The Steamboat Pilot & Today

The ski patrol building on top of the Aspen Highlands ski area is powered by an array of photovoltaic solar cells placed along the edge of the balcony. The solar panels are part of an attempt by the Aspen ski area to create a sustainable business model in the ski industry.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The ski patrol building on top of the Aspen Highlands ski area is powered by an array of photovoltaic solar cells placed along the edge of the balcony. The solar panels are part of an attempt by the Aspen ski area to create a sustainable business model in the ski industry.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The breathtaking beauty of the snow-covered Maroon Bells, visible from the top of the Aspen Highlands ski area, is at risk of diminishing in the face of strong warming trends forecast by various global climate experts.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The ski patrol building on top of the Aspen Highlands ski area is powered by photovoltaic solar cells placed along the edge of the balcony. The solar panels are part of an attempt by the ski area to create a sustainable business model in the ski industry.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The ski patrol building on top of the Aspen Highlands ski area is powered by photovoltaic solar cells placed along the edge of the balcony. The solar panels are one of several attempts by the Aspen ski area to create a sustainable business model in the ski industry.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The new Sundeck Restaurant building on top of Aspen mountain has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a widely accepted rating system for sustainable building practices. The Sundeck Restaurant is an example of Aspen’s commitment to creating an environmentally sound business in the ski industry.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The new Sundeck Restaurant building on top of Aspen mountain has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification. LEED is a widely accepted rating system for sustainable building practices. The Sundeck Restaurant is an example of Aspen’s commitment to creating an environmentally sound business in the ski industry.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The new Sundeck Restaurant building on top of Aspen mountain, with astounding views of the Maroon Bells, has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification. LEED is a widely accepted rating system for sustainable building practices. The Sundeck Restaurant is an example of Aspen’s commitment to creating an environmentally sound business in the ski industry.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The new Sundeck Restaurant building on top of Aspen mountain, with astounding views of the Maroon Bells, has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification. LEED is a widely accepted rating system for sustainable building practices. The Sundeck Restaurant is an example of Aspen’s commitment to creating an environmentally sound business in the ski industry.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The new Sundeck Restaurant building on top of Aspen mountain has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification. LEED is a widely accepted rating system for sustainable building practices. The Sundeck Restaurant is an example of Aspen’s commitment to creating an environmentally sound business in the ski industry.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The new Sundeck Restaurant building on top of Aspen mountain has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification. LEED is a widely accepted rating system for sustainable building practices. The Sundeck Restaurant is an example of Aspen’s commitment to creating an environmentally sound business in the ski industry.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The new Sundeck Restaurant building on top of Aspen mountain has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification. LEED is a widely accepted rating system for sustainable building practices. The Sundeck Restaurant is an example of Aspen’s commitment to creating an environmentally sound business in the ski industry.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

Empty ski lifts like this one at the Steamboat Ski Area may become a more common sight if global climate change forecasters are correct about the current warming trend.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

Skiers congregate around the base of the Sunshine Express lift at the Steamboat Ski Area on March 23. The Sunshine Express lift is powered entirely by solar and wind energy credits.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

Skiers congregate around the base of the Sunshine Express lift at the Steamboat Ski Area on March 23. The Sunshine Express lift is powered entirely by solar and wind energy credits.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The Burgess Creek chairlift at the Steamboat Ski Area, shown here March 8, is powered entirely by wind energy credits. This winter, the ski area’s new Christie Peak Express lift will also use renewable energy credits.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

Signs such as this one, at Steamboat Ski Area’s Burgess Creek chairlift, can be misleading — the lift is not actually powered by wind energy. Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. bought wind energy credits that offset traditional power use.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

The pine squirrel is one of numerous species living at Steamboat Ski Area, on Routt National Forest lands. Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. employees have donated more than $140,000 to local environmental efforts.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

Steamboat Ski Area employee Curtis Hufford helps skiers onto the Burgess Creek chairlift March 8. The Burgess Creek lift is powered entirely by wind energy credits. Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. President Chris Diamond said conservation is important to ski area customers. “Their personal values are very focused on the environment,” Diamond said.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

Ian McCubbin, shown here at the Storm Peak Laboratory on top of the Steamboat Ski Area on March 23, studies everything from the pollutants present in clouds over the mountain to the quantity and quality of snow falling on the ski area.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

Researchers at the Storm Peak Laboratory on top of the Steamboat Ski Area, shown here March 23, study everything from the pollutants present in clouds over the mountain to the quantity and quality of snow falling on the ski area.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

Ian McCubbin shows off some of the equipment he uses for the various research projects he helps carry out at the Storm Peak Laboratory on top of the Steamboat Ski Area on March 23. McCubbin studies everything from the pollutants present in clouds over the mountain to the quantity and quality of snow falling on the ski area.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

Ian McCubbin shows off some of the equipment he uses for the various research projects he helps carry out at the Storm Peak Laboratory on top of the Steamboat Ski Area on March 23. McCubbin studies everything from the pollutants present in clouds over the mountain to the quantity and quality of snow falling on the ski area.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

Ian McCubbin shows off some of the equipment he uses for the various research projects he helps carry out at the Storm Peak Laboratory on top of the Steamboat Ski Area on March 23. McCubbin studies everything from the pollutants present in clouds over the mountain to the quantity and quality of snow falling on the ski area.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

Ian McCubbin shows off some of the equipment he uses for the various research projects he helps carry out at the Storm Peak Laboratory on top of the Steamboat Ski Area on March 23. McCubbin studies everything from the pollutants present in clouds over the mountain to the quantity and quality of snow falling on the ski area.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo

Ian McCubbin shows off some of the equipment he uses for the various research projects he helps carry out at the Storm Peak Laboratory on top of the Steamboat Ski Area on March 23. McCubbin studies everything from the pollutants present in clouds over the mountain to the quantity and quality of snow falling on the ski area.

Photo by Brian Ray /
Buy a print of this photo