By Cheryl Catts
Snow in Utah may be considered the 'greatest snow on earth,' but it is not all fun and games.
With the privilege of using the snow, comes the responsibility of preserving the land and staying safe.
'It''s not just what you''re on, but knowing the country around you,' said Linda Rief, conservation education coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service Intermountain Region. 'Just don''t go somewhere you have any doubt about.'
Ski resort officials recognize their role in environmental protection by controlling erosion and revegetation.
Additionally, Park City Ski Resort is one of 173 resorts nationally that endorses an environmental charter called Sustainable Slopes, a program sponsored by the National Ski Areas Association. The park had Sustainable Slopes Day Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004.
It was 'a day that all the ski resorts could celebrate what they are doing to help the environment,' said Krista Rowles, public relations manager for Park City Ski Resort.
This year''s campaign was titled 'Keep Winter Cool.' The resort is trying to increase awareness and prevention of global warming
Park City, along with Deer Valley and the Canyons, chose to join the Blue Sky renewable energy program.
Rowles said the energy saved by using renewable energy is equivalent to not driving 733,000 miles per year.
But the responsibility of care is not just in the hands of the resorts. Experts warn that winter sport enthusiasts should be careful to protect animals, stay on the trails and be aware of surroundings.
Outside protected ski resorts, other officials are urging people to be responsible for damage they may be causing. National forest officials encourage those who ski or snowshoe in national forests to stay on the trails because soil can be delicate and susceptible to erosion.
Most of the Uinta National Forest is open for public use, but where snow is shallow or patchy, snowmobiles can damage the land.
Snowmobiling areas are sensitive by nature, said John Logan, public service group leader for the Uinta National Forest.
'If we look at wilderness as a resource, and it provides solitude, it''s probably a violation of noise,' Logan said.
Reif said recreation enthusiasts should also be aware of deer, moose and other wildlife in the area.
'Deep snow coupled with those colder than normal temperatures has been hard on them,' she said.
Logan said animal''s fat reserves are at the lowest, and they cannot handle running away from people.
Reif said many animals end up on or around trails because they prefer walking on them, just like people do.
'You can''t place a trail and not expect an animal to be on it, because they will take the easy way,' Rief said.
Along with having responsibility toward the environment, officials said people should be aware of what the environment can do to them.
Weather and avalanche conditions can change hour by hour, it is important that people check avalanche reports and be prepared with the right equipment, said Bruce Temper, director of the U.S. Forest Service''s Utah Avalanche Center.
'You have to be your own avalanche expert,' he said.
Temper said ski areas use explosives to knock down avalanches within the park, but danger lurks out-of-bounds.
Resorts take precautions to protect skiers and snowboarders from avalanche danger by roping off trails. More than 200 people patrol the fences at Park City.
'If you get caught ducking the ropes, you get your pass taken away for the day,' Rowles said.
Temper reported there are approximately 10,000 avalanches per year, and about 100 of them involve people.
The Forest Service Avalanche Center Web site reports, 'Nearly all avalanches that involve people are triggered by the victims themselves or a member of their party.'