[[{"fid":"38954","view_mode":"fs_wysiwyg_width_360px","fields":{"format":"360_scaled","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"A woman poses atop a U.S. Forest Service sign after 5 feet of snow","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"A photo of a woman posing atop a U.S. Forest Service sign after 5 feet of snow","field_media_image_exp_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_description[und][0][value]":"","field_media_photographer_name[und][0][title]":"","field_media_photographer_name[und][0][given]":"","field_media_photographer_name[und][0][middle]":"","field_media_photographer_name[und][0][family]":"","field_media_photographer_name[und][0][generational]":"","field_media_photographer_name[und][0][credentials]":"","field_media_image_copyright[und][0][value]":"U.S. Forest Service","field_media_image_credit[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_link[und][0][title]":"","field_media_image_link[und][0][url]":"","field_forest_service_topics[und]":"_none","field_forest_service_tags[und]":"","field_seasons[und]":"_none","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][wkt]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][geo_type]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][lat]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][lon]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][left]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][right]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][bottom]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][top]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][master_column]":"latlon","field_internal_notes[und][0][value]":"","field_folder[und]":"_none","field_media_image_title[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"A photo of a woman posing atop a U.S. Forest Service sign after 5 feet of snow","field_media_image_author[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_keywords[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_created[und][0][value][date]":"","field_media_image_created[und][0][value][time]":"","field_media_image_expires[und][0][value][date]":"","field_media_image_expires[und][0][value][time]":"","field_media_image_location[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_latitude[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_longitude[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_comments[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"A photo of a woman posing atop a U.S. Forest Service sign after 5 feet of snow","title":"A woman poses atop a U.S. Forest Service sign after 5 feet of snow accumulated at Berthoud Pass Winter Sports Area on the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests. (U.S. Forest Service\/Jay Higgins)","style":"font-size: 12px; width: 360px; height: 248px; float: right;","class":"file-fs-wysiwyg-width-360px media-element"},"link_text":null," ":{"format":"fs_wysiwyg_width_360px","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":null}}]]For the third time, the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships have returned to the White River National Forest in Colorado, placing special emphasis on the importance of ski area development on national forests throughout America’s history.
Each year millions of visitors ski and snowboard down the snowy slopes of the ski resorts spread across the White River National Forest, and at ski resorts on forests across the nation – 122 resorts that together boast more than 180,000 skiable acres. The Forest Service averages 23 million visits annually to ski areas, contributing $3 billion to local economies annually and creating approximately 65,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs.
Downhill skiing is the second-most popular activity on national forests behind walking and hiking. Skiing has evolved into a booming recreation industry over the past century, and some of the success can be credited with the partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the privately owned ski resorts, a model that has evolved overtime as something uniquely American.
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Recreating on national forests is a hallmark of the Forest Service, which is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. The evolution of skiing has been startling, from small lodges and rope tows to expansive resorts that can now offer year-round activities.
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By 1959, the surge on public lands continued, and the Forest Service answered the demand by expanding ski lodges, sled runs, snow-mobile tracks, cross-country skiing, and snowshoe trails. This rapid growth was made possible by partnering with ski clubs and ski resorts, which allowed the Forest Service to supervise the operation, protecting visitor interest and safety, as well as proper land management on the surrounding national forests. Ski areas vary in size and design, but the model of the agency-resort collaboration has persisted through time – with local interest, community support, favorable terrain, proper facilities and snow, ski areas have been able to thrive and draw millions of visitors each year to the national forests.
[[{"fid":"38957","view_mode":"fs_wysiwyg_width_360px","fields":{"format":"360_scaled","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Skiers evaluate the snow conditions and terrain","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"An old photo of Skiers evaluate the snow conditions and terrain","field_media_image_exp_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_description[und][0][value]":"","field_media_photographer_name[und][0][title]":"","field_media_photographer_name[und][0][given]":"","field_media_photographer_name[und][0][middle]":"","field_media_photographer_name[und][0][family]":"","field_media_photographer_name[und][0][generational]":"","field_media_photographer_name[und][0][credentials]":"","field_media_image_copyright[und][0][value]":"Charles E. Grover","field_media_image_credit[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_link[und][0][title]":"","field_media_image_link[und][0][url]":"","field_forest_service_topics[und]":"_none","field_forest_service_tags[und]":"","field_seasons[und]":"_none","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][wkt]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][geo_type]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][lat]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][lon]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][left]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][right]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][bottom]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][top]":"","field_geo_coordinates[und][0][master_column]":"latlon","field_internal_notes[und][0][value]":"","field_folder[und]":"_none","field_media_image_title[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"An old photo of Skiers evaluate the snow conditions and terrain","field_media_image_author[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_keywords[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_created[und][0][value][date]":"","field_media_image_created[und][0][value][time]":"","field_media_image_expires[und][0][value][date]":"","field_media_image_expires[und][0][value][time]":"","field_media_image_location[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_latitude[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_longitude[und][0][value]":"","field_media_image_comments[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"An old photo of Skiers evaluate the snow conditions and terrain","title":"Skiers evaluate the snow conditions and terrain at the Arapahoe Basin Ski area on the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests. (U.S. Forest Service\/Charles E. Grover)","style":"font-size: 12px; width: 360px; height: 444px; float: left;","class":"file-fs-wysiwyg-width-360px media-element"},"link_text":null," ":{"format":"fs_wysiwyg_width_360px","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":null}}]]On Feb. 2, 600 of the world’s best athletes will have a chance to be the fastest out of the starting gates for the 2015 International Ski Federation Alpine World Ski Championships. Athletes will surpass speeds of 75 miles per hour using the forest as their race course and soaring down the mountain in hopes of earning the top spot on the podium. The race takes place on the White River National Forest, where there are 12 ski resorts permitted with 22,975 skiable acres – an area slightly larger than the island of Manhattan.
With more than 100 ski areas operating on your national forests you have lots of options to choose from – find a place to play near you.
