In addition to being beautiful, they're an important part of the alpine ecosystem. Mountain meadows are covered with plant species including grasses, wildflowers and berries, rather than trees. The vegetation growing in mountain meadows provide food for large and small mammals. Depending on the ecosystem, the meadows support creatures ranging in size from from voles to bears, and birds such as grouse, swallows and other species. The edge of the forest provides cover for many of these species, giving them relatively secure places to live and some protection from predators.
Mountain meadows are incredibly biodiverse.
And when you get right down to it, ski trails are essentially man-made mountain meadows. In many alpine areas, a mature forest which completely covers the mountainsides will contain only a handful of plant and animal species. But an area that includes both forest and open space tends to provide a home for more species than does pure forest. American Skiing Company takes its role as a steward of the mountain environment very seriously, so when we build trails, we do so using techniques which minimize environmental impact. Here's how we do it.