Colorado powder keg
Subtitle: ski resorts and the environmental movement
By: Michael W. Childers
Publisher: University Press of Kansas
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Lawrence
Language: eng
Number of pages: 234
ISBN-13: 9780700618699
Subjects: Skis and skiing; Ski resorts
Description: Downhill skiing is a vital economic engine for many communities in the Rocky Mountain states, attracting 20 million skier days per season. Colorado is by far the most popular destination, with more than two dozen major ski resorts creating a thriving industry that adds billions to the state{8217}s coffers. But, many ask, at what cost? Michael Childers traces the rise of Colorado{8217}s ski industry alongside that of the burgeoning environmental movement, which sprang up in opposition to rampant commercial development on mountains that had been designated as public lands. Combining official ski resort figures, U.S. Forest Service documents, real estate and tourism records, wildlife data, newspaper articles, and public comments, Childers shows how what started as an innocent leisurely pursuit has morphed into a multi-billion dollar business that forever changed the landscape of Colorado and brought with it serious environmental consequences.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.