FRISCO — Ski resorts have a strange mix of contradictory truths: avid skiers and snowboarders want the snow to continue so they can continue their lifestyle and hobbies. Climate change is threatening the business of ski resorts. Yet, some quintessential aspects of snow sports require contributions to climate change like travel to the resorts, electricity use on the mountain and disruption of natural areas.
The four major Summit County ski resorts — Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Copper Mountain Resort and Keystone Resort — have all shared unique projects with the community, such as when A-Basin announced its or when , but looking at what these resorts are doing from a more holistic view gives a bigger picture on how much closer the ski areas are getting to achieving sustainable mountains compared to five years ago.
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Arapahoe Basin Ski Area has a bit of an upper hand when it comes to low net energy usage as it doesn’t have any lodging facilities on the mountain, which can be major energy drains. Yet, the ski area still does use snowmaking, electricity and other forms of carbon-emitting processes. Sha Miklas, senior manager of guest services and sustainability at A-Basin, began working to increase the ski area’s sustainability in 2007.
Miklas explained that while her efforts were impactful, they were a bit haphazard and she got to a point where she had done everything she could without any consulting, expertise or clear direction. When the ski area in 2017, they partnered with the consulting company Brendle Group to come up with a strategic plan.
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