Becoming a more sustainable skier or snowboarder doesn't have to mean giving up everything you love. There are several small and relatively inexpensive steps you can take--alongside our larger efforts--to reduce the overall impact that we all have on the environment. Thank you!
Get your skis or board waxed here
We only use Purl Wax in our Base n' Edge Tune Shop. It's made by a local Colorado company that supports 1% for the Planet and is free from fluoros and toxic chemicals. Our $35 quick tune will have you in and out in the time it takes to drink a bloody Mary in the 6th Alley Bar & Grill.
Consider carbon offsets for your ski/ride travel
In 2019, we began offsetting all of our ski-area fuel use—including gasoline, diesel and propane—through the Colorado Carbon Fund (CCF). The offsets cover snowcats, snowmobiles, highway vehicles, heavy equipment, cooking appliances, building heat and auxiliary power motors for the lifts. We chose to partner with the CCF in order to support Colorado projects such as grassland protection, carbon sequestration farming and the Larimer Gas to Energy Project. (See our other environmental projects, here.)
Offsetting your emissions that result from travel to and from the ski area is quick, easy and relatively inexpensive. We figured that 10 round-trip drives to the Basin from Denver comes out to just 10 bucks (total). Choose your preferred offset organization and use their calculator to get a more personal amount, or join our Snow Huggers Club for just $30.
By becoming a Snow Hugger, you have the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your ski season’s travel through the Colorado Carbon Fund and their local projects. You will also directly support environmental programs and projects here in Summit County through the High Country Conservation Center.
Take public transportation to the Basin...
WITHIN THE LOCAL COUNTY
Summit County offers a FREE bus service among Keystone, Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon and Silverthorne. The Summit Stage Swan Mountain Flyer provides hourly service to and from A-Basin via Breckenridge and Keystone beginning November 24, 2019 through late April 2020. The A-Basin route operates daily. Check the Summit Stage website for schedules.
FROM DENVER
Snowstang is a NEW express bus service operated by the Colorado Dept. of Transportation (CDOT). Take a bus from downtown Denver (Union Station) or the Federal Center in Lakewood directly to A-Basin and back for $25 round-trip. Buses have bathrooms, WiFi, power outlets, reclining seats and luggage storage. Snowstang will operate Saturdays and Sundays between December 14, 2019 and April 19, 2020 and will include Monday service on MLK and Presidents’ Day. Book your trip, here!
...or carpool
We believe that there ARE friends on a powder day, so pack them in your car for priority parking. We strongly encourage carpooling to reduce traffic and the impact on the environment. During the ski season, park for FREE in one of the first 200 parking spaces in our Early Riser lot (closest to the lifts) if you arrive with four or more people in a vehicle.
BYO water bottle
We have water bottle filling stations throughout the ski area. Bring your own bottle if you ski or ride with water to avoid purchasing plastic.
Hook up with our friends at POW
Protect Our Winters (POW) was founded by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones in 2007 after he noticed climate change was negatively affecting ski areas. POW has long been a close partner of ours, and we encourage you to connect with them if you are wanting to learn more about how climate change is impacting outdoor recreation and to become an advocate for improvements.
And when it's all over...
We don't like to think about the end of the season, either, but we have one pro tip for when the lifts close. Take your ski rack off your car and replace your snow tires with your regular tires at the end of the season. Both could save you 6 percent at the pump!
Thanks for reading this far!
