How Green Is Your Mountain

As snowy peaks warm up, the ski industry gets environmentally active

Chris Figenshau

The Wyoming spot powers several of its chairlifts with wind energy

The bright sun, the cold crisp air, the thrill of schussing down a snow-packed mountain surrounded by powder and pine. On the surface, there would seem to be few better ways to celebrate Nordic nature than with a ski vacation--until you consider the wildlife displaced by the trails, the ecosystems destroyed by artificial snow and the energy-hungry lifts, snow machines and hotels that are an integral part of a skiing holiday. Not to mention the miles in the SUV to get everyone there. Ski resorts by their very nature have a pretty big carbon footprint. They are also an industry that...

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