Winter Park joined with USFS to post signs on mountain bike trails throughout the valley warning of wet conditions. Bike trails should not be ridden when they are wet, as it creates erosion and water quality problems while damaging the trail . Winter Park personnel built rock cairns in the Vasquez Wilderness to guide hikers across the fragile tundra. Limiting foot traffic to a designated area enhances the viability of the tundra and the beauty of the Wilderness . Winter Park has constructed wetlands at the bottom of Timberline lift and Marmot Flats.
Wetlands provide habitat for amphibians, insects and birds .
Winter Park has installed strategically located permanent closures to allow tree stands to regenerate themselves. Young trees suffer when run over by skiers and snowboarders. Helicopters fly concrete and towers for construction of new Winter Park lifts, significantly reducing soil disturbance. This procedure eliminates the need for creating construction roads on the mountain . Winter Park s haul rope lubricant is castor oil, a naturally occurring derivative of the castor bean.