Utah Resorts Offer Unique Chance for Skiers to Support Conservation

Ski for Nature Day Lift Tickets Support The Nature Conservancy in Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah—28 February 2006—Skiers and snowboarders can instantly turn conservationists simply by hitting the slopes at Deer Valley, Park City, or Wolf Mountain resorts on March 4^th, and Alta and Snowbird resorts on March 12^th —as part of annual “Ski for Nature” events. The resorts will donate a portion from each lift ticket sold on those days to The Nature Conservancy in Utah to support conservation throughout the state.

"Alta is proud to be part of Ski for Nature. We are deeply committed to environmental stewardship and the preservation Utah’s natural world,” said Connie Marshall, Alta’s Director of Public Relations. “The Nature Conservancy is an ideal environmental partner for us because it’s an organization that seeks practical conservation solutions and delivers tangible results.”

The Nature Conservancy protects habitat from the desert ecosystems of the Canyonlands area and the riparian habitat in the Colorado River Corridor, to the critical Great Salt Lake wetlands. Without protection, many plant and animal species within these ecosystems would vanish—forever.

"Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort is dedicated to the conservation and preservation of our natural surroundings," said Snowbird President Bob Bonar. "We are pleased to invite recreation enthusiasts to support The Nature Conservancy and their Ski for Nature program."

To date, The Nature Conservancy has protected nearly 900,000 acres of critical habitat in Utah. The funds raised by Ski for Nature will help to preserve even more precious lands and waters throughout the state.

Bill Cox, Wolf Mountain’s General Manager commented “We are fully supportive of the efforts of The Nature Conservancy and are pleased to participate in the Ski for Nature program during our first season as Wolf Mountain!”

Partnerships with businesses, communities, individuals and other organizations throughout the state are an important hallmark of the Conservancy’s 20 years of success in Utah. “It’s wonderful to join forces with these Utah ski resorts in an effort to support local conservation projects,” said Dave Livermore, the Conservancy’s Utah State Director. “We are grateful for their contributions to help protect Utah’s most at-risk landscapes.”