Blog | MountVacation.com

Since I try to be the greenest possible at home (I recycle, make compost, cycle around town, buy local, etc.), I wanted to also ski green this winter. I quickly realized that green travel demands lots of planning so if you are also interested on skiing or boarding green (or at least greener) here are a few interesting leads you should start to think about.

When planning, make green choices

• Choose a destination closer to your place of residence.
• Choose train over car or plane, if possible.
• Choose a pedestrian resort such as Avoriaz, in France, or Saalbach, in Austria.
• Choose an accommodation close enough to the slopes so you don’t have to ride the shuttle bus.

On your way to the resort, move green

Travelling in itself implies the use of a mean of transportation: plane, bus or car. Except if you want to reach the ski resort by bicycle, your only option is to “offset” your emission.

• Plant trees in an equivalent amount to the carbon footprint of your transport.
• Buy carbon offsets from a recognized organization.

Calculate the carbon footprint your chosen means of transportation here.

In the resort, live green

• Choose privately owned restaurants, not chains, and prefer establishments where locally grown food is served.
• Opt for public transport, the ski bus or train, instead of renting a car.
• To discover certain natural beauties off the slopes, opt for snowshoes instead of a snowmobile. It’s certainly slower, but it’s quieter and you have better chances to spot an animal or a bird on your way.
• Choose green excursions and activities, most local tourism offices can tell you information about which companies are offering them.

On the slopes, ski or snowboard green

• Don’t litter, keep candy packages, lunch bags and other wastes in your pocket until you can dispose of it in a trash bin.
• Stay on marked pistes and, if you like freeriding, avoid breaking anything (branches, posts, etc.)

At night, sleep green

• Choose a hotel part of the BIO-Hotel Association or other recognized associations.
• Choose a locally owned hotel or bed and breakfast that respect high water-saving and energy-saving standards, even if it doesn’t have any certification.

Find the right compromise, the shade of green that fits you

I will not lie to you and tell you that I will exchange my 7-day ski vacation in the French Alps for a snowshoeing expedition in the city park!

Well… I think there is no perfect solution but every green action counts so I’ll start small this year, I’ll go to a car-free resort and find a green hotel to stay in. And you, what do you plan to do to ski or snowboard green?