What We Learned From Alterra’s Latest Impact Report

Alterra Mountain Company has been on the minds of many Coloradans since the ski resort conglomerate announced its plan to purchase Arapahoe Basin in February. But with the release of its second annual Forward Stance Impact Report in April, the industry giant is hoping to give Coloradans something else to talk about.

Alterra joins other sustainability leaders in the industry—such as Aspen Skiing Company, which has published a similar report annually since 1999—in its efforts to be more transparent about the progress it is making toward social responsibility and sustainability.

Aspen Skiing Company has been a leader when it comes to climate action. Rather than simply cut emissions and pay for offsets, the company has partnered with Protect Our Winters to lobby at the Capitol and funded research papers that could ultimately hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their part in the climate disaster. Alterra’s new report gives a glimpse into how it’s keeping up with other industry leaders.

This year’s report, which covers all of Alterra’s North American entities, is divided into four categories: people, planet, community, and responsibility. It details efforts like expanding mental health resources for employees, reducing carbon emissions, and creating more opportunities for underrepresented communities in the ski industry. While the responsibility section of the report outlines cybersecurity and data protection details for all Alterra resorts, the other three categories revealed a few highlights pertinent to Colorado skiers and riders.

Below, we break down what you can take away from the report.

People

At Winter Park Resort, Alterra collaborated with Len Necefer, CEO and founder of Natives Outdoors, and various Indigenous artists for a project called “There Is Snow on the Ground,” a translation of the Arapaho word heniiniini’. The project includes an on-mountain art installation that depicts the importance of snow and water with layers of stone that create a silhouette of the surrounding mountains—including Longs Peak, Mt. Blue Sky, Byers Peak, and Parry Peak—and streaks of blue that represent water. In the summer, water flows from the piece to support a garden of native plant species below it.

Other parts of the project include trail signs with a new pattern designed by Northern Cheyenne artist Jordan Craig and Arapaho translations of each trail name posted on the signage. (Winter Park Resort was erected on Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute tribe land, according to Native Land.) The resort also added and updated historical markers with Indigenous history and land acknowledgements sporting Craig’s pattern, plus a new snow stake design.

Collaboration with Indigenous folks wasn’t the only way Alterra aimed to make the mountains more inclusive last year. Winter Park, Ikon Pass, and CMH Heli (all within Alterra’s portfolio) helped fund the Level 1 Productions ski film Full Circle, which tells the story of Colorado adaptive skier Trevor Kennison. The company also partnered with the Share Winter Foundation to help more kids from underprivileged communities get out on the slopes in places like Winter Park. In 2023, more than 19,500 people from underrepresented communities (LGBTQ+, veterans, low-income groups, adaptive athletes, and more) clipped in at one of Alterra’s resorts as a result of this partnership.

Planet

Alterra has also listed its achievements and remaining goals toward sustainability in its report. The company has set a goal to reduce carbon emissions by at least 50 percent, transition to entirely renewable energy sources, and attain carbon neutrality (which A-Basin achieved ahead of schedule) by 2030.

Steamboat Ski Resort recently achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for the Range Food and Drink Hall at the base of the mountain. The certification recognized the dining hall’s 70 percent waste reduction, more efficient use of water, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, and even its steam fireplace.

Community

Skiers in the Denver area are likely to be familiar with Ruby Hill—the park converts into a rail yard once the snow flies in winter. Since 2007, it has been open to the public free of charge, thanks to a partnership between Winter Park and Denver Parks and Recreation. Last winter, though, Alterra pitched in to add more terrain park features and better snowmaking. More features mean more fun, and the upgrades in snowmaking help keep the park rideable for longer throughout the season (despite Denver’s fickle weather).

Alterra Mountain Company will release its 2024 Forward Stance Report in the spring of 2025. You can read this year’s report in its entirety here.