As the world’s attention converges on the Italian Alps for the 2026 Winter Olympics , a stark paradox is on display. Beneath the elite athleticism lies a landscape increasingly reliant on technical intervention—specifically, the extensive use of artificial snow in otherwise snow-free terrains. While the games serve as a global stage, they are merely a high-profile symptom of a much deeper, more systemic transformation. Mountain regions are the "sentinels" of our planet, respo