Recognizing the role that healthy natural resources play in summer and winter recreation, ski resorts across the nation are strengthening their environmental stewardship.
So when visiting or working at mountain resorts in the region, you can help be stewards of the land, too.
At Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in western Wyoming, skiers and snowboarders can buy a green lanyard to hold a season's pass for $10. Funds from the lanyards are passed on to the American Forests organization and are used to plants trees in national forests. Jackson Hole opted to donate the $7,500 raised in 2006-2007 for a project in which 6,500 trees were planted in the Yellowstone area.
"That's the beauty of that program, you pick projects within your region," said Anna Olson, communication director for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Future funds from the lanyards are going to tree planting in eastern Wyoming.
To reduce vehicle dependency and carbon emissions, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort initiated a free bus service for pass holders and employees in 2002. By the end of the 2005-2006 season, the resort reduced the amount of traffic traveling between the town of Jackson and the resort by 30 percent.
Grand Targhee Ski and Summer Resort, located in the Teton Mountains in Wyoming, is also onboard for using natural resources in a low-impact manner.
"We have a different spectrum of things going on that we are involved in," said Christina Thomure, director of sustainable operations at the resort.
When staying at one of the 100 lodging units at Grand Targhee, visitors are donating to the National Forest Foundation Ski Area Contribution Project. For each night of lodging, a dollar is added to the fee. Ultimately, local non-profit organizations apply for funding generated by resorts for conservation-oriented projects that benefit the national forests that host the resorts. Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort in Utah was the original pilot in January 2006. Now, more than 24 resorts are involved in raising grant money.
Grand Targhee is also participating in the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Energy Partners Waste Wise program. The resort establishes goals for its solid waste and garbage, measures the amount produced and then monitors the reduction.
Thomure said 40 percent of the resort's garbage is recycled. Food scraps go to local farmers while food oil is collected and used for biodiesel or dog food. So enjoy that order of French fries at the resort, knowing you may be contributing to lucky pooches enjoying the recycled oil in their meals.
"The biggest thing we do here beyond internal sustainability efforts is outreach and education," said Thomure.
Weekly environmental education climate change presentations are held, and monthly speakers expand on topics. Interpretive signs and reminders are posted throughout the resort, such as the one stating that the drinking cups are made of cornstarch and are biodegradable.
Schweitzer Mountain Resort near Sandpoint installed two new chairlifts powered by renewable energy through the Green Tags program. The resort pays a little extra to access solar and wind energy. It also is testing biodeisel in its bus system, which runs every half-hour throughout the day, shuttling visitors and staff the 9 miles up the mountain from outside of Sandpoint.
A destination resort near Salt Lake City is launching environmentally conscious efforts as well.
"We are trying to do some of the other programs that other resorts are doing, given our smaller size," said Jay Burke, the director of marketing and media relations for Solitude Mountain Resort.
Solitude recently began taking advantage of Salt Lake City's curbside recycling services and now has a use for the resort's cardboard, plastic and aluminum. The resort also began replacing expired lights with long-lasting fluorescent lights, and reuses timber from cleared slopes as parking barriers and for sign posts on the slopes.
"We want to do everything we can to preserve and maintain. If we aren't good stewards of the land, this industry could go away. We can turn it around," Burke said.
If you go as far as Arapahoe Basin in Colorado or Bear Valley in California this winter, you can join the Atmosclear Climate Club for $25. Your membership helps offset an emissions equivalent to 2,000 miles of driving.
And at Diamond Peak Ski Resort in Nevada, visitors can join the Adopt-a-Penguin Program for $25, $100 or $250. In honor of the resort's mascot - a penguin - the funds generated go to efforts to save endangered Antarctic penguins.
Expect to see more innovative approaches in the upcoming seasons for the Going Green movement at mountain resorts, and let's do our part when we can.
