At Whiteface Mountain, we’re lucky to be surrounded by wild beauty. From the clean air and cold streams to the High Peaks and hardwood forests, this place is unlike anywhere else. We know these natural resources are a huge part of what makes Whiteface so special, and we’re committed to doing our part to help protect them.
Sustainability touches every part of our mountain operations. Whether it’s how we make snow, how we move people, or how we manage waste, we’re always looking for ways to reduce our impact. From energy-saving equipment and solar offsets to zero-sort recycling, electric vehicle charging, and reusable RFID cards, we’re working to make skiing and riding more sustainable one step at a time.
Education also plays a big role. We’re proud to support the NSAA Sustainable Slopes initiative and to work with local groups like AdkAction and WiT Advisors to grow our understanding of sustainable winter management. By learning more and sharing that knowledge with guests and staff, we can all make smarter choices on and off the mountain.
And of course, protecting the local environment means caring for the wildlife and native plants that call this place home. That includes rare birds like the Bicknell’s Thrush and delicate alpine species found nowhere else in the region.
Our goal is not just to keep up with the industry but to lead where we can and to make sure the experience we enjoy today can still be enjoyed tomorrow.
When it comes to rare species, the time to act is before they vanish forever. The elusive Bicknell’s thrush (Catharus bicknelli) is designated as a Species of Special Concern by the New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP). This migratory bird winters in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Cuba, but nests and breeds in mountaintop fir forest habitats like those found high on Whiteface Mountain during the summer.
Protecting this habitat has been a long-standing priority. Mitigation measures and best management practices for construction were first outlined in the 2006 Unit Management Plan (UMP) for Whiteface Mountain, and reaffirmed in the 2022 UMP Amendment. As part of these efforts, ORDA restricts all tree cutting at elevations above 2,800 feet during the bird’s breeding season, from May 15 through August 1.
Thanks in part to these protections, the bird’s ethereal song can still be heard high on the mountain each summer. Birders and nature lovers travel from far and wide for a chance to see and hear the Bicknell’s thrush—an experience many describe as one of the highlights of their lives.
On top of that, Whiteface is home to 19 rare plant species, many of which thrive in the same high-elevation alpine zones. Protecting these sensitive areas not only preserves wildlife habitat, but also supports biodiversity unique to the Adirondacks.
During the 2019–2020 ski season, Whiteface committed to a 25-year solar energy project to help reduce our carbon footprint and support the future of winter. Our solar farm includes 9,032 ground-mounted panels across 12 acres, generating 2.8 megawatts of renewable energy. Over the course of the agreement, this is expected to offset approximately 58,888 tons of carbon dioxide—the equivalent of taking 12,397 cars off the road.
The power produced supports the local electric grid, and in turn, Whiteface receives energy credits that reduce our electricity costs. We then use those credits to buy from green-certified sources, allowing us to run on 100% renewable electricity.
We know energy use is just one part of the picture. While our snowcats, lifts, and snowmaking systems still rely on diesel and propane at times, we’re committed to finding smarter and more sustainable ways to operate in every season.
Over the past several years, Whiteface has made major upgrades to its snowmaking system to improve both efficiency and environmental impact. We’ve installed 527 low-energy, high-efficiency snow guns across the mountain, sourced from industry leaders like HKD Snowmakers, Johnson Controls, Snow Logic, and Nivis. These newer models produce more snow in less time, helping us make the most of every cold snap while reducing our energy use.
To support this, we’ve added 11 variable frequency drive pump motors that allow us to move more water to the trails with less waste. Combined with thousands of feet of upgraded air and water lines, this has been a massive system overhaul.
We’ve also reduced our reliance on diesel-powered compressors for snowmaking, and our grooming fleet now uses Tier 4 diesel engines, the cleanest available for their class. While snowcats and other machinery still rely on fossil fuels, these changes represent meaningful steps toward a more sustainable operation.
These initiatives have allowed us to see an almost 40% reduction in energy usage over the last 6 years.
Our frontline fleet of snowcats includes the latest Tier 4 engine models as well as the PistenBully E+ Hybrid, making it one of the cleanest and quietest grooming operations we’ve ever had. These modern machines help reduce emissions and fuel use while delivering consistent grooming performance across the mountain.
The PistenBully E+ combines diesel and electric drive systems, improving energy efficiency and reducing fuel consumption by as much as 20 percent compared to standard groomers. Its hybrid system stores energy during downhill runs and braking, then reuses that power for uphill travel or acceleration. This process not only cuts fuel use but lowers greenhouse gas emissions and reduces noise.
Improving our grooming operations is one more way we’re working to reduce environmental impact while still delivering a high-quality skiing and riding experience. These upgrades also help minimize disruption to wildlife and contribute to a quieter, cleaner mountain overall.
Last year, we began taking steps to improve how we manage waste at Whiteface by introducing composting in our resort cafeteria and administrative offices. Alongside our existing zero-sort recycling program, this initiative aims to reduce our environmental impact and keep more materials out of the landfill.
By using bins to separate compost, recycling, and trash, we’re able to divert food scraps and organic waste to composting facilities. This helps reduce methane emissions—one of the most potent greenhouse gases—and supports healthier waste systems overall.
Proper waste sorting also ensures that recyclable materials like plastics, metals, and paper can be reused rather than wasted, supporting a more circular economy. These small changes add up, and as we expand our efforts, we hope to encourage both staff and guests to take part in preserving the natural beauty of our mountain.
In 2019, Whiteface introduced RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology to improve convenience for guests and reduce waste on the mountain. With RFID, guests can purchase lift tickets online and head straight from the car to the slopes, no lines, no waiting.
Each SKI3™ Card contains a small RFID chip that communicates with our lift gates to confirm your ticket or pass and allow entry. The same card can be reloaded and reused season after season, eliminating the need for disposable paper tickets, plastic wickets, and other single-use materials.
This simple change adds up. With more than 200,000 skier visits to Whiteface each year, reusable SKI3™ Cards make a meaningful difference in reducing plastic and paper waste across all three ORDA mountains, Whiteface, Belleayre, and Gore.
Choosing to reload your SKI3™ Card is an easy way to help reduce your environmental impact while enjoying the slopes you love.
We’re proud to offer four electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the Bear Den parking lot as part of our effort to support cleaner transportation and a more sustainable mountain experience. These chargers give guests and staff a convenient way to power up while enjoying the day on the slopes.
Encouraging the use of electric vehicles helps reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and support a shift toward more environmentally conscious travel in the Adirondacks.
Whiteface is a proud signatory of the NSAA Sustainable Slopes Charter, joining over 200 ski areas across the U.S. in a shared commitment to environmental stewardship. Founded in 2000, Sustainable Slopes is a nationwide initiative led by the National Ski Areas Association that encourages ski resorts to integrate sustainable practices into all aspects of their operations.
By signing the charter, Whiteface has pledged to support the program’s core pillars:
Sustainable Slopes is more than a pledge; it’s a framework that helps guide long-term decisions and daily operations with the health of our environment in mind. Whether it’s investing in energy-efficient snowmaking, supporting native pollinator habitats, or reevaluating how we manage waste, this program helps keep us accountable and aligned with the broader ski community’s push toward a more sustainable future.
While we continue working to reduce our carbon footprint and operate more sustainably, we can’t do it alone. Preserving winter takes all of us, and we invite skiers and riders to join the effort.
Here are a few easy ways to make a difference during your visit:
These might seem like small actions, but with thousands of guests visiting each season, small choices add up fast. If we each think globally and act locally, we can reduce our collective impact and help make sure skiing and riding stay strong for generations to come.
