Better Backcountry Starts with Sustainability
Three ways that Bluebird Backcountry is working towards a greener future
Sustainable practices should be at the forefront of every ski area’s responsibilities. According to a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the planet could warm by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2040 — a shift that would directly impact ski areas. A warmer winter translates to a shorter ski season and less opportunity for those deep powder days we know and love.
At Bluebird Backcountry, we believe in reducing our carbon footprint as much as possible. From not running chairlifts to taking Leave No Trace ethics to the next level, here are three ways that we are doing our part to protect the planet and our ski season.
We believe in taking the scenic route. Photo: Riley Hanlon
Human-Powered Travel
Bluebird Backcountry has zero chairlifts, which means no additional CO2e emissions. According to a study completed by the University of Colorado during the 2020/2021 season, a lift operating at 95% capacity emits 30 grams CO2e per person. The lower the lift capacity, the more CO2e per person. So, if a lift operates at only 25% capacity, then the CO2e emissions increase to 113 grams per person. Skip the lift and head to Bluebird for your turns.
Solar panels, courtesy of our friends over at Elevated Independent Energy. Photo: Riley Hanlon
Running on Solar
With Colorado averaging over 300 days of sunshine, we decided that the best way to take advantage of our beautiful Bluebird days was to harness the power of the sun for our energy needs. Thanks to Elevated Independent Energy, our Base Area is operated almost entirely off of solar power. A renewable source, solar power causes zero Greenhouse Gas emissions and will still work on cloudy and snowy days. On select Sundays, you can catch the Elevated Independent Energy team on site and pick their brains about solar energy and its benefits.
Breaking down the Base Area. Photo: Justin Wilhelm
A Leave No Trace Ski Area
Bluebird Backcountry operates on a lease at Bear Mountain, which includes Leave No Trace Requirements. This means that at the conclusion of each season, the ski area is broken down and stored nearby in the off-season. Once the ski area is broken down and put away for the season, our team patiently waits for all of the snow to melt before heading back to the grounds to help pick up trash. A visit to the site in the summer, and one would never know that a ski area even operated in its location at the base of Bear Mountain!
The 2020/2021 University of Colorado GHG emissions study found that Bluebird Backcountry emitted roughly 5 kilograms of CO2e per acre — compared to an average of 44 metrics tons per acre of CO2e for ski areas in the Rocky Mountain Region and an average of 15 metric tons of CO2e per acre for smaller ski areas. This means that Bluebird’s CO2e emissions are 99% smaller than the Rocky Mountain Regional average, as well as those from small ski areas.
Want to be a part of the change? 22/23 Season Passes are now on sale through April 29th at the lowest guaranteed price. Get unlimited access all season long plus exclusive benefits such as one free guest pass, unlimited dog passes, 5 free nights of camping, on-mountain discounts, and more. Our goal is to continue sustainable practices with the future of skiing in mind, and we hope that you will join us in our vision.
