ecologist Kevin White, to explore alpine life through the lenses of sport and ecology. The discussion opens with ski mountaineering (skimo), describing its two-phase progression: an uphill ascent on skis with climbing skins to gain elevation, followed by a transition to booting or running up the slope, and then a rapid downhill in a set looping course. Hansen emphasizes that skimo is a synthesis of two older activities, brought together into a modern competition that has grown over roughly the last three decades. This framing situates skimo within a longer history of alpine activity that blends exploration, science, and athletic endurance.

"it's become a new sport over the last 30 years or so" - Peter Hansen

The Mechanics of Skimo

Hansen explains the sport's mechanics: climbers use skins on the bottom of their skis to ascend, then remove them and carry the skis on their backs to continue ascending, before reattaching for a downhill ski run. The looped course, often repeated in relays, demands exceptional coordination, endurance, and agility, as athletes must switch between uphill propulsion and downhill speed in rapid succession. The discussion highlights that the sprint portions are short but intense, contributing to the dynamic and tactical nature of skimo races.

"this kind of combination of climbing and science was part of the inspiration for mountaineering and its origins" - Peter Hansen

Historical Roots of Mountaineering

Shifting to history, the guests trace mountaineering back to the 18th century when researchers climbed peaks to determine elevations and test high-altitude endurance. Hansen points to figures such as Jacques Balma and Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, who treated mountains as scientific laboratories where measurements of temperature, humidity, air pressure, and other variables could be collected. This era bridged the gap between natural history and the practical pursuit of ascent, illustrating how early mountaineering blended curiosity about the natural world with the technical challenges of climbing.

"they studied everything, and they were natural historians or natural philosophers" - Peter Hansen

Empire, Environment, and the Mountaineering Ethos

The conversation also touches on the 19th century, when peak ambitions and flag-planting narratives—particularly around Everest—reflected imperial power. Hansen notes that these motives influenced early expeditions, but the modern era has seen climbers reframing their relationship with mountains in the context of climate change, using climbs as a means to witness and document environmental shifts rather than merely asserting dominance.

Mountain Goats: Biology and Adaptation

In the second half, Kevin White describes mountain goats as robust alpine survivors, with males weighing up to about 350 pounds and females lighter. Their white wool coats enable insulation in extreme cold, but more crucially they possess specialized hooves with a hard keratin sheath and a soft, padded sole that provide purchase on rocky ledges and icy cracks. White explains that their narrow bodies and gymnastic balance allow them to traverse narrow ledges and to reposition themselves in constrained cliff spaces, sometimes lifting onto hind feet to pivot around obstacles. The goats’ remarkable balance and agility, even on seemingly impossible ledges, evoke a primal, almost uncanny athleticism in extreme environments.

"they're just so amazingly surefooted" - Dr. Kevin White

Avalanches, Risk, and Climate

White then discusses the principal risks goats face, including predation and malnutrition in harsh winters. Avalanches emerge as a major mortality factor, accounting for roughly 35% of goat deaths in severe years. The interview emphasizes that goats exploit steep, rugged terrain to avoid predators, but this strategy exposes them to avalanche danger. The frequency and intensity of avalanches are influenced by climate conditions, and the researchers acknowledge that future avalanche patterns are an active area of study as climate dynamics evolve.

"avalanches comprise about 35% of all mortalities" - Dr. Kevin White

Climate Change and Alpine Life

Throughout, the guests discuss how climate change reshapes alpine ecosystems and the way researchers and climbers engage with mountains. Some climbers increasingly view themselves as witnesses to climate change, documenting shifts in snowpack, vegetation, and animal behavior to inform broader understandings of our evolving relationship with the natural world. The conversation frames these changes not as domination but as responsibility and observation, inviting an examination of how science and exploration can coexist with humility toward the mountains.

Closing Reflections

The episode closes with a note on Olympic skimo coverage and a reminder that audience feedback remains welcome, underscoring Science Friday’s aim to blend sport, science, and storytelling in public conversations about the natural world.

"bears are curious, they just sort of try anything" - Dr. Kevin White