Ski resorts exist in some of the most environmentally sensitive places on earth so it seems only natural that they would strive to protect the… [Read More]The post Aspen Snowmass: This Great Colorado Ski Resort Is Also The Greenest appeared first on Pursuitist.

Ski resorts exist in some of the most environmentally sensitive places on earth so it seems only natural that they would strive to protect the land from which they prosper. From recycling wastewater to generating solar power to protecting the paths of migrating elk, resorts from the Sierras of California to the Green Mountains of Vermont are doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint and find a balance that lets skiers and riders enjoy the pristine alpine environment without destroying it.Each year the Ski Area Citizens Coalition grades western U.S. ski resorts on their environmental policies and practices. A criterion from four categories (habitat protection, protecting watershed, addressing global climate change, and environmental practices and policies) is tallied and each resort receives a grade. Regular ?A? students on the SACC list include Squaw Valley, Park City, Deer Valley and Smugglers Notch. Perhaps the greenest of them all, however, is Aspen?a resort known more for their glitz and glamour?and first rate skiing?than their environmental stewardship.Aspen Skiing Company is the parent of four resorts (Aspen, Snowmass, Buttermilk, and Aspen Highlands) and has pioneered sustainability at ski resorts...